What a difference 7 years makes, we lucky people

[Wokingviking]

Last night I was at Maidenhead United watching Woking with a pal (Woking are scrapping to get into the Conference SOUTH play-offs).  I picked up a programme and looked through Maidenhead's attendances - they get about 250 at their home matches and there were just two or three turnstyles and a stand with about a hundred seats...

...I thought back to 02/03 when Rovers drew at Woking (their ridiculous equaliser bounced over Andy Warrington's head I seem to remember) and it really hits home as to how fortunes contrast when you're standing there freezing on a terrace of about 3 steps.  Because Woking needed the points there was actually a \"big\" crowd last night of about 500, and the single tea bar ran out of burgers before half-time.

I know I'm not saying anything insightful at all, but when you actually experience \"the opposite journey\" it really puts Rovers incredible achievements in perspective.

[LongbridgeMGRover]

a nice reminder. this has been a wonderful journey, i still recall Rovers''last' league game against Colchester. pitiful.

i have been following the fortunes [or lack of fortune]from my armchair, of Nuneaton Town [nee Borough], in and out of administration relegated, reformed,new little ground and threatening ro break out of the Zamaretto Premier into the conference South, or North?

i remember being locked in their old ground and it being the nearest to where i live [solihull]. who would have anticipated tussles with Birmingham City, Albion, Coventry and Villa- ive now seen the Rovers grace all these grounds locally and i think we will be visiting more than just Coventry pretty soon!!!!!!!

[Lesonthewest]

Wokingviking wrote:

Last night I was at Maidenhead United watching Woking with a pal (Woking are scrapping to get into the Conference SOUTH play-offs).  I picked up a programme and looked through Maidenhead's attendances - they get about 250 at their home matches and there were just two or three turnstyles and a stand with about a hundred seats...

...I thought back to 02/03 when Rovers drew at Woking (their ridiculous equaliser bounced over Andy Warrington's head I seem to remember) and it really hits home as to how fortunes contrast when you're standing there freezing on a terrace of about 3 steps.  Because Woking needed the points there was actually a \"big\" crowd last night of about 500, and the single tea bar ran out of burgers before half-time.

I know I'm not saying anything insightful at all, but when you actually experience \"the opposite journey\" it really puts Rovers incredible achievements in perspective.

Absolutely Woking, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. Those days at Leigh RMI, Northwich & the like were great days & I kind of miss them, but it makes every success we have since then taste so much sweeter than many fans of other clubs will ever experience.

[Dutch Uncle]

Lesonthewest wrote:
[quoteThose days at Leigh RMI, Northwich & the like were great days & I kind of miss them, but it makes every success we have since then taste so much sweeter than many fans of other clubs will ever experience.[/quote]

That is one of the most poignant comments ever on here and elegantly encapsulates why being a Rovers fan is so different from any other team - to know so many of those lows means the experience of the highs is so magnified beyond what others experience

Accrington and Aldershot fans must have thought they would never see league football again - but to experience tier 2 after our depths is indeed unique

[RTID75]

LongbridgeMGRover wrote:

i remember being locked in their old ground

Yes, I remember that at Nuneaton too - never did work out what it was about and I think it nearly had the opposite effect as there were some heated exchanges with the coppers on the gate. Whilst such days seem so very recent, as a club & team we're a a million miles away from poor results away at Nuneaton! At that time I certainly never realistically envisaged the day we'd be playing Division 2 football. We have indeed come a very long way.

[en aitch]

Ah .. good times - locked in at Nuneaton - an angry parent whose little girl needed the toilet, and a Rovers player (Barney??) sorting it from the pitch ... I do miss standing at games, but I wouldn't miss that terrace at Nuneaton.

[RTID75]

Good job, this is that terrace at Nuneaton now...

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52.521747,-1.484136&spn=0,0.00817&z=18&layer=c&cbll=52.521837,-1.484028&panoid=fVwsyp7I2OSPBNf2aFmPqQ&cbp=12,348.46,,0,-1.44

[BLIR]

RTID75 wrote:

Good job, this is that terrace at Nuneaton now...

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52.521747,-1.484136&spn=0,0.00817&z=18&layer=c&cbll=52.521837,-1.484028&panoid=fVwsyp7I2OSPBNf2aFmPqQ&cbp=12,348.46,,0,-1.44

The locals have clearly got no sense of humour round there.

When I were a lad, that sign would have had the \"N\" changed for an \"R\". Kids today eh? too busy on their Playstations etc