What other football team?

[Barmby Rover]

Who else have youbeen to see on a semi regular basis? When I was a kid it was Scunny as I lived there, now it is York occasionally as I am not far off. It doesn't make you less of a supporter to admit it!  B)    

[Thinwhiteduke]

My Uncle is a Scunny supporter and as such I was dragged to the Old Showground as a young kid cos my mum n dad worked most weekends. The Old Showground being a vastly superior ground to that thing theor  in now.

Thankfully, my grandad, being a Rovers fan took me to Belle Vue regualarly from the age of about 12...and a never went to watch Scunnt again. In fact Ive developed a slight dislike for them.

[5minstogo]

Hitchin Town was a regular Saturday afternoon trip and if my Dad was flush we'd go to Vicarage Road.

[GM-MarkB]

The Owls...my late Grandad was a dyed in the wool fan and took me to my first game in 1977. I was at the Boxing Day Massacre in 1979 and had a season ticket for 10 years until the Missus and me moved in together in 1993. Then the house took over and we eventually got married in 1998. I go occessionally as they are still the first team I supported as a kid.

I used to flit between Rovers and them depending on who was at home as a youngster. In 1990 I saw 60 of their 63 games under Big Ron in the then Division 2 (I missed Plymouth, Brighton & Portsmouth away). When the money got tight I went back to watching Rovers 'full time' when they dropped into the Conference.

Not bothered if you all hate me now but i'll always be a supporter of both teams and it pains me greatly to see what has happened to them since they sacked Francis...biggest mistake Dave Richards ever made. And one of my prized posesions are the framed tickets Hirsty signed for me after his testimonial game.....now there's a player who would have looked good in the hoops  

[The Red Baron]

During the 90s I saw an awful lot of Coventry City, for reasons I won't go into here. It seemed OK, because they were in the Premier League and we were in what is now League 2, so we were hardly rivals in those days. I never imagined then that for two seasons running we'd finish higher than them!

I think we've recovered from our Richardson rather more quickly than they did from theirs!

[VivaRovers]

As detailed in the fanzine earlier this year I've been having a fling with Worcester City this season.

Its God awful football-wise as shown when I watched them play local rivals (\"the carpet sh*ggers\") Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy and neither team strung more than four consecutivepasses together in the whole game... and yes, I did count.

However, its quirky enough for me to develop an attraction. Very old fashioned football ground, with a decidedly high codger count at anyone game. The best example of this came when there was a tannoy announcement; \"We've had a flat-cap handed in to us here, so if anyone has lost it...\" and about 70% of the people in my eye-line all reached up to check their heads. I presume many of them subsequently got lost in a dilemma as to whether they had even been wearing their hat that day.

[Muttley]

For my sins...

Used to go to watch Wednesday occasionally with mates from school in the 80's, enjoyed the  atmosphere at the big games but never really felt a part of it.

Went out with a lass from Huddersfield and she used to drag me to see them now and again when they were top of the second division (Championship)...until they sold Marcus Stewart to Ipswich and they went into a massive decline.  

[ScillyRover]

'Garrison Gunners' and the 'Woolpack Wanderers' playing in
The Worlds Smallest League (I don't have much choice)    
http://www.worldssmallestleague.co.uk/

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQTGqJq3c4Q[/video]

[Mike_F]

I went to see Birmingham a few times while I was seeing a bird from Solihull around the turn of the decade/century/millennium/whateverthefu
I also went to a fair few Forest reserve games whilst at uni there as I lived right next door to the ground and it was only a couple of quid to get in on a Wednesday night. I remember Keith Foy as a highly rated youngster braking through and was delighted when we signed him. That was before I realised that the time in between had been spent eating all the pies. And the chips.

[Muttley]

Muttley wrote:

For my sins...

Used to go to watch Wednesday occasionally with mates from school in the 80's, enjoyed the  atmosphere at the big games but never really felt a part of it.

Went out with a lass from Huddersfield and she used to drag me to see them now and again when they were top of the second division (Championship)...until they sold Marcus Stewart to Ipswich and they went into a massive decline.  

and Newcastle when I was at University up there - soon learnt to keep my gob shut in the \"corner\" of the Gallowgate end, they didn't like Yorkies! Privileged to see a young Gazza start his career.

[gillinghamrover]

For my sins Gillingham. Seen them quite regulary over the last 3 years. Still wear me Rovers top though!

[BobG]

Used to see Blades quite a bit when I lived oop North and t'Rovers weren't at home. Even saw that match against River Plate. Then while at Uni I spent 3 seasons watching Coventry City - but a but before the Barons' time . That was followed by a season of the most consistently high standard I've ever seen whilst watching the great late 70's QPR side. I can still name the lot of them. They were just ace. More recently it's been Forest Green Rovers. Bit of a come down there then.

BobG

[Filo]

BobG wrote:

Used to see Blades quite a bit when I lived oop North and t'Rovers weren't at home. Even saw that match against River Plate. Then while at Uni I spent 3 seasons watching Coventry City - but a but before the Barons' time . That was followed by a season of the most consistently high standard I've ever seen whilst watching the great late 70's QPR side. I can still name the lot of them. They were just ace. More recently it's been Forest Green Rovers. Bit of a come down there then.

BobG

Stan Bowels, Don Given, Gerry Francis, David Webb, etc


On the subject of Stan Bowels, how players like him and Rodney Marsh never got more caps for England I`ll never know!

[BLIR]

When I was at Uni we used to go and see the favourite teams of the guys in our halls. We went to see plenty of games - Grimsby, Notts County, Bristol City, Wolves, Leeds etc.

Difficult watching a game when you don't really care who wins, but add in a beer or two and we used to have a scream.

Grew up watching Liverpool at Anfield, not so much a guilty pleasure as it was my local team

[Dagenham Rover]

Don't think I really need to answer this one  
However as well as the Daggers I have a bit of a soft spot for Gillingham having lived there and watched them for a year or two in the late 70's

[BobG]

Hi Filo. I once watched, with my Dad, Stan Bowles v Forest in a league cup match at the City Ground. Rangers were on the slide by then whilst Forest were at the start of the Clough glory years. For those who remember him, that was the match in which Paul Goddard made his debut. It really was Stan v Forest though. QPR lost 1-0 but Stan Bowles was just electrifying. I don't have the words to describe his performance that evening. He ran the midfield, he shot on sight, he made tackle after tackle after tackle. He was the complete footballer. In today's money he'd have been worth £50M. Yet, as you say, England hardly looked at him - just as they'd ignored that other Rangers genius from immediately before: Rodneeee!

And as an aside, what about that other genius the FA ignored: Duncan Mackenzie? He was bloody startling he was.

Cheers

BobG

PS Dutch Uncle: if you read this, Peter went to that match at the City Ground with my Dad and I.

[Nudga]

I once went out with a bird from Crewe so went there a couple of times with her brothers. Anyways, Crewe are at home to Grimsby in the ccc and the cod heads have Mike Jeffrey in the starting line up and Crewe have Colin Cramb on the bench. I go on to tell the ex's brothers about the cult hero status both players have around Donny, but they weren't impressed with Cramby as he had a reputation for being a drinker and by all accounts, a proper w**ker.
I felt a bit of a tit as Jeffrey was dog shite and Cramby didn't even get on the pitch. It's weird watching another team, and it's something I wouldn't reccomend.  B)

[Mark Time]

I used to travel all over the place when Rovers weren't at home in my younger days (late 80's early 90's) on the train as I enjoyed going to other grounds, went to some Wednesday games, and Sheff Utd, Forest when Brian Clough was still in charge (still my favourite manager to this day) and quite a few others on a 'one off' basis including Liverpool. In fact Liverpool had the best 'greasy bacon butty' cafe I ever went to, and I ate in loads of them! Happy carefree days before I had kids etc. Nowadays I'm strictly Rovers only.

[Crowle Rover]

Living in Crowle my dad used to take me to watch Scunny a couple of times a season.
We started to go regularly during the season Alan Clarke took over and they were promoted to Division 3,the same season Rovers went down to division 4.Went to most of the division 3 games but lost interest the following year due to being on a YTS scheme(remember them?)at Wigfalls(remember them too?)and having to work Saturdays.
Following on from Wiggys demise(bought out by Currys 1988)I got a job with Saturdays off.
One Friday night my mate said did I fancy going to Belle Vue with him.
Took him up on the offer and haven't looked back since.
By the way we lost 2-1 to Torquay that night and I believe Ronnie Robinson scored for us