Football in the third tier in the 1960s

[d3d4]

Hi all,

Thought this might be of interest to you. I have recently read this book that covers football in the third tier during the 1960s – not based on Doncaster but a captivating story nonetheless.

What is so striking is how much things have changed in football – the money involved now, for example, is ridiculous.

Anyway here is a link with a bit more info for those that may be interested in this sort of stuff.

http://d3d4football.com/roy-bentleys-stationary-club-life-in-division-3-in-the-1960s/

Thanks
James

[Bristol Red Rover]

Love those pics - sweet memories of muddy and sawdust filled goal areas, the days when strikers were issued a fold up shovel in the winter months to dig the ball out for the goalmouth action.

[Dutch Uncle]

Is that Laurie Sheffield on the left of the top photo?

[Donnywolf]

I would say it is

[drfc1951]

I thought it was

[Donnywolf]

Interesting to see the 60s was the decade of poor Refereeing

Thats not really changed for the better imo although more correct decisions are maybe made... re goals ... with the technology that does not mean the Refs have got better

Parallel ... Cricket where the umpires are great in most cases but call on reviews and the replay sorts it out

[Donnywolf]

Is that Laurie Sheffield on the left of the top photo?

I have a dissenter who says its not LS unless its in his Newport days ?

[sheffield exile1]

The 60's were a real game changer for DRFC. After crashing out of Division 2 late 50's straight into the newly formed Division 4 in successive seasons (ironic or what?) we had the ill fated promotion mid 60's (straight back down) to the Lawrie Mac promotion at the end. Ironically the programmes of the mid 50's prior to this bemoaned the lack of crowds (sound familiar?) when we were playing Derby, West Ham, Everton, Liverpool Man City etc. who, although not the prestige teams they are now, were significant.so historically crowds at BV were an issue. Given the total lack of any marketing nous, no sponsorship, replica shirt sales, and the gourmet meals of a pie/wagon wheel/bovril/tea from the snack bars meant revenue streams were very poorly managed. You can argue saturation point now in some of those areas, but the staggering naivety of any marketing initiatives meant a lack of cash for a traditionally under-supported team. Gates equated to profit, not marketing the Indian sub-continent with Man U shirts. To say times have changed must be the understatement of the year, given Sheikh???....now has billions in any one of many clubs, as opposed to Ben Bailey or Bernie Boldry, local businessmen who had very different motives. As Bob Dylan said in the 60's "The times they are a changing..."

[roversdude]

There is a cracking book about Robin Friday who played for Reading in the70’s

[Dutch Uncle]

Is that Laurie Sheffield on the left of the top photo?

I have a dissenter who says its not LS unless its in his Newport days ?

I think I now agree with your dissenter. Assuming it was Division 3 (as the book is called) then it would have to have been 1966-67 or 1969-70. Rovers strip in those years was white with red around the collar, but the collar was round, not v-necked. The 1969-70 shirt was also not plain but had a round crest on the right chest, and we had red socks. In 1966-67 it looks like our socks were plain and did not have two stripes at the top. Finally the hairline does not look quite like Laurie's.

Bit of a shame unfortunately.

Edit: Laurie only played one game for Newport in Division 3, and that was in 1961-62. so unlikely to be for Newport. However there is still the possibility of when he was playing for Rotherham, Oldham or Luton between his two spells at Rovers.

[ravenrover]

The 60's were a real game changer for DRFC. After crashing out of Division 2 late 50's straight into the newly formed Division 4 in successive seasons (ironic or what?) we had the ill fated promotion mid 60's (straight back down) to the Lawrie Mac promotion at the end. Ironically the programmes of the mid 50's prior to this bemoaned the lack of crowds (sound familiar?) when we were playing Derby, West Ham, Everton, Liverpool Man City etc. who, although not the prestige teams they are now, were significant.so historically crowds at BV were an issue. Given the total lack of any marketing nous, no sponsorship, replica shirt sales, and the gourmet meals of a pie/wagon wheel/bovril/tea from the snack bars meant revenue streams were very poorly managed. You can argue saturation point now in some of those areas, but the staggering naivety of any marketing initiatives meant a lack of cash for a traditionally under-supported team. Gates equated to profit, not marketing the Indian sub-continent with Man U shirts. To say times have changed must be the understatement of the year, given Sheikh???....now has billions in any one of many clubs, as opposed to Ben Bailey or Bernie Boldry, local businessmen who had very different motives. As Bob Dylan said in the 60's "The times they are a changing..."

Sorry but it's Changin' no g