Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Andrew Sanderson on January 04, 2026, 03:09:50 pm
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can anyone tell me what doncaster have won in this photo please
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can anyone tell me what doncaster have won in this photo please
What photo?
If you can show us, it might jog BB and Wolfie's memories.
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You should be able to see the photo now
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That’s a great photo. I don’t think I’ve seen it before and very good quality.
It’s Belle Vue so not 1908. It looks like similar kit to 1926/27 or around then.
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who where Belle Vue
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who where Belle Vue
Belle Vue was our previous ground. We moved there in 1922 so any photo of it (of which this looks like an example) can't be older than that. In the mid-late 1920s we wore vertical stripes so it could be from that era.
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can anyone tell me what doncaster have won in this photo please
What photo?
If you can show us, it might jog BB and Wolfie's memories.
They’d have been at work
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Stab in the dark, is it the Sheffield Shield?
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The only pictures of the Rovers in that 20s has us with white shorts and when we had stripes there was a dark stripe at the middle at the front. This picture had a dark stripe down the middle. The shorts also seem the same colour as the stripes whereas we mainly had white shorts and occasionally black.
We won the Wharnecliffe Charity Cup 1922/23 but the team photo of that shows a small cup on the team photo.
The next success was 1935/36 when we won the Sheffield County Cup. Again a cup not a shield. It is also the wrong shape for the 3rd division North shield as well unless it was changed before the 1950s.
Maybe it is an away team that won and had their picture taken at Belle Vue.
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Is it the reserves? Did we win the Yorkshire league around then?
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I’m clueless as to the team or trophy but since some team members have a slightly different shirt design I tend to think it’s an amateur or works team.
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I’m clueless as to the team or trophy but since some team members have a slightly different shirt design I tend to think it’s an amateur or works team.
That’s a massive shield for a works team. It must have been going for a few years though. Whatever it was for.
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It's weird, because all shorts before the 1960s were black or white. When Liverpool started wearing red shorts in the mid 60s, it was revolutionary.
Those shorts in that photo look neither white nor black. Maybe they're just mucky.
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A search on HB Mason shows he was a photographer during WW2 (Brodsworth Hall have photos around 1941 https://news.cision.com/english-heritage/r/brodsworth-hall-in-time-of-war--heritage-lottery-funding-secured-for-three-year-project,c9316328 )
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By the look of the lad holding the shield, it looks like we’ve just won membership to the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild.
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I think that the gentleman second from the right on the front row looks like JC Morris who was a director of the the club from the 1920's up until the 1950's and wrote the first book about Doncaster Rovers.
I'm looking at a photograph of the 1926/27 season and the kit is the same and that picture is taken in front of the main stand at Belle Vue. Looking at the picture on here, that is also in front of the main stand but towards to Rossington End.
The other photo I have attached was brought into one of Heritage Exhibitions. Having been shown Albert Harrison, a goalkeeper who is on the 26/27 photo the visitor showed us another phot showing Albert but didn't know who the team was. That also shows a large but different shield.
Anyway if anyone else can see anyone on the photos that look to be on more than one, do say on here please.
Thanks
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Could it be the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup: Beighton Miners Welfare 2-1 Frickley Colliery Athletic 1939-40 season. There was a replayed final at Belle Vue. Shield not cup though.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_%26_Hallamshire_Senior_Cup
The quality of photo and light is similar to the Rovers team pic of the same season (attached) in a similar spot (within about 30 yards anyway). The HB Mason link might also suggest similar era rather than 1920s.
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I think that the gentleman second from the right on the front row looks like JC Morris who was a director of the the club from the 1920's up until the 1950's and wrote the first book about Doncaster Rovers.
I'm looking at a photograph of the 1926/27 season and the kit is the same and that picture is taken in front of the main stand at Belle Vue. Looking at the picture on here, that is also in front of the main stand but towards to Rossington End.
The other photo I have attached was brought into one of Heritage Exhibitions. Having been shown Albert Harrison, a goalkeeper who is on the 26/27 photo the visitor showed us another phot showing Albert but didn't know who the team was. That also shows a large but different shield.
Anyway if anyone else can see anyone on the photos that look to be on more than one, do say on here please.
Thanks
Just adding to that, also studying the photos of the main stand, my complete history book says the main stand was extended in the summer of 1927. That 'shed' we can see in the background on the left shows there were 3 sections of stands separated by the uprights. Later photos show 5 sections towards the Rosso end if I'm counting right.
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Just found a clip from 'Doncaster Bygone Years' showing Belle Vue in 1947...in colour. This shows the main stand where you can see where it had been extended, tunnels added, and those steps you can see in the above photo had gone.
So it has to be earlier than the summer of 1927.
Fast forward to 22 mins 40 secs.
https://youtu.be/rCyREymOlPs?si=va_pq3E3L_FtuT0I
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I'd forgotten about that clip. I think I had the VHS of it and haven't watched it since those days. Here's a pic concocted from it to show the 1947 main stand in full.
I think you're spot on DBR. Great work.
You can just see the right hand edge of the 'shed' on the left in the unidentified pic. The area of later brickwork with pillars in it on the right hand side in the 1947 pic is absent in the unidentified pic (and similar pillars/piers also absent in the earlier sections of brick in 1947 pic).
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It's possible it could be the reserve team, they won the following at Belle Vue in the seasons below, when Rovers did wear Red/White stripes:
1925/26 Doncaster Challenge Cup
1926/27 Doncaster Challenge Cup & Wharncliffe Cup
1927/28 Doncaster Challenge Cup
1929/30 Doncaster Challenge Cup
I doubt it's the Wharncliffe Cup as I've tried to find pictures and nothing looks like the shield on display in the photo.
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Another theory - it's probably not Stoke City but here they are at BV in what might be a similar kit to the unidentified team (presumably light blue and white stripes and blue shorts away kit) v Rovers (attacking in red & white) en route to winning Div 3 (N) in 1927. Pic from Bluff (2010) Complete history.
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Shield in unidentified pic c1927 (with 10 'lumps' - maybe names of 10 winning clubs).
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Div 3 (N) shield awarded to Paul Todd of Rovers 1947 20 years later (with a lot more than 10 lumps).
Similar but not the same shield I'd say. But could still be the same title.
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It's possible it could be the reserve team, they won the following at Belle Vue in the seasons below, when Rovers did wear Red/White stripes:
1925/26 Doncaster Challenge Cup
1926/27 Doncaster Challenge Cup & Wharncliffe Cup
1927/28 Doncaster Challenge Cup
1929/30 Doncaster Challenge Cup
I doubt it's the Wharncliffe Cup as I've tried to find pictures and nothing looks like the shield on display in the photo.
I'm going for it being the 1926/27 Rovers reserves having just won either the Doncaster Challenge Cup or after beating Barnsley 2-0 to win the Wharncliffe Cup at BV. Maybe a shield was awarded but the actual 'cup' stayed in a cabinet somewhere.
If you look at the goalie he's not the tallest player and he has hair parted above his left eye. It's just 11 players, probably after a match. Maybe end of season 1927.
If you look at the Rovers squad pic (ie 1st team plus reserves) for 1926/27 there are 2 goalies. Summer 1926 probably. The taller one (Jack Farmery) played all the games. The other one (Albert Harrison, the one Colin mentions above, is not very tall, has hair parted above left eye) played none as far as I can see from the book. Presumably Albert Harrison was therefore the reserve goalie. If it's him in the mystery pic then it's probably Rovers reserves. But it's impossible to say for sure - too blurred when blown up.
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One thing that hasn't been pointed out yet is there is no crowd there. Yet with the staff and mascot wearing colours it is clearly an after-match presentation.
With that and the fact the kit doesn't match any of Rovers from the 20's or 30's I am going with the theory it's either an away team being presented with something or, more likely a local amateur team. Were there any Doncaster Leagues or Yorkshire Leagues running at the time?
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Div 3 (N) shield awarded to Paul Todd of Rovers 1947 20 years later (with a lot more than 10 lumps).
Similar but not the same shield I'd say. But could still be the same title.
I think you've got the most likely contender.
The shield is being held by Todd at a different angle but looks very much the same shape as does the main silver shield itself.
As for the individual winners shields, it's likely more were added and adjusted to fit over time.
I'm guessing there's likely to be more photos of the shield if not in our archives, then other clubs?
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Div 3 (N) shield awarded to Paul Todd of Rovers 1947 20 years later (with a lot more than 10 lumps).
Similar but not the same shield I'd say. But could still be the same title.
I think you've got the most likely contender.
The shield is being held by Todd at a different angle but looks very much the same shape as does the main silver shield itself.
As for the individual winners shields, it's likely more were added and adjusted to fit over time.
I'm guessing there's likely to be more photos of the shield if not in our archives, then other clubs?
Correction. I'm wrong. I found q photo of Stoke with their Div 3 North Shield and it's different and matches up to the photo with Todd with more winners plates on it.
I wish I could post the photos but its very similar to but not the Div 3 North Shield
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Div 3 (N) shield awarded to Paul Todd of Rovers 1947 20 years later (with a lot more than 10 lumps).
Similar but not the same shield I'd say. But could still be the same title.
I think you've got the most likely contender.
The shield is being held by Todd at a different angle but looks very much the same shape as does the main silver shield itself.
As for the individual winners shields, it's likely more were added and adjusted to fit over time.
I'm guessing there's likely to be more photos of the shield if not in our archives, then other clubs?
Plenty more research to be done on dozens of questions like this. We’re hoping loads more volunteers will sign up to help with the museum project this year.
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One thing that hasn't been pointed out yet is there is no crowd there. Yet with the staff and mascot wearing colours it is clearly an after-match presentation.
With that and the fact the kit doesn't match any of Rovers from the 20's or 30's I am going with the theory it's either an away team being presented with something or, more likely a local amateur team. Were there any Doncaster Leagues or Yorkshire Leagues running at the time?
If it was reserves or a local team the crowd would’ve been smallish and the ground would have emptied pretty soon after anyway. If it’s an away team against Rovers probably few away fans in those days.
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This is a fantastic thread. Great read.
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This is a fantastic thread. Great read.
It is also great to have a thread that stays focussed and no arguing or name calling. A pleasure to read this thread.
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Great photo, got to be at 90years old at least,also kid behind the shield, would love to know who he was, guess we will never find out for sure.
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Great photo, got to be at 90years old at least,also kid behind the shield, would love to know who he was, guess we will never find out for sure.
The mascot is either a kid...or a jockey!!
Which brings me back to the conundrum. The non playing people in the photo mostly appear to be wearing rosettes which, as others suggest, were usually worn on special occasions like a cup final.
What we know so far.
It is Belle Vue
The date is somewhere between 1922 and 1927.
The Shield is not the Div 3 North Championship
It's not the Wharncliffe Charity Cup
It's not the Sheffield County Cup
Is it a DRFC first or reserve team? Possibly. (The striped kit pretty much matches what was worn in that period although it's not the kit of the 26/27 season which had red collars and white shorts)
Do we have a positive player ID? Possibly. Only one but difficult with quality of photos.
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It’s not a school team but I remember shields from local schoolboy competitions - the ‘Major Clarke’, ‘Gundry’ and ‘Bryn Jones’ shields for example.
I suppose shields may have been more common than cups due to cost and ease of manufacture.
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Going back to the original post.
Andrew, what can you tell us about the photograph? How have you ended up with it? Has it been handed down to you through a family member for example. If you are able to put a name on just one player, it will probably be enough for us to identify the team.
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got the photo in a job lot of items relating to the career of jim harkin who played for doncaster mansfield peterbrough and played cricket in the south yorkshire league
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Going back to the original post.
Andrew, what can you tell us about the photograph? How have you ended up with it? Has it been handed down to you through a family member for example. If you are able to put a name on just one player, it will probably be enough for us to identify the team.
Also - what made you think it might be the 1908/09 season?
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I think I may have an answer. Whether it is the correct answer, is not so sure.
With the name Jim Harkin, I was able to find that he played one game for Rovers in the 1934/35 season. He also made 33 appearances for the Midland League side. The first team were champions of 3rd Division (Northern Section). The reserves finished 12th in the Midland League.
The attachments to this message are from the 1935/36 Supporters Club Handbook:
The 34/35 squad photograph on which Jim Harkin
Page 21 showing the Midland League stats
Page 30 the second page of profiles.
On that Midland League page it mentions the Goal scorers in the Doncaster Invitation Cup. I know the picture in question shows a shield, but it is possible that it is the trophy we are looking for.
So any of you out there, can you see any similar faces in the team picture from 1934/35 compared to Andrew's original post. From the names on the picture you can probably work out the most likely to be in the reserve side.
I think the striped kit may be just a change kit used for the one game and it is likely that an kit from a few seasons before could have been used.
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Excellent detective work GKFC noted the team photo also by Mason
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Good spot. I hadn't noticed that.
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The first player top left looks to me like Jack Buckley, who made hundreds of appearances for the Rovers. He was there from 1924 to 1932. This may be late in his career.
I knew him quite well towards the end of his life.
He died in 1985.
Edit:
Those who have the ‘Donny’ book, see the team photo from 1926/27 and compare the photo of Jack with the one on here I identified as him.
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Jim Harkin was born in 1913 and played his one and only game for Rovers in the final match of the 1934-35 Div 3 (North) Championship winning season away at Halifax. Here he is in the team photo for the 1935-36 season.
I can't definitely identify him in the original photo (unless he is the mascot?). Which would make sense if it does show a team at Belle Vue prior to the extension of the main stand in 1927 when Harkin would be 14. Maybe the photo shows a relative of his?
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I think I may have an answer. Whether it is the correct answer, is not so sure.
With the name Jim Harkin, I was able to find that he played one game for Rovers in the 1934/35 season. He also made 33 appearances for the Midland League side. The first team were champions of 3rd Division (Northern Section). The reserves finished 12th in the Midland League.
The attachments to this message are from the 1935/36 Supporters Club Handbook:
The 34/35 squad photograph on which Jim Harkin
Page 21 showing the Midland League stats
Page 30 the second page of profiles.
On that Midland League page it mentions the Goal scorers in the Doncaster Invitation Cup. I know the picture in question shows a shield, but it is possible that it is the trophy we are looking for.
So any of you out there, can you see any similar faces in the team picture from 1934/35 compared to Andrew's original post. From the names on the picture you can probably work out the most likely to be in the reserve side.
I think the striped kit may be just a change kit used for the one game and it is likely that an kit from a few seasons before could have been used.
In 34/35 Rovers reached the Doncaster Challenge Cup Final (Reserve Comp) however were defeated 1-0 by Thurnscoe Victoria, and according to my info, Harkin was not selected.
So not sure where that leaves things!!
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Interesting thread. The shirts are varied in a few way, most notably on the thickness of stripes. Suggesting not first team.