Rovers Top Ten Legends of All Time

[Drover]

Interesting article,a reminder of important players of our history,but I think there is a couple of errors in it too,what's your  thoughts?

https://therealefl.co.uk/2025/07/16/doncaster-rovers-top-ten-legends-of-all-time/

[DearneValleyRover]

I loved Big Bren but is he a bigger legend than Dougie, Ian Snodin, Kitch?

[Usher wide.]

No Harry Gregg!?

[IDM]

No mention of Copps’ winner at Brentford, and he wasn’t at the club when we got out of the conference.

[Draytonian III]

Harry Gregg, Peter Kitchen, Colin Douglas, Ian Snodin should be on that list

[Al4475]

Lee Warren - not necessarily one of the greatest players - but the guy who kept things going after relegation from the league - without him organising things pre-season before the time in the conference started - the club would've probably fully died.

[NickDRFC]

Darren Moore is the biggest surprise for me. Even though he was one of my favourite players when I first started watching and I’m seemingly one of the few fans who think he did a decent job for us as a manager.

[German Rover]

AI b*llocks. written by a mac7hine that understands facts and figures rather than emotions. Duggie should be top of that list by the way

[Avsuptem]

I am fairly sure many of us here could compile an equally valid top 10 that did not include any out of this list, except for Alick Jeffrey of course.

[graingrover]

The only reproach I have with the writer is his use of the adjectival ‘of all time ‘ but he has been a sports writer for only 20 years .
So he has not known or even heard of  Jordan , Harry Gregg , Peter Doherty and Bert Tindill  all on my personal top ten .
Why I did a thread about Harry Gregg is in part for these types of simplistic and poorly researched   articles .We have legends photos posted at the back of South stand that illustrate this too. If we have a Hall pf Fame then let’s do it more thoughtfully .

[DonnyBazR0ver]

No Peter Doherty?

As said above, Richie Wellens and Darren Moore should not be in the top ten.

[ForsolongaRover]

There is no one from the immediate post war era which saw us win the 3rd Division North twice and eventually spend 7 years in Division 2; that is except for Alick who came in at the end of that period. Indeed I think you could argue that none of the players who were members of teams that did not play for us at Championship level should be included. Kitchen and Brendan and Ian Snodin went on to greater heights, but were they really "Great" for us or just relatively so? I'd add a number of defenders of the 50s, Len Graham, Bycroft, Paterson and of course Ken Hardwick the Goalkeeper to the contenders list of Graingrover.

Equally I suppose by insisting that the lean years between the 60s and the SOD-Ryan era be excluded we are depriving younger supporters of their heroes.

However, it is nothing short of arrogant for an outsider - a so-called journalist - with no connection to the club or its supporters to presume to publish such a selection. It has no credibility in my eyes.

[Filo]

Alan “Animal” Little should be in the top 3 at least

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Alan “Animal” Little should be in the top 3 at least

Why?

[Bristol Red Rover]

Is it possible to do a top ten? Nice to see Len Goodson get a spot, but there's other oldies arguably more deserving include Fred Emery, Tom Keetley and my fave, the ubiquitous Walter Langton who possibly made well over 500 appearances in his 18 seasons with us and 21st? in all time goals scored.

[Filo]

Alan “Animal” Little should be in the top 3 at least

Why?

Because he was a legend

[BobG]

Clarrie Jordan too.

BobG

[idler]

I lost a bit of interest when he had Fred Emery with record league appearances with 400 and odd missing out Duggie before saying how Copps had over 600 in his notes.
I can only go on my time watching Rovers but Albert Broadbent, Alan Little and Rob Jones were all cult heroes in their time.
Finding a top ten is impossible for a fan who has actually seen them play and their influence never mind a journalist going from newspaper reports and Wikipedia.  Peter Doherty got us to the 2nd tier and kept us there for a few years but not mentioned. People that I knew that saw him play said that he rolled his penalties in so slowly that they couldn’t believe that keepers couldn’t save them. Not a mention for him.

[Draytonian III]

A legend is a player who the supporters have an attachment to, be by his ability, the length of time he plays for a club, but in my view it’s his commitment to the cause mainly, especially in the less glamorous games, this is why Colin Douglas should be top in the last 50 years. It’s a pity he played when only say 2,500 regularly saw him, the support now would love him

[EasyforDennis]

Alan “Animal” Little should be in the top 3 at least

Why?

You don't have to be a brilliant player to be a legend. The fans loved him so in my eyes that makes him a legend.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

There is no one from the immediate post war era which saw us win the 3rd Division North twice and eventually spend 7 years in Division 2; that is except for Alick who came in at the end of that period. Indeed I think you could argue that none of the players who were members of teams that did not play for us at Championship level should be included. Kitchen and Brendan and Ian Snodin went on to greater heights, but were they really "Great" for us or just relatively so? I'd add a number of defenders of the 50s, Len Graham, Bycroft, Paterson and of course Ken Hardwick the Goalkeeper to the contenders list of Graingrover.

Equally I suppose by insisting that the lean years between the 60s and the SOD-Ryan era be excluded we are depriving younger supporters of their heroes.

However, it is nothing short of arrogant for an outsider - a so-called journalist - with no connection to the club or its supporters to presume to publish such a selection. It has no credibility in my eyes.

Yes, Syd Bycroft I guess would need to be up there. One of the names passed down to me as a great for the club. Read about this tough tackling centre half in our Complete History book, but also anecdotal references in Michael Parkinsons book 'Football Daft' describing the encounters when Barnsley derby days came around. Clearly much respect from rival fans. Over 300 appearances pre and post war.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Alan “Animal” Little should be in the top 3 at least

Why?

You don't have to be a brilliant player to be a legend. The fans loved him so in my eyes that makes him a legend.

I loved Animal but for me he's no where near top three and wasn't here long enough, or exceptional enough to be classed as a legend. He maybe infamous for his 'Animal' reputation, although he was a better footballer than maybe he gets credit for. Again, just my opinion, but I would rank him alongside the likes of Wellens, O'Callaghan, Rob Jones and many other top players, but not legendary status.

It's a very interesting topic to hear others opinions though.

[Usher wide.]

Jamie Paterson had a great affinity with fans at Belle Vue. Whenever a referee gave him a talking to, he would pat the ref on the back then do a ‘winding up motion’ on the referees back to the absolute delight of the fans.

A real character & a very good player, but not a legend.

Thought I’d give him a mention anyway.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Looks like we've no need to worry too much about AI just yet...

[Chris Black come back]

You start with King Alick and Copps, then work from that foundation surely.

[Ian Nimmo]

Mark Rankin, Darren Moore and John Nicholson are certainly 3 who should not be in the top 10.
Good players but not legends.

[Goole Rover]

You start with King Alick and Copps, then surely work from that foundation.

I agree. I can’t understand how Laurie Sheffield misses out. While John Nicholson was a very capable centre half I don’t agree with his rating. I suppose it’s all down to personal opinion.

[ravenrover]

Or maybe the fatal car crash

[RoversInSpain]

There’s just simply so many Top Tens, you can go with Top 10 Crowd pleasers, Top 10 most Talented, Top 10 most exciting, Top 10 Hardest and most competitive, Top 10 appearances, Top 10 most goals/assist and so on.
All you can do is list players under all those categories, and the players that appear in all of the lists are pure legends (to Rovers)