Doncaster Rovers has been nominated for the prestigious Johnstone's Paint Community Club of the Year Award as part of the 2015 Football League Awards Shortlist.

This award recognises the Football League club community scheme that has best demonstrated success at engaging with their local community over the last year.  The shortlist is comprised of five regional winners, which includes Rovers (YORKSHIRE & NORTH EAST), Blackburn Rovers (NORTH WEST), Derby County (MIDLANDS),  Norwich City (EAST) and Brighton & Hove Albion (SOUTH). 

The Club were nominated for the same award last year but were narrowly pipped by Brentford.

To be nominated for a successive year demonstrates the off-field strides that the club is making, according to Chief Executive Gavin Baldwin: "This is great news for the Football Club, for the Foundation and for Club Doncaster. The work the Foundation do is outstanding and something we are very proud of. Liam and his team continue to deliver across the board and this nomination proves that they are not only meeting but also exceeding all expectations." 

Liam Scully, CEO of Club Doncaster Foundation, highlighted: "It's great for Doncaster Rovers/Club Doncaster Foundation to be recognised against our well respected peers within the Football League Trust network who all do great work within their local community"

"Over the past 12 months we have delivered a ranges of projects which have gone on to develop stronger communities, promoted civic pride, improved the health and wellbeing of individuals, and the community generally. "We are proud of our achievements which have been delivered in partnership with a range of strategic partners, and for this we must thank them as well as our dedicated team members who year on year deliver outstanding results." 

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at The Brewery, London on Sunday 19th April 2015.

by Rich Colby

The floodlights will be on at the Keepmoat stadium again tonight as Rovers welcome third placed Swindon Town.

Paul Dickov’s men will be looking to bounce back on their own turf after the defeat to Peterborough at the weekend.  James Coppinger could be in line for a return after he trained with the squad yesterday, but long term absentees Rob Jones and Paul Keegan will both miss out.  Paul Dickov does expect Dean Furman, Andy Butler, Nathan Tyson and Harry Forrester all to be fit after they picked up knocks on Saturday.

Swindon know that a victory will keep up the pressure on second placed Preston for the automatic promotion places.  A win for Swindon and defeat for Preston at home to Peterborough would see the places reversed so there is much incentive for the Robins.  20-goal striker Andy Williams will be the one to watch for them.

Rovers dropped all the way to 10th in the league after Saturdays defeat.  But a win tonight would really keep the pressure on the half dozen teams vying for that 5th and 6th position in the table.

Recent encounters against Swindon have worked in favour of Rovers.  A Theo Robinson penalty gave Paul Dickov’s men all three points back in December when they squared off at the County Ground.  Last time out at the Keepmoat stadium in a game that was live on Sky Sports, Jamie McCombe’s 80th minute header gave Rovers another 1-0 victory back in April 2013.

Lets hope for more of the same tonight.  Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Swindon Town:  P 21/W 9/D 9/L 3

by Rich Colby

The Keepmoat Stadium will hopefully see a crowd of 10,000+ as Rovers take on Peterborough United in League One.

As well as hopefully celebrating three points, Rovers will also be celebrating 11 years of James Coppinger being at the club.  The unfortunate thing for Coppinger is that he is likely to miss out due to an ankle injury.  

As far as the game itself is concerned, Rovers and Peterborough are neck and neck.  35 games played for both sides, 50 points for both sides, Rovers 6th, Peterborough 8th.  Looking at those stats it seems as though something has to give.  The form of Paul Dickov’s Rovers is patchy.  Just one win in the last five games, but unbeaten in the last three.  Look at it how you want and you could make it seem better or worse than it is.  Peterborough caretaker manager Dave Robertson as overseen three wins in the last three games for The Posh since the sacking of Darren Ferguson, giving them an unlikely boost towards the play-off spots.

There has been activity as far as transfers are concerned this week in Doncaster.  Striker Uche Ikpeazu has departed after his month on loan from Watford and returned to join Crewe Alexandra.  Rovers have replaced him with the loan signing of Rotherham striker Jonson Clarke-Harris who is likely to go straight into the squad for Saturday.

Sadly Rovers will be without Paul Keegan potentially for the rest of the season who has had a knee operation following his injury sustained at Preston North End.  He is likely to be joined on the side-lines this weekend by the man of the moment James Coppinger and long term absentee Rob Jones.

Last time the teams met in December they played out a 0-0 draw at the ABAX Stadium.  Last time the two squared off at the Keepmoat Stadium back in February 2012, the game ended 1-1.  Attacker Giles Barnes gave Rovers the lead, but Posh substitute Tyrone Barnett rescues a point for the visitors in the 90th minute.

REMEMBER: Tickets for this fixture are just £5 adults, £1 children under 11.  50p of each ticket sold will be donated to charities of James Coppingers choice.  Lets fill the Keepmoat!

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Peterborough:  P 36/W 13/D 8/L 15

by Rich Colby

Rovers face the long journey to Kent this weekend to face Justin Edinburgh’s Gillingham in League One.

Rovers extended their fantastic away record of just one defeat in the last eleven league away games on Tuesday night at Preston.  And they will be hoping to make that one defeat in the last twelve at the Priestfield Stadium come 5pm Saturday.  Doncaster haven’t visited Gillingham for over seven years, the last meeting in November 2007 ending in a 1-1 draw.  A second half James Hayter penalty moved Rovers to 9th in League One in a season that would eventually lead to promotion at Wembley.

On to the present and things are once again looking bright for Paul Dickovs men.  3 points against The Gills would maintain their stay in that final play-off spot which so many teams are aiming for.  They will probably have to do it without Paul Keegan though who will miss out through a knee injury picked up at Preston.  A scan will reveal if we are sadly to miss him for the rest of the season.

A win for Gillingham will move them to within a point of Rovers and ever closer to the play-off spots that they will also be aiming for.  Top scorer Cody McDonald will have to be watched closely by Butler and Co to stop him from adding to his impressive 14 goals so far this season.  Gillingham will be full of confidence after comfortably beating fellow play-off hopefuls Swindon 3-0 during the week, making it four victories from their last six games.

Rovers will be looking to avenge their defeat to Gillingham back in December when they came to the Keepmoat Stadium and left with all three points.  Two second half goals by Luke Norris gave Gillingham a 2-0 lead, Curtis Main gave Rovers a late consolation goal from the penalty spot.

Come on you reds!

Overall record Vs Gillingham:  P 56/W 12/D 13/L 31