Richard Wood Testimonial

[graingrover]

A sad reflection that a game organised to mark the career endeavours of Woody should attract such antagonisms.

[steve@dcfd]

Rotherham v Doncaster is never a friendly so let’s hope we don’t get injuries that all we want out of this game.

[GazLaz]

Feels like an awkward, muddled event. A large proportion of our fans hate Rotherham.  It’s not a testimonial because he doesn’t play for Rotherham. I don’t want them cheering one of our players.


Honestly never had such a weird feeling about essentially a friendly game of football. 

[Move DRFC]

All the players were told to promote it on their Instagram's and now GM has made a rallying cry on Twitter for Rovers fans to get down there. Ticket sales must be low.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think we have to be a little selfless on this and consider Wood afterall, who no doubt has had a big say in this and deserves a decent occasion for his service to the game.

We don't know yet how both teams intend to approach this. Neither will want a blood and thunder local derby.  A bit of common sense has to apply.

At some point, I guess Wood will be subbed so he can receive the applause from both sets of fans.

[Albert Trousers]

I'm going to this one purely because if we win I want to be there  I think I can only remember 2 away wins in my 40+ years of going, 1986 at Millmoor (3-2) & 4-0 a the Don Valley under S'OD

[Colemans Left Hook]

I notice half our squad were sharing details about this on Instagram yesterday.

It screams of terrible ticket sales.

I still do not agree with our captain going there for a love in whilst still playing, it’s just weird and poor ticket sales would indicate I’m not alone.

He simply shouldn't participate - just imagine he gets injured --

at least   he would have time to check the money donated for rare fifty pence coins

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I notice half our squad were sharing details about this on Instagram yesterday.

It screams of terrible ticket sales.

I still do not agree with our captain going there for a love in whilst still playing, it’s just weird and poor ticket sales would indicate I’m not alone.

He simply shouldn't participate - just imagine he gets injured --

at least   he would have time to check the money donated for rare fifty pence coins

Am I missing something, why shouldn't he participate in a game for the club he plays for?  It's a friendly game with a nod to a player who has played for both teams, I struggle to see why people have an issue with that?  If the home fans want to applaud him etc fine.

[Colemans Left Hook]

I notice half our squad were sharing details about this on Instagram yesterday.

It screams of terrible ticket sales.

I still do not agree with our captain going there for a love in whilst still playing, it’s just weird and poor ticket sales would indicate I’m not alone.

He simply shouldn't participate - just imagine he gets injured --

at least   he would have time to check the money donated for rare fifty pence coins

Am I missing something, why shouldn't he participate in a game for the club he plays for?  It's a friendly game with a nod to a player who has played for both teams, I struggle to see why people have an issue with that?  If the home fans want to applaud him etc fine.

put simply there are a lot of hindsight posters on here - full stop - "risk is risk" lest we forget Doncaster v Newcastle was an alleged friendly shame nobody told Mitlovic who bagged "three scalps" 

[German Rover]

I personally hope he plays a half for each team. It's his testimonial for his time at Rotherham and would allow Rotherham fans to say goodbye, which they never got first time round.

I also hope both teams sets of idiots stay away and let this be a celebration of a class players career, rather than what this game usually ends up as.

[BobG]

Hear! Hear! German!  Of course he has to play. A testimonial and the star shouldn't play? What sort of idiot thought up that one?!

BobG

[KingKendrick]

I personally hope he plays a half for each team. It's his testimonial for his time at Rotherham and would allow Rotherham fans to say goodbye, which they never got first time round.

I also hope both teams sets of idiots stay away and let this be a celebration of a class players career, rather than what this game usually ends up as.

If he plays half for Rotherham he can stay there for me. Either play for this football club or don’t. Testimonials are for the end of your career.

[Chris Black come back]

He’s not playing for Rotherham on Saturday. He is only playing for Rovers.

[Ryaldinhio]

I like wood, I really do, and we need him at the minute.

BUT I'm sorry, he has played 20 odd games for Donny, why are we putting out a rallying call to sell tickets for this game. Its a friendly. The fact they have guised it as testimonial is a bad call by all parties, he should have that when he retires and we wouldn't be involved!

This is a friendly, no more no less, and aparantley they have a friendly on Friday so won't be full team.

Overall a poor call IMO.

[mushRTID]

I personally hope he plays a half for each team. It's his testimonial for his time at Rotherham and would allow Rotherham fans to say goodbye, which they never got first time round.

I also hope both teams sets of idiots stay away and let this be a celebration of a class players career, rather than what this game usually ends up as.

You want our captain and defensive main man to play 45 minutes for another team in our LAST friendly before the season starts?

Incredible

[Padge_DRFC]

I personally hope he plays a half for each team. It's his testimonial for his time at Rotherham and would allow Rotherham fans to say goodbye, which they never got first time round.

I also hope both teams sets of idiots stay away and let this be a celebration of a class players career, rather than what this game usually ends up as.

You want our captain and defensive main man to play 45 minutes for another team in our LAST friendly before the season starts?

Incredible

This. Service to football makes me laugh. Every kids dream to be a footballer and get paid to do it.

[steve@dcfd]

According to their website they play Grimsby tonight and us on Saturday there is no mention of a game on Friday

[IDM]

Rotherham v Doncaster is never a friendly so let’s hope we don’t get injuries that all we want out of this game.

Only for the fans..  I doubt the players these days have such partisan rivalries..

[pib]

Having a testimonial for a team you used to play for, but playing for the opposition who you've only played 20-odd times for is just weird. But then it would've been even more weird if he'd gone off and played a testimonial for Rotherham in pre-season, against us or anyone else. Feels like it would've been better saved for when he retires.

I'm sorry, but as much as I support Wood as a Rovers player, think he seems like a good guy, and want him to succeed in a Rovers shirt, I'm not that sentimental about him or his time at Rotherham in the slightest. He's effectively played half a season for us so it's not as if he's some kind of legend here at this point.

That's why this friendly interests me just about as much as any other preseason game, which is very little. Like Padge said, get this oddity out of the way and roll on Accy.

[TonySoprano]

I personally hope he plays a half for each team. It's his testimonial for his time at Rotherham and would allow Rotherham fans to say goodbye, which they never got first time round.

I also hope both teams sets of idiots stay away and let this be a celebration of a class players career, rather than what this game usually ends up as.

It's not a testimonial!
He wasn't there long enough !

[Pancho Regan]

This is a very odd choice of friendly/ testimonial and as mentioned earlier I have a bad feeling about it.

For those posters who feel it’s a sad reflection that this fixture attracts such ‘antagonisms’, I can only say they are out of touch with how this fixture plays out these days. Out of touch with reality in fact.

Like others, I hope it all goes well and Woody gets his adulation from the Millers fans and Rovers fans in equal measure, but I find the whole thing bizarre and a bad idea.

[Ryaldinhio]

According to their website they play Grimsby tonight and us on Saturday there is no mention of a game on Friday

GM said in one of latest interviews that they have a game on the Friday

[Campsall rover]

Crikey some of the posts on here are crazy
It’s just a pre season friendly.
It just happens to be a testimonial for Woody
What’s the problem.
It’s only a few of our fans trying to make out its some sort of tribal war.
Get a grip.
Oh and Woody won’t be playing for Rotherham as he is a Rovers player
It’s a proper match not some Sunday afternoon Charity game.

[glosterred]

Todays starting XI

COYR

[Chris Black come back]

That's very good that Tom is starting. Less good that Close isn't in the squad. Hope Clifton and Westbrooke can get some decent minutes.

[Danmckay456]

No sign of miller

[steve@dcfd]

Lawlor in goal ?
No Miller ?

[steve@dcfd]

Rotherham played a private friendly against a Championship side yesterday and fielded a strong side none playing or in squad today

[drfchound]

If that is the case then it seems odd that we are playing a very low key testimonial type game against a weakened side just one week before the big kick off.

[adamtherover]

Concourse is bouncing..