Who is the best footballer you’ve played alongside

[Sammy Chung was King]

At school level, professional or whatever? Someone who had trials at rovers or other sides, or someone who didn’t make it because of attitude or just didn’t want it enough?
Or maybe someone who did make it as a pro.
Who is the biggest disappointment to pull a rovers shirt on, who you expected a lot of?

[ravenrover]

Phil Robinson, Jimmy Golze, Kevin Johnson, and one SS will know well Kev Evans
Someone recently departed Dave Collingwood
And as for somebody who was a big disappointment and didn't make it........ me :-))

[Bollinger]

Vaughan Taylor. Played two seasons for Rovers juniors around the same time as Dave Wignall, Mark Jones and maybe Kevin ? Olney I think. Class act. Was convinced he’d make it but wasn’t recalled, drifted off to make a single Worksop Town appearance, lost heart and gave it all up.

[Nudga]

Not with but played against Ian Snodin

[donnievic]

School age growing up would poss be Gez ring went to north forest as a youngster but think he had other issues and didn’t really make it .
 Other two that have played in same team one if not both as ringers lol would be adie Moses and Neil Illmam while I was playing at askern

 While at cricket played against joe root and now test umpire Richard kettlebrough who both played for Sheffield collegiate

[drfc1951]

Played against Kevin Johnson at junior school level

[Wild Rover]

Gary Nesbitt. Also any of the 12 others  who played for England V Algeria at Sidi Belle Abess in 1986

[Campsall rover]

Best player I ever played with was Brian Pollard at York City. He was a right winger. Quick and skilful. Similar to Windy Miller was at Rovers.

Northern Intermediate League 1972/73
Brian played in a couple of games i played in that season.
He was in the 1st team quite a bit that season aged 19

Best player played against was Joe Cook at Bradford City. Same season 72/73 same league.  Scored 2 goals ( 1 a pen ) against me at Valley Parade.
Striker who went on to have a good career at Bradford City, Peterborough Utd and others.

Best player who never fulfilled his true potential. Well one of them was ( yes I am bias ) was my younger step son Neil Illman who at age 16/18 was an extremely talented player.  A left winger or striker.

Steve Beaglehole took him to Middlesbrough when he went there as youth coach and Bruce Ricoh who was manager was very impressed with him after watching him in the U18s
Played 4 games for Middlesbrough in 2nd tier.  20 odd for Plymouth Argyle in 3rd tier and then Northwich Victoria and Stevenage in the Conference. 
Scored against Rovers for the Vicks at Drill field in a 3-2 win for Rovers. ( I let him off seeing we won )
He also played 2 games for Rovers when Ian Snodin was manager.

Never fulfilled his potential though. Not sure what went wrong. Bit of immaturity I think and a pillock of a coach at Boro called Ray Train ( played for Carlisle & Walsall ) didn’t help, who never praised him only criticised. How can you be slated for scoring a goal from 30 yards. Top corner of net v Preston foe reserves.  Told in no uncertain manor that he should have passed the ball.  This happened all the time.
Bernie Slaven tore into this coach after one reserve game at Wigan after Neil scored the winner in last 5 mins. For reason stated above.

Being bias again, my older step son Mark Illman also never fulfilled his potential, but that was mainly due to a bad Achilles tendon injury.
He scored 21 goals in 19 games for Rovers  Northern Intermediate League team in 1989/90 aged 17
Bremner who was back at Rovers wanted to sign him Pro contract but due to budget restrictions wasn’t able to.
Went to Chesterfield and picked as sub, debut for 1st team away at Cambridge in 3rd tier.  Paul Hart was manager, Chris McMenemy coach, ( Laurie’s son ) Dave Rushbury was Physio.
Then picked up bad injury.  Lost confidence and motivation.
He should have had a career in the EFL

There are hundreds though, thousands over the years who should have made it that didn’t. Some who played lower league pro football who had the ability to be Premier league players. Some who only played non league who with a bit of luck could have played in the football League.

Player at Rovers who springs to mind & didn’t fulfil his potential was Andy Watson. A winger who Ian and Glynn pulled from obscurity at Garforth Town.  He was one of many wasted talents I have seen over the years.

Apologies for such a long ramble.   

[roversdude]

It’s not a ramble CR

[andyst79]

Played against Kevin Johnson at junior school level

Kev goes in our local and on a golf trip we asked him who the best player he ever played against and he said Pele! Apparently Sheff Wednesday played against Santos in a friendly when he was 18 and he played against the great man.
I've played in the same team as Danny Schofield and Ricky Ravenhill.

[Bessie Red]

Dave Rushbury, John Buckley and Denis Peacock. Played in a team where Denis was our Centre Forward, he bagged loads.
John Buckley is the best of the 3, couldnt get ball off him & he would make you look stupid if you tried!

[Bentley Bullet]

Kevin Keegan.

[Wild Rover]

I thought it was "played with" not "against", but if against counts Kevin Keegan ( 3 times) Malcolm Webster (3 times) Trevor Hickson (4 times) Jim Golze ( just the once) Also a couple of notable Algerians. One player who i never had the pleasure of being alongside, who was possibly the best i was at school with was Brian Turner.

[Campsall rover]

Dave Rushbury, John Buckley and Denis Peacock. Played in a team where Denis was our Centre Forward, he bagged loads.
John Buckley is the best of the 3, couldnt get ball off him & he would make you look stupid if you tried!

JB was a very talented player. Dave Rushbury was a very decent left back. Dennis Peacock was a solid Keeper. His kicking was a bit wayward if my memory serves me correctly.

When you think about it we have had some very decent wingers over the years.
Ian Miller, John Buckley, Francis Tierney, McIndoe, Cotterill, Coppinger.
Those who saw Rovers in the 50’s & 60’s no doubt could name some more.

[Alickismyhero]

1965/66,

St Peters School, V  Stainy

Kevin Keagan, goes without saying

 and their GK Webster, I think, later played for Fulham?

[drfc1951]

Malc Webster played for Rossington secondary modern school,he was year above me

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Played against Kevin Johnson at junior school level

Kev goes in our local and on a golf trip we asked him who the best player he ever played against and he said Pele! Apparently Sheff Wednesday played against Santos in a friendly when he was 18 and he played against the great man.
I've played in the same team as Danny Schofield and Ricky Ravenhill.

Yes he did. There was an article about that game recently when Pele passed away. Played with Kev after he came out of retirement for a while and I would say he was the best player I've played with.

Played with Stan Brookes for a season for The Alverley who played an old head at centre half by then.

Also used to kick about with Kev Olney on Newton Lane Park as a kid. Played against Jack Lewis, Colin Methven  Dougie, Les Packer, Graeme Cawthorne  amongst others but Kev was the better footballer of the lot.

[RugbyRover]

It’s not a ramble CR

Agreed.

I managed to make it to the bottom, which with my attention span takes some doing.

[Bentley Bullet]

I heard Scawsby Steve played alongside a young Dizzy Burton in veterans and juniors match at a Donny Rovers open-day event, in  1929.

[selby]

  Steve must have been overage guest for the youth side then.

[andysly]

Against Kevin Hector thought he’d have been late 40’s by then. Still absolute quality.
Also against John McLelland - he plays walking football for Wakefield. I can claim scoring against a WC defender

[donnievic]

Best player I ever played with was Brian Pollard at York City. He was a right winger. Quick and skilful. Similar to Windy Miller was at Rovers.

Northern Intermediate League 1972/73
Brian played in a couple of games i played in that season.
He was in the 1st team quite a bit that season aged 19

Best player played against was Joe Cook at Bradford City. Same season 72/73 same league.  Scored 2 goals ( 1 a pen ) against me at Valley Parade.
Striker who went on to have a good career at Bradford City, Peterborough Utd and others.

Best player who never fulfilled his true potential. Well one of them was ( yes I am bias ) was my younger step son Neil Illman who at age 16/18 was an extremely talented player.  A left winger or striker.

Steve Beaglehole took him to Middlesbrough when he went there as youth coach and Bruce Ricoh who was manager was very impressed with him after watching him in the U18s
Played 4 games for Middlesbrough in 2nd tier.  20 odd for Plymouth Argyle in 3rd tier and then Northwich Victoria and Stevenage in the Conference. 
Scored against Rovers for the Vicks at Drill field in a 3-2 win for Rovers. ( I let him off seeing we won )
He also played 2 games for Rovers when Ian Snodin was manager.

Never fulfilled his potential though. Not sure what went wrong. Bit of immaturity I think and a pillock of a coach at Boro called Ray Train ( played for Carlisle & Walsall ) didn’t help, who never praised him only criticised. How can you be slated for scoring a goal from 30 yards. Top corner of net v Preston foe reserves.  Told in no uncertain manor that he should have passed the ball.  This happened all the time.
Bernie Slaven tore into this coach after one reserve game at Wigan after Neil scored the winner in last 5 mins. For reason stated above.

Being bias again, my older step son Mark Illman also never fulfilled his potential, but that was mainly due to a bad Achilles tendon injury.
He scored 21 goals in 19 games for Rovers  Northern Intermediate League team in 1989/90 aged 17
Bremner who was back at Rovers wanted to sign him Pro contract but due to budget restrictions wasn’t able to.
Went to Chesterfield and picked as sub, debut for 1st team away at Cambridge in 3rd tier.  Paul Hart was manager, Chris McMenemy coach, ( Laurie’s son ) Dave Rushbury was Physio.
Then picked up bad injury.  Lost confidence and motivation.
He should have had a career in the EFL

There are hundreds though, thousands over the years who should have made it that didn’t. Some who played lower league pro football who had the ability to be Premier league players. Some who only played non league who with a bit of luck could have played in the football League.

Player at Rovers who springs to mind & didn’t fulfil his potential was Andy Watson. A winger who Ian and Glynn pulled from obscurity at Garforth Town.  He was one of many wasted talents I have seen over the years.

Apologies for such a long ramble.   

deffo agree about mark

[scawsby steve]

Dave Rushbury, John Buckley and Denis Peacock. Played in a team where Denis was our Centre Forward, he bagged loads.
John Buckley is the best of the 3, couldnt get ball off him & he would make you look stupid if you tried!

JB was a very talented player. Dave Rushbury was a very decent left back. Dennis Peacock was a solid Keeper. His kicking was a bit wayward if my memory serves me correctly.

When you think about it we have had some very decent wingers over the years.
Ian Miller, John Buckley, Francis Tierney, McIndoe, Cotterill, Coppinger.
Those who saw Rovers in the 50’s & 60’s no doubt could name some more.

That's right, Camps. Ronnie Walker on the left wing, and Johnny Mooney on the right wing for the 1956/57 team that included Gregg, Alick, and Tindill.

Probably the greatest Rovers team ever.

[Alickismyhero]

I thought it was "played with" not "against", but if against counts Kevin Keegan ( 3 times) Malcolm Webster (3 times) Trevor Hickson (4 times) Jim Golze ( just the once) Also a couple of notable Algerians. One player who i never had the pleasure of being alongside, who was possibly the best i was at school with was Brian Turner.

WR,

I think I must have been in the year ahead of you at school.

I played with Brian Turner a very good CH. He did actually play for Donny Boys, but KK never did.

The coach at the time was Ken Howard, my form master, who's claim to fame was that he never ever played KK yet he was in the Donny Boys squad.

[ravenrover]

Forgot to say I played against Morgan Hunt several times when he turned out for Askern Welfare

[BillyStubbsTears]

Best I ever played with was Kev Eley at Mexborough School. He still is the youngest first teamer for Rotherham. He tackled like a wrecking ball.

Best I played against was Ray Warburton who was at Wickersley School. Went on to play 400 league matches for Rotherham, York and Northampton.

I did once play away at Rawmarsh School on the same field as David Seaman, but he was in a 5th year match when I was in the 1st year.

[Alan Southstand]

Played against Mike Elwiss, at Donny Junior/Intermediate league level.

Played alongside a lad who was on the books at Burnley (whose name I can’t remember) when I was at at Bradford Uni, back in the day. It’s the easiest set of matches I ever played in and scored for fun (we were beaten finalists). Whoever he was, he was the best midfield player I ever had the pleasure of playing alongside.

Played alongside Bill Parlett, who was a surveyor at Hatfield Colliery, in a number of friendly games. He had played non-league but was a great midfield player.

[Goole Rover]

  Steve must have been overage guest for the youth side then.

I’ll have a guess at yours Selby as Haj Jackson.

[essexrover]

Steve Lister, at Don Valley.

[tommy toes]

I played against Rod Belfitt


at cricket.