Opposition player?

[Herbert Anchovy]

Chatting to some of the lads yesterday about opposition players who always have a blinder against your team. That name you saw on the opposition team sheet and thought...oh Christ!

Back in the 1980's there was a player for Reading called Trevor Senior who, without fail, would tear us apart at every given opportunity. I remember one game at Belle Vue when I actually felt like applauding him at the end as he'd made our defence and midfield look like kids. He did the same (not sure if the same season) when we played them away too. Literally took us to pieces. There was also a striker at, I think, Blackpool called Paul Stewart around that time who, if he didn't score against us, would create chances for his team mates too. He always played really, really well against us.

Which opposition players do you remember like this?

[Branton Rover]

Tony Cunningham was always brilliant until we signed him. He utterly battered Russ Wilcox at Milmoor then when he came to Belle Vue he was more like John Inman.

[Dutch Uncle]

Before that Les Chappell always seemed to score against us, and although he was OK he never scored anything like as many when he played for us.

[Draytonian III]

Phil Stant and Leroy Lita both always seemed to score against us

[turnbull for england]

Came here to say Phil Stant,  it was like he had curse on us

[Bentley Bullet]

Dave Kitson deserves a special mention for getting away with cheating by conning officials every time he played against us.

[Bentley Bullet]

Reading keeper Steve Death always played like Lev Yashin against us.

[RoverinLincs]

Lee Trundle

[roversdude]

Reading keeper Steve Death always played like Lev Yashin against us.

I was just going to offer him up as an example BB

[MachoMadness]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

[Iberian Red]

There was a Grimsby/Lincoln?player late 70s early 80s. Forde?

Also Kitch gave us a horrible time when he came back with Orient .

[scawsby steve]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

Yes, MM. Big Matt Smith has scored against us for Bristol City, Leeds, and Salford.

[tyke1962]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

JCR did dine out on THAT goal against yourselves in a John Barnes v Brazil kind of way to be fair MM .

[i_ateallthepies]

Akinfenwa!

[Pliskin]

Paddy Madden always seems to score against us.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I give you the ultimate example of God to Dog when joining us.

Fatboy Fat, Carl Awful.

[drfchound]

Matt Smith, Leroy Lita, Paddy Madden and ……. Jordi Hiwula !!

[DMnumber4]

David McGoldrick.

8 wins in 11 games v Rovers and 6 goals to boot.

Can't wait for him to retire!

[selby]

 McIndoe played well against us and absolutely brilliant  for us.

 Davis at Chesterfield when only a youngster smashed us a couple of times before moving to better things.

[Highland Rover]

 Got to be Tommy Tynan , 18 goals against us for 5 of his 6 clubs , only failure for Lincoln City

 Did he manage 1 for us ?

[Donnywolf]

Before that Les Chappell always seemed to score against us, and although he was OK he never scored anything like as many when he played for us.

Apart from the very very unfortunate O.g v Spurs at WHLane that pulled it back to 2-2  and the rest is history

[roversdude]

Got to be Tommy Tynan , 18 goals against us for 5 of his 6 clubs , only failure for Lincoln City

 Did he manage 1 for us ?

Yeah ball hit him on his arse

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Kitson!

[MachoMadness]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

JCR did dine out on THAT goal against yourselves in a John Barnes v Brazil kind of way to be fair MM .

There weren't many bad days watching Rovers back then, that was certainly one of them. Miserable day.

[RoversInSpain]

There was a Grimsby/Lincoln?player late 70s early 80s. Forde?

Also Kitch gave us a horrible time when he came back with Orient .

Tony Ford, one of very few players to play 1000+ competitive games, so a fair chance he was a pain in the neck for us with about 11 years at Grimsby. Think he’s an MBE too.

[Iberian Red]

There was a Grimsby/Lincoln?player late 70s early 80s. Forde?

Also Kitch gave us a horrible time when he came back with Orient .

Tony Ford, one of very few players to play 1000+ competitive games, so a fair chance he was a pain in the neck for us with about 11 years at Grimsby. Think he’s an MBE too.

Thanks RIS.
Thought my memory was playing tricks on me.
I'm sure there was a Cunningham(mentioned above) at Lincoln who was also a real pain in the rectum, but one you'd love playing for you.

[Donnywolf]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

JCR did dine out on THAT goal against yourselves in a John Barnes v Brazil kind of way to be fair MM .

There weren't many bad days watching Rovers back then, that was certainly one of them. Miserable day.

It was all going well till Lewis Guy broke free looking to put us 2 up

Then I semi jest he slowed down so D Moore esq could catch him and bring him down which he did and got a Red Card

So instead of maybe making it 2-0 it stayed 1-0 and 11 v 10. The rest descended into a complete horror show played out with 11000 plus singing " we've only got 10 men"

Gggrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Remember wishing we could sign Jamal Campbell-Ryce at one time because he always caused us problems.

Leroy Lita as mentioned above was always a nightmare for us.

I think big Matt Smith is a modern day player who makes the list now as well!

JCR did dine out on THAT goal against yourselves in a John Barnes v Brazil kind of way to be fair MM .

There weren't many bad days watching Rovers back then, that was certainly one of them. Miserable day.

It was all going well till Lewis Guy broke free looking to put us 2 up

Then I semi jest he slowed down so D Moore esq could catch him and bring him down which he did and got a Red Card

So instead of maybe making it 2-0 it stayed 1-0 and 11 v 10. The rest descended into a complete horror show played out with 11000 plus singing " we've only got 10 men"

Gggrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I remember Brian Stock trying to take him out close to the touchline...and missed him!

Made a very quick escape from Oakwell that day to avoid stick from the Barnsley fans.

[Campsall rover]

Reading keeper Steve Death always played like Lev Yashin against us.

Played in my 1st ever Rovers match in Nov 1975.

[Campsall rover]

Before that Les Chappell always seemed to score against us, and although he was OK he never scored anything like as many when he played for us.

Played for Rovers against his old club Reading in my first ever Rovers match in Nov 1975
If I recall correctly he scored our goal in a 1-1 draw.
The score is definitely correct.