Once upon a time...

[Aisley Drfc Leeman]

I hated football...couldn't think of anything worse to play or watch quite frankly!  Until one Tuesday evening in 2011, whilst employed by Ladbrokes I was sent to the Keepmoat Stadium to work in the South Stand betting kiosk.  It was the first time I had ever been to a football ground, let alone a Stadium like ours.  That evening i witnessed the buzz of the fans in the concourse, could hear the atmosphere from outside in the stands and when the "home team" (as it was to me back then) scored i had never heard noise quite like it.  After closing the kiosk after half time, i wandered out and took a seat at the front of the stand and finally watched my first bit of live football in the flesh.  I went to work that evening expecting to hate every last second of it, instead i fell in love with this little club of ours.  It is amazing how one little experience can completely change the way you look and feel about something and I couldnt imagine not having DRFC in my life.

I know a lot of fans will have been brought up supporting the club like their parents or grandparents but did anyone else become a fan unexpectedly?

[DearneValleyRover]

I didn’t become a fan unexpectedly but I would imagine we all have felt that buzz, the epiphany moment

[esdailles left foot]

I had no choice, nice one dad

[Bollinger]

8 years old. Walk up over the back of the town end and stand at the top of the terrace. Look down and there is this other-wordly green patch throbbing under the floodlights. I've never been as excited before or since. Hooked the split second I saw it.

Young Girl by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap got played at halftime and every time I hear it now the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I shiver.

Thanks dad.

[Gelan Swift]

My father took me to the Valley when I was nine and I hated it.  I walked around the vast terraces wondering what all the fuss was about.  Needless to say my father was disappointed as I didn't like anything he liked and that was his last throw of the dice.

However, in 1964 at the age of 17 I became depressed and struggled to even get up every morning.  One Tuesday evening I walked to Charlton (approx. 2 miles) just for a walk.  We were playing Portsmouth and as I walked towards the Sam Bartram entrance, I could hear the crowd and feel the vibe.  I climbed over the wall of the urinal and onto the South terrace.  Wow, how beautiful was that...15,000 fans baying for each others blood, it was tribal.  I could see the mob in the covered end bouncing up and down, and like a lost wolf pup I worked my way round to join the many misfits, and did it feel like home.  Took me a few months to get into the football, but it didn't matter because I had comfort, and a place to empty my manic screwed up mind of unfounded worries.  I was diagnosed 11 years later, but I can honestly say I wouldn't be here today without my club.

[Campsall rover]

Hey i did really i suppose.
In 1974 as a 19yr old having come to Doncaster in Sept 74 to go on a recreation management course at the Tech and then get a job at Adwick leisure centre in Nov 74
That was after living in Leeds all my life and then Harrogate from 1973-75 and was a fanatical LUFC supporter.
So one Saturday afternoon in Oct 1975 i decided to go to Belle Vue to watch Rovers v Reading ( as my beloved Leeds United we’re away )
I can hear the abuse ringing out from some of you as you read that sentence. Oh dear

Any way to cut a long story short i just fell in love with The Rovers and Belle Vue as a stadium. It was so different to Elland road.
I was smitten and went to a number of home games that season & Spurs away ( LC QF )
Nov 1978 Billy Bremner became manager and Leeds United became 2nd best.
My hero was the DRFC manager and it was no context.
From that day onwards DRFC became my club.
But it wasn’t supposed to be it just happened by accident.

[niteowler]

My Dad took me for the first time in the 52/53 season when I was 10 years old.Since that day never ever wanted to support any other team. Remember being on holiday not so long ago, when in the hotel bar a fella asked me which football team I supported ? When I told him Doncaster Rovers he looked at me gone out and said" no which premier team do you support" . When I replied no one he hardly spoke another word. These armchair glory hunters don't know what they are missing.

[Branton Rover]

After a couple of years of nagging my dad finally got to see my first Rovers game away at York City, September 1981 I was 9 years old - we won 1-0 Stewart Mell scored our goal - next game was at Belle Vue stood on the old pop side against Bristol Rovers - during the game the ball came out our side my dad grabbed the ball & passed it to me & I threw it back onto the pitch so that a throw in could be taken - I’ve been hooked ever since

[GazLaz]

My mum gave birth to me in the centre circle at BV.

[colfromdonny]

My mum gave birth to me in the centre circle at BV.

Do you mean conceived?

[Bristol Red Rover]

My mum gave birth to me in the centre circle at BV.

Do you mean conceived?

Probably means "tried to bury".

[roversdude]

Right on Paul Daniels bit of turf

I was 7 or 8 think we played Stockport, Old fella found me a place against the wall on Pop side. At half time I had to meet him outside the bar at the top of Stand
We always used to move to the end that Rovers were kicking towards. Some of my early “heroes” Mike Elwiss, Brian Usher and then Kitch and big Bren.
Hooked since

Different story with my lad who was born middle of December 2006, looking to the future I got him a season ticket at KMS and renewed every year only to be gutted every year when he had no interest in football.
And then August 2018 it happened, I heard the words “Dad can I come to the match with you” after waiting 11 years I can’t express how that felt. He is totally hooked now to the point we have to get to the ground early so he can get autographs etc. His first away game Charlton in the play offs was a bit different to mine at Darlington (the walk across the hockey/cricket? Pitch seemed to go on forever)

[Aisley Drfc Leeman]

Different story with my lad who was born middle of December 2006, looking to the future I got him a season ticket at KMS and renewed every year only to be gutted every year when he had no interest in football.
And then August 2018 it happened, I heard the words “Dad can I come to the match with you” after waiting 11 years I can’t express how that felt. He is totally hooked now to the point we have to get to the ground early so he can get autographs etc. His first away game Charlton in the play offs was a bit different to mine at Darlington (the walk across the hockey/cricket? Pitch seemed to go on forever)

RD my daughter has just turned one year old and I am hoping like mad that she will develop some interest in football as she gets older...even if it is just to shut her whining old dad up and escort him to an odd game or two!