Who's the (second) best Rovers supporter on this forum (after me)?

[drfchound]

Me and Tommy Watson from Edlington once hitchhiked to Norwich to watch us lose a cup game. We managed to get down there relatively easily but the return journey was a complete disaster. The folly of youth.

During the same season I think, I risked life and limb going to watch us at Millwall where I was belted around the head with a beer bottle by Christ knows who. Claret pouring everywhere, seeing stars for a week after and had to get stitched up by the St John’s Ambulance mob.

The following year I went to every England game at the World Cup in Spain proudly
displaying my Union Jack bearing Doncaster Rovers across the middle. Promoting our club to the world.

So the debate is over. I’m the best Rovers fan.

Hitch hiking!
Me and a mate started doing it when we were 15 years old and went to loads of Rovers away games that way.
Noteably the first game of the season at Torquay in 1969 and we were allowed on a supporters bus for the ride home.
We hitched to Grimsby and got a lift there  and back with the match referee who also got us complementary tickets.
Rochdale away saw us stuck waiting for a lift on the Woodhead Pass. We had our Rovers scarves on and once again a supporters bus stopped and gave us a lift there.
We had to thumb it home that time though.
Fulham away was another adventure back then, thumbing it both ways.
Thinking back about how dangerous it must have been we were lucky to have got through it all unscathed.
Happy days though.

[Avsuptem]

I first went to BV in early 1962 and the result was also a goalless draw.
Colin Booth scored the first goal I saw.
I might get a top six finish for this.

Just beat me Hound - 24 November 1962, lost 1-4 to Tranmere in FA Cup, and we had a man carried off with a broken leg. But like you, the first Rovers goal I saw Rovers score was by Colin Booth. No surprise - he scored 38 out of our 71 goals (all comps) that season.

Thst was my first game too Uncle.
Was that you standing behind me shouting eloquent advice at the referee?

[RoseTInteD]

What a wonderful post, BB. We should have more like it.

Not me, anyway.
First game was 11 Sept 1973 when we beat Barnsley 1-0 at home.
Followed ever since.

[Dutch Uncle]

I first went to BV in early 1962 and the result was also a goalless draw.
Colin Booth scored the first goal I saw.
I might get a top six finish for this.

Just beat me Hound - 24 November 1962, lost 1-4 to Tranmere in FA Cup, and we had a man carried off with a broken leg. But like you, the first Rovers goal I saw Rovers score was by Colin Booth. No surprise - he scored 38 out of our 71 goals (all comps) that season.

Thst was my first game too Uncle.
Was that you standing behind me shouting eloquent advice at the referee?

Not sure I was tall enough to be behind anyone or old enough to be eloquent 

[Barmby Rover]

1964, can't remember the opposition, but King Alick scored and scared the crap out of me when I was sat on the wall at the Cowshed end, I thought the ball was coming through the net!

[Hounslowrover]

1958 I think, first year of the new Divisions 3 and 4.  We were in Div 3 I think, I saw Rovers v Rochdale , I think we lost 0-1 and eventually relegated.  I would have been ten.  Interestingly, my first away match was at Rochdale.

[tommy toes]

1960, I was 7, my older cousins took me.
Rovers 3 Millwall 0 iirc.

[turnbull for england]

1988 89 season sure is was Rotherham at home . Sheff Utd in FA cup  few games later .All from main stand before transfer to pop side for 89/90

[Bentley Bullet]

The first Rovers game I attended was with my brother, my dad, and my dad's mate, Scawsby Steve.

It's a pity I was too young to remember any details of the game.

[richtherover]

I reckon getting up at 3 a.m. every Sunday morning for 30 years to listen to or watch Rovers, usually ending in disappointment must be the definition of commitment, (or madness)! 

[number19]

Knew the game, just checked the date.
Home vs Emley, FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying Tie 28th Oct 2001.

[scawsby steve]

The first Rovers game I attended was with my brother, my dad, and my dad's mate, Scawsby Steve.

It's a pity I was too young to remember any details of the game.

Wolfie was there as well. Apparently he'd been given a complimentary ticket by his workmates as a retirement present.

[ForsolongaRover]

Although my BV experiences date back to the late 40s, actual matches that I can quote I remember going to were not till the early 50s - Man City and the famous  4-3, Tommy Lawton scoring for Notts County, Everton at Christmas and Brian Makepeace’s debut at right back close to my position on the Rossington end wall behind Ken Hardwick’s goal. Before that, I remember Peter Doherty and the massive rivalry with Raich Carter and his team Hull City for whom Rovers was their local derby - hence the record BV crowd. In fact my memories are of Rovers players at the time rather than who they were playing.

But I cannot claim the kind of continuous active support comparable to most of you. Without the internet and away from Doncaster for 20 years until the return to the league, it was only when the WWW provided the links we can now enjoy that I was able to become properly involved again.

[niteowler]

1953 when my dad took me when i was 10 year old. Never supported any other team  even though i like watching all League football . Back then no TV football so you supported your hometown club.  Remember Rovers playing Fulham at Belle Vue with John Haynes and the former match of the day presenter playing for Fulham in the old 2nd division  [Jimmy Hill].Wouldnt change it all for a gold pig .

[niteowler]

PS. And still buy a season ticket every year . COYR

[Donnywolf]

Im presuming / assuming most of today's posters are men so how about the best Rovers Supporter of the fairer sex ?

I'm departing for game now but just time to add a candidate for oldest regularly attending make supporter.

I won't name him yet but when I was a lad ( insert own old jokes here .......... ) I used to Score for Hatfield Main CC and around 12 or 13 I would get a game if they were short

That's how I met my nominee and a few Seasons back I asked him if he was still keeping wicket and he said " I'm eighty bloody two" and so he must be 85 now and still attends every game at home and I've seen him away too

For me no idea of first game but only very young and saw Harry Gregg. I DO wish I knew my first match details but no chance of ever knowing

Chesterfield first away game in 61 and bloke too me and my dad there , and we stopped at what is now Blyth Services for a Tea 

[IDM]

24th April 1999 away at Telford. I'm playing for youngest here.

My first game was on August 7th 1999, a 3-2 win over Forest Green.

There's definitely people on here not even born by then, mind.

Ian Duerden hat-trick if I recall it correctly on the opening day of the season. I drive down from Newcastle for the game. Remember driving home thinking we'd blitz the conference that year.
My first was boxing day 1975 Lincoln at home, got beat 4-2. Always good to start with a defeat. It immediately dampens your expectations of the next 46 years

Well at least that defeat was to an excellent side, Jon; Graham Taylor's Lincoln stormed the 4th division that season, with a forward line of Percy Freeman, John Ward, and Peter Graham.

Freeman was a dirty tw*t as well.

That was my first time too..

[Fal]

1992 vs Hereford I think, all I know it was at home against Hereford when I was like 7 or 8

[EasyforDennis]

Im presuming / assuming most of today's posters are men so how about the best Rovers Supporter of the fairer sex ?

I'm departing for game now but just time to add a candidate for oldest regularly attending make supporter.

I won't name him yet but when I was a lad ( insert own old jokes here .......... ) I used to Score for Hatfield Main CC and around 12 or 13 I would get a game if they were short

That's how I met my nominee and a few Seasons back I asked him if he was still keeping wicket and he said " I'm eighty bloody two" and so he must be 85 now and still attends every game at home and I've seen him away too

For me no idea of first game but only very young and saw Harry Gregg. I DO wish I knew my first match details but no chance of ever knowing

Chesterfield first away game in 61 and bloke too me and my dad there , and we stopped at what is now Blyth Services for a Tea

Not DS by any chance was it?

[Donnywolf]

Yes. Saw him yesterday.I offer him up at 85 yo (ish) as Rovers eldest regular attendee

Objectively can anyone beat that ?

Similarly ladies dont like to be asked their ages but I wonder who that Title would fall to ? Eldest lady who regularly attends

[Donnywolf]

Back to me , nowhere near the efforts of DS and others around that age . Top men all of them

I kicked off at around same time as John Ryan , seeing my first game when 5 or 6 I would guess , but thats all it is a guess.

I remember watching Nat Lofthouse barging Harry Gregg over the line for a Goal that won the Cup for Bolton and beat Man U

I was 7 I think and wept buckets because I knew HG was an ex Rover. I grew up quickly but still weep buckets but jts now when Man U score 

My Dad was brought by his dad from Wolverhampton area and he took me to Belle Vue from a young age but we watched Wolves when they were in the area. 1959 / 60 Cup Final and we were watching Wolves v Blackburn. I had some kind of mini Rattle and Dave Whelan ( DW Sports in later life ) broke his leg and no substitutions were allowed and I rattled my rattle like mad thinking thats it "weve" won but got a massive rebuke from my Dad for not being "sportsman like "

Don't know what he would think of me now in mid 70s baying at numpty Referees almost every game though

[German Rover]

Colchester at home in 89/90. I'd just moved to Doncaster after my dad left the army and came home. I'd watched a couple of other teams while moving about like Preston North End and Hibs. But the first time i walked through the turnstile and saw the massive bright green pitch, followed by that beautiful all white kit, i was done for. 36 years later i've just took my son to his first game yesterday. Result was awful but the event was great for both of us.

[Harrogate Rover]

April 15th 1972, this wide eyed 6 year old was taken, by his Grandad, to watch Doncaster v Chester in a Division 4 game alongside a couple of thousand hardy souls. The game finished 0-0. Trips to Belle Vue until he died in January 1976 usually involved going on the train, leaving Harrogate station aroung 10,30am, changing at Leeds and arriving at Donny Station around 1.30pm, then once at the ground calling to see Ken Avis and Don Abbott in the Supporters Club Office. My abiding memory of my Grandad comes from an away game on a Tuesday night in 1975 at Bradford. Rovers were 3-0 up at half time, City pulled it back to 3-3 before Les Chappell scored to put Rovers back in front. Unfortunatley we had to leave before the end of the game to catch the bus, and Grandad asked everybody getting on and off on the bus back to Harrogate if they knew the score,  in fact we did'nt find out the result until the next morning when my Dad bought a paper. Rovers had indeed won 4-3 and I'm pretty sure it was his last ever Rovers away game.
My Dad was a casual Leeds fan and took me to a couple of games during the 73/74 season, both 3-0 wins, but I knew I'd been sucked in by Rovers as on both occassions I was more concerned by how we were doing and if my favourite player by now was Peter Kitchen.
Whatever the opposite to a glory hunter is thats me, as Leeds won the title that season and Donny finished mid table in Division 4, but my fate for the next 50 odd years had been decided...... Rovers Til I Die 

[selby]

  ForsolongaRover I would bet you are the last man standing who is still a regular supporter along with my friend Derek Beaumont who still attend games.
 Fantastic memories such as Hound hitch hiking hundreds of miles are things that are just not re enacted today to go to games.
 Great memories

[Bristol Red Rover]

If best supporter is including Selby and BB, I have to nominate SydneyRover. The name gives you an idea of the superhuman effort he makes to get to matches.

His early days were spent travelling to Melborne, but after decades of feeling something wasn't quite right, the penny dropped, in his internal pokie, after which match days became richer as Syd became poorer. I could go on, but fair to say that Syd brings that fruity drop of antipodean sunshine to the Eco-Power, and has gathered a band of ex pat travellers in his "Crikey Strewth" massive in the Far East Stand.

[Draytonian III]

I met a bloke at the Cantley lights bus stop in winter 78 and got chatting to him about Doncaster Rovers, I was still at school and he had come up from Portsmouth ( on his beloved trains ) where he was in the Navy, I still see him now unless I can nip past him and his bloody gnome !!!

[Bentley Bullet]

April 15th 1972, this wide eyed 6 year old was taken, by his Grandad, to watch Doncaster v Chester in a Division 4 game alongside a couple of thousand hardy souls. The game finished 0-0. Trips to Belle Vue until he died in January 1976 usually involved going on the train, leaving Harrogate station aroung 10,30am, changing at Leeds and arriving at Donny Station around 1.30pm, then once at the ground calling to see Ken Avis and Don Abbott in the Supporters Club Office. My abiding memory of my Grandad comes from an away game on a Tuesday night in 1975 at Bradford. Rovers were 3-0 up at half time, City pulled it back to 3-3 before Les Chappell scored to put Rovers back in front. Unfortunatley we had to leave before the end of the game to catch the bus, and Grandad asked everybody getting on and off on the bus back to Harrogate if they knew the score,  in fact we did'nt find out the result until the next morning when my Dad bought a paper. Rovers had indeed won 4-3 and I'm pretty sure it was his last ever Rovers away game.
My Dad was a casual Leeds fan and took me to a couple of games during the 73/74 season, both 3-0 wins, but I knew I'd been sucked in by Rovers as on both occassions I was more concerned by how we were doing and if my favourite player by now was Peter Kitchen.
Whatever the opposite to a glory hunter is thats me, as Leeds won the title that season and Donny finished mid table in Division 4, but my fate for the next 50 odd years had been decided...... Rovers Til I Die 

1972?

Pfft..... Newcomer!

[Padge_DRFC]

Complete opposite. My 4 year old. Newly appointed ST holders, following meet Santa day v Plymouth. He loved it.

Probably the most optimistic fan. Board went up for 5 minutes v Cardiff and he said 5 minutes to get 4 goals.