Opposition player?

[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.

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

And that was my very first Rovers away game.

[RoversInSpain]

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

And that was my very first Rovers away game.

Haha, me too. Rovers went ahead only to fall behind 2-1. Rovers dominated and thoroughly deserved the equaliser to make it 2-2. We really did match up to them
Then the O.G, can’t for the life of me remember what happened but it was an odd one and completely knocked the stuffing out of us.
Then Spurs just seemed to score for fun.

[Lesonthewest]

The late Keith Walwyn was always a thorn in our side.

[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.

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

And that was my very first Rovers away game.

Haha, me too. Rovers went ahead only to fall behind 2-1. Rovers dominated and thoroughly deserved the equaliser to make it 2-2. We really did match up to them
Then the O.G, can’t for the life of me remember what happened but it was an odd one and completely knocked the stuffing out of us.
Then Spurs just seemed to score for fun.

I wrote this for the fanzine for the series 'favourite defeats':

Tottenham 7 Doncaster Rovers 2

It may seem strange but by far my favourite Rovers defeat was one where we lost by five clear goals. It was however a very special occasion as it was the first time Rovers ever reached the quarter final of a national cup competition.

I had recently left the country for a job in Aachen in what was then West Germany, and I travelled back specially for this match played which was played at White Hart Lane on 3 December 1975,

I started from Aachen-Hauptbahnhof and from Aachen to Ostend I boarded the famous Vienna-Ostend express for the last three hours of its marathon journey, followed by a boat to Dover. I remember fantasising that the train was the fabled Orient Express and we were about to murder Spurs. Actually I was partially correct in that the train actually had through-coaches which were part of the real Orient Express and which joined my train in Vienna. Also it could be said we murdered Spurs in everything but the score.

I stayed with a college friend, a lifelong Sours supporter. In riposte to his pre-match banter I suggested to him how could anyone respect a team with a player called (John) Pratt.

Rovers played Spurs off the park for nearly an hour and my friend was deathly silent. An early Rovers lead thanks to Alan Murray was cancelled out by Pratt. Silly me for challenging the fates. The Daily Telegraph report I still have reported:

‘If Pat Jennings had not been at his most agile and Les Chappell not put the ball in his own net Tottenham might not now be in the semi-finals of the League Cup. These may seem strange observations to make of a match Spurs won with their biggest score for more than four years, yet it cannot be stated too emphatically that Jennings made world class saves at crucial periods during a game Tottenham won not nearly as easily as statistics suggest’.

Approaching the hour the score was 2-2 with Kitchen inevitably having scored our second, when a bizarre own goal by Les Chappell from the most acute of angles turned the game on its head. Immediately afterwards Jennings made a world class save (he had an absolute blinder throughout), and Spurs suddenly believed they could walk on water. Four more goals followed in 20 minutes, John Duncan scored a quickfire hattrick and the final score was possibly the most misleading I have ever seen – even my friend agreed. I was so proud of my team.

[scawsby steve]

I thought Peacock was poor for us that night. At least 4 of those goals should have been saved.

[RugbyRover]

The late Keith Walwyn was always a thorn in our side.

and John Bryne

[Bentley Bullet]

Dean Windass was always a bugger against us.

[richtherover]

Steve Uzelac scored for us that day Camps and ironically the opposition player I always feared most was playing for Reading - Robin Friday. What a player. He didn't score that day but there were a few players around that time who seemed to love playing (and scoring) against us. Anyone remember Brian Yeo (Gillingham), John O'Mara (Brentford), Percy Freeman (Lincoln) and Colin Garwood (Colchester), to name a few. In my 60 years of watching football I don't think I've seen a more gifted player than Robin Friday. Self destructed at the age of 38. So tragic. I was privileged to see him a few times. Nearest thing to King Alick.

[anton123]

Scarborough had a striker back in conference day that scored a worldy against us at bell view , sure he went on to sign for a league club , any1 remember his name ?

[Donnywolf]

Reply to Dutch Uncle's #33 above ( saves Quotes )

The Pat Jennings one you refer to was probably the one I think I remember

Chris Balderstone hit ( in my memory ) an absolute cannonball of a Volley. He could not have caught it sweeter or with more power.

Immediately ( in memory ) I though GOAL

Pat Jennings however dived to his left and not only pulled off a brilliant , wonder save he actually had the audacity , brilliance etc ( in my memory ) actually caught and held the bloody thing

I've never seen anything like that , neither before nor since

[Sammy Chung was King]

Scarborough had a striker back in conference day that scored a worldy against us at bell view , sure he went on to sign for a league club , any1 remember his name ?

That would be Chris Tate, scored a great goal against us in a game. Did nothing else in the game apart from that if I remember right. What a goal it was.

[Campsall rover]

Reply to Dutch Uncle's #33 above ( saves Quotes )

The Pat Jennings one you refer to was probably the one I think I remember

Chris Balderstone hit ( in my memory ) an absolute cannonball of a Volley. He could not have caught it sweeter or with more power.

Immediately ( in memory ) I though GOAL
 
Pat Jennings however dived to his left and not only pulled off a brilliant , wonder save he actually had the audacity , brilliance etc ( in my memory ) actually caught and held the bloody thing

I've never seen anything like that , neither before nor since

Pat Jennings is one of the best UK born goalkeepers I have ever seen.
Along with Banks, Southall, & Shilton he would be in my top 4
He was even capable of taking crosses one handed. Hands like buckets. Fantastic goalkeeper.

When I mention Southall I refer to him at his peak while at Everton in the 80’s and not his time at the mighty Rovers. Just in case anyone thinks I have lost my marbles.

[Campsall rover]

Steve Uzelac scored for us that day Camps and ironically the opposition player I always feared most was playing for Reading - Robin Friday. What a player. He didn't score that day but there were a few players around that time who seemed to love playing (and scoring) against us. Anyone remember Brian Yeo (Gillingham), John O'Mara (Brentford), Percy Freeman (Lincoln) and Colin Garwood (Colchester), to name a few. In my 60 years of watching football I don't think I've seen a more gifted player than Robin Friday. Self destructed at the age of 38. So tragic. I was privileged to see him a few times. Nearest thing to King Alick.

Right I will take your word for it that Uzelac scored v Reading in Nov ‘75’
I remember all those players you mentioned above.  Happy days. Well some of those players made us miserable. Percy Freeman comes to mind. Scored a hat trick at Belle Vue for Lincoln didn’t he.

Some great memories from the 70’s it was so different from the previous 12 years I spent at Elland Road where I was watching a team that consistently finished in the top 4 of the 1st division to watching an ave Div 4 team.
I just fell in love with Belle Vue that Nov 75 day and was hooked from then on.
That match v Hull City with 20,000 + in attendance that took the Club into the Qtr final of the League Cup  was fantastic. The atmosphere was amazing.
It was that day that I could see the potential that DRFC had as a club and the underachievement it had sustained over almost 2 decades and continued to sustain until JR came along and gave the club the impetus and drive to get the club back to the level it should be at.

Will we see those heady days again I ask? With an another JR at the helm a man or woman who is happy to invest heavily without a return on that investment then we have a chance.
In todays world without a hefty sum spent on players wages then it is almost impossible to sustain Championship football.
Rotherham and Barnsley are consistently showing that is the case since we left the 2nd tier in 2014.
Yes it’s 9 & half years can you believe it.

[pib]

Goalkeepers who have blinding games against us always stick in the mind. The one that comes to mind straight away is the Greek guy who used to play for Hartlepool in the mid 2000's (Konstantopolous?) who always seemed to make save after save when we played them.

[Iberian Red]

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

Didn't know you played for Rovers Campsall!
You kept the quiet

[Chris Black come back]

Scarborough had a striker back in conference day that scored a worldy against us at bell view , sure he went on to sign for a league club , any1 remember his name ?

That would be Chris Tate, scored a great goal against us in a game. Did nothing else in the game apart from that if I remember right. What a goal it was.

Think we tried to sign him at one point. A bit further back was Jason White, he always caused problems for us.

[RoversInSpain]

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

And that was my very first Rovers away game.

Haha, me too. Rovers went ahead only to fall behind 2-1. Rovers dominated and thoroughly deserved the equaliser to make it 2-2. We really did match up to them
Then the O.G, can’t for the life of me remember what happened but it was an odd one and completely knocked the stuffing out of us.
Then Spurs just seemed to score for fun.

I wrote this for the fanzine for the series 'favourite defeats':

Tottenham 7 Doncaster Rovers 2

It may seem strange but by far my favourite Rovers defeat was one where we lost by five clear goals. It was however a very special occasion as it was the first time Rovers ever reached the quarter final of a national cup competition.

I had recently left the country for a job in Aachen in what was then West Germany, and I travelled back specially for this match played which was played at White Hart Lane on 3 December 1975,

I started from Aachen-Hauptbahnhof and from Aachen to Ostend I boarded the famous Vienna-Ostend express for the last three hours of its marathon journey, followed by a boat to Dover. I remember fantasising that the train was the fabled Orient Express and we were about to murder Spurs. Actually I was partially correct in that the train actually had through-coaches which were part of the real Orient Express and which joined my train in Vienna. Also it could be said we murdered Spurs in everything but the score.

I stayed with a college friend, a lifelong Sours supporter. In riposte to his pre-match banter I suggested to him how could anyone respect a team with a player called (John) Pratt.

Rovers played Spurs off the park for nearly an hour and my friend was deathly silent. An early Rovers lead thanks to Alan Murray was cancelled out by Pratt. Silly me for challenging the fates. The Daily Telegraph report I still have reported:

‘If Pat Jennings had not been at his most agile and Les Chappell not put the ball in his own net Tottenham might not now be in the semi-finals of the League Cup. These may seem strange observations to make of a match Spurs won with their biggest score for more than four years, yet it cannot be stated too emphatically that Jennings made world class saves at crucial periods during a game Tottenham won not nearly as easily as statistics suggest’.

Approaching the hour the score was 2-2 with Kitchen inevitably having scored our second, when a bizarre own goal by Les Chappell from the most acute of angles turned the game on its head. Immediately afterwards Jennings made a world class save (he had an absolute blinder throughout), and Spurs suddenly believed they could walk on water. Four more goals followed in 20 minutes, John Duncan scored a quickfire hattrick and the final score was possibly the most misleading I have ever seen – even my friend agreed. I was so proud of my team.

Cheers Dutch, what an adventure you had just to get there.
You confirmed what I had in my memory that the O.G was at such a strange angle as I couldn’t understand why the Spurs fans were cheering as the ball seemed to run across the goal in front of Dennis. Didn’t realise it had bobbled in.

[RoversInSpain]

Les Lawrence of Torquay in the mid 70’s always seem to make life uncomfortable for us.

[Prez]

Andy Flounders used to always score against us. Also any player representing Reading used to play well against us.

[ctay]

Scarborough had a striker back in conference day that scored a worldy against us at bell view , sure he went on to sign for a league club , any1 remember his name ?

Was it Darren Freeman or something like that?

Dave Bamber - Blackpool
Andy Flounders - Scunthorpe

[Branton Rover]

Keith Walwyn always seemed to have a field day when he came up against Rovers.

[scawsby steve]

Reply to Dutch Uncle's #33 above ( saves Quotes )

The Pat Jennings one you refer to was probably the one I think I remember

Chris Balderstone hit ( in my memory ) an absolute cannonball of a Volley. He could not have caught it sweeter or with more power.

Immediately ( in memory ) I though GOAL
 
Pat Jennings however dived to his left and not only pulled off a brilliant , wonder save he actually had the audacity , brilliance etc ( in my memory ) actually caught and held the bloody thing

I've never seen anything like that , neither before nor since

Pat Jennings is one of the best UK born goalkeepers I have ever seen.
Along with Banks, Southall, & Shilton he would be in my top 4
He was even capable of taking crosses one handed. Hands like buckets. Fantastic goalkeeper.

When I mention Southall I refer to him at his peak while at Everton in the 80’s and not his time at the mighty Rovers. Just in case anyone thinks I have lost my marbles.

Banks is my No1, Camps. My No2 played for the Rovers, but a bit before your time.

[Campsall rover]

Reply to Dutch Uncle's #33 above ( saves Quotes )

The Pat Jennings one you refer to was probably the one I think I remember

Chris Balderstone hit ( in my memory ) an absolute cannonball of a Volley. He could not have caught it sweeter or with more power.

Immediately ( in memory ) I though GOAL
 
Pat Jennings however dived to his left and not only pulled off a brilliant , wonder save he actually had the audacity , brilliance etc ( in my memory ) actually caught and held the bloody thing

I've never seen anything like that , neither before nor since

Pat Jennings is one of the best UK born goalkeepers I have ever seen.
Along with Banks, Southall, & Shilton he would be in my top 4
He was even capable of taking crosses one handed. Hands like buckets. Fantastic goalkeeper.

When I mention Southall I refer to him at his peak while at Everton in the 80’s and not his time at the mighty Rovers. Just in case anyone thinks I have lost my marbles.

Banks is my No1, Camps. My No2 played for the Rovers, but a bit before your time.

Harry Gregg.
You old bugger SS
I was in nappies when he played for Rovers.
I do remember him playing for Man Utd though only just.

[Herbert Anchovy]

Keith Walwyn always seemed to have a field day when he came up against Rovers.

He certainly did Branton. KW remains one of the best lower league strikers that I've ever seen.

[Herbert Anchovy]

Scarborough had a striker back in conference day that scored a worldy against us at bell view , sure he went on to sign for a league club , any1 remember his name ?

Was it Darren Freeman or something like that?

Dave Bamber - Blackpool
Andy Flounders - Scunthorpe

Dave Bamber! I was trying to think of his name. I tall, lanky player if I remember rightly who always had a great game against us!

[tyke1962]

A real walk down memory lane reading this thread and the many players mentioned have given ourselves a torrid time too .

I'll add from the 70's Bradford City's Joe Cooke , Terry Eccles Mansfield Town , Ernie Moss at Chesterfield , Fred Binney Reading , George Riley Northampton , Alan Biley Cambridge , Alan Cork Wimbledon and Steve Philip's Brentford and Northampton .

[tyke1962]

I love these threads about players especially from the 70's when I was a schoolkid cutting my teeth on the terraces at Oakwell watching fourth division football .

It was only at the back end of the 70's when my club started getting it's act together and woke from it's 20 year slumber of the odd third division campaign but mostly fourth division struggle with gates of less than 3k .

That's what I was brought up on until a certain striker bought from Leeds United called Allan Clarke changed everything at that time .

Those fourth division days and the struggles have never left me , if we came away from Hartlepool , Darlington or Aldershot with a point it was considered over achievement .

Everyone seemed to have better players than us and played in more fashionable strips , Mansfield Town looked proper footballers in yellow and blue in a way that we didn't in red and white .

Reading were QPR in disguise and because Belle Vue had the widest pitch in the football league that meant our trundlers stood no chance and that's how it worked out for many years , if Kitchen or Miller didn't score then big Brendan would .

My old man took me to local away games , Stockport on a Friday Night , Valley Parade , Belle Vue , Leeds Road , The Shay and Spotland .

One of my abiding memories of the mid 70's was winning our first two games of the season and 7k turning up at Oakwell to see us continue the good start against Chester .

To this day I've never seen a better goalkeeping display than I did that day in September 1974 , the Chester goalkeeper Grenville Millington was unbeatable , he saved everything , he was unbelievable .

Chester scored on the break and won 1-0 and we slipped down the league from that point , fell away and that was that .

Greenville Millington you broke my heart that day .

[roversdude]

Steve Uzelac scored for us that day Camps and ironically the opposition player I always feared most was playing for Reading - Robin Friday. What a player. He didn't score that day but there were a few players around that time who seemed to love playing (and scoring) against us. Anyone remember Brian Yeo (Gillingham), John O'Mara (Brentford), Percy Freeman (Lincoln) and Colin Garwood (Colchester), to name a few. In my 60 years of watching football I don't think I've seen a more gifted player than Robin Friday. Self destructed at the age of 38. So tragic. I was privileged to see him a few times. Nearest thing to King Alick.

Brilliant book about Robin Friday shows that footballers were prone to the same mistakes as us all but had more time to indulge

[Goole Rover]

The late Keith Walwyn was always a thorn in our side.

He was certainly a thorn in Big Den’s side. Being a mate of Dennis I was with him in the players bar at Boothham Cres., after one match. Something went off and there was a verbal exchange between big Keith and big Den who unbuttoned his shirt and revealed patches of fresh bruising, Mr Walwyn had certainly given him some elbow. A few years later I reminded Dennis of this his remark was “he wasn’t in the same league as that nutter Whitehirst”. Happy days.

[Surrey Rover]

Steve Uzelac scored for us that day Camps and ironically the opposition player I always feared most was playing for Reading - Robin Friday. What a player. He didn't score that day but there were a few players around that time who seemed to love playing (and scoring) against us. Anyone remember Brian Yeo (Gillingham), John O'Mara (Brentford), Percy Freeman (Lincoln) and Colin Garwood (Colchester), to name a few. In my 60 years of watching football I don't think I've seen a more gifted player than Robin Friday. Self destructed at the age of 38. So tragic. I was privileged to see him a few times. Nearest thing to King Alick.

Right I will take your word for it that Uzelac scored v Reading in Nov ‘75’
I remember all those players you mentioned above.  Happy days. Well some of those players made us miserable. Percy Freeman comes to mind. Scored a hat trick at Belle Vue for Lincoln didn’t he.

Some great memories from the 70’s it was so different from the previous 12 years I spent at Elland Road where I was watching a team that consistently finished in the top 4 of the 1st division to watching an ave Div 4 team.
I just fell in love with Belle Vue that Nov 75 day and was hooked from then on.
That match v Hull City with 20,000 + in attendance that took the Club into the Qtr final of the League Cup  was fantastic. The atmosphere was amazing.
It was that day that I could see the potential that DRFC had as a club and the underachievement it had sustained over almost 2 decades and continued to sustain until JR came along and gave the club the impetus and drive to get the club back to the level it should be at.

Will we see those heady days again I ask? With an another JR at the helm a man or woman who is happy to invest heavily without a return on that investment then we have a chance.
In todays world without a hefty sum spent on players wages then it is almost impossible to sustain Championship football.
Rotherham and Barnsley are consistently showing that is the case since we left the 2nd tier in 2014.
Yes it’s 9 & half years can you believe it.

Rich is correct Campsall but Chappell did score v Reading that season down at Elm Park the following March in the return fixture when he netted the only goal of the game. It was Reading’s  first home defeat of the season.