 |
 |
 |
|
| August
15, 2006 |
Copps
wins again |
 |
Rovers winger James
Coppinger picked up his second "Man of the Match" victory
of the season for his performance in Saturday's home match against Tranmere
Rovers. With most of the Rovers players picking up nominations, the
leading votes were cast as follows: |
| August
15, 2006 |
Rovers
in practice game at Everton |
.jpg){kind=small} |
Doncaster Rovers travelled over to Everton for a behind closed doors practice game yesterday afternoon. Rovers won the game with the goals being scored by Jason Price and an Australian trialist. Everton's side comprised reserve team players, with Rovers including all the players who did not feature against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. Rovers included a couple of trialists - the aforementioned Australian trialist and Italian Michele de Piede. |
| August
15, 2006 |
Boots
for Africa |
| |
Rovers
in the Community are supporting BBC Radio Sheffield's "Boots for
Africa" campaign. They are asking for anyone who wishes to donate
boots to the appeal to bring them down to the Rovers in the Community
office, which is usually open between 9am and 4pm on week days. Please
make sure that they are well cleaned and correctly studded, and that each
pair is laced together. If the Rovers in the Community office si closed,
please leave the boots at club reception at Belle Vue. |
| August
14, 2006 |
More
old boys on the goals trail |
 |
Former
Doncaster Rovers left back Keith Foy scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser
for Sligo Rovers yesterday as opponents Drogheda failed to make ground
on the league leaders. Four minutes into added time,Foy unleashed a stunning
30-yard left foot shot that flew into the top corner of the net. Earlier
in the game another former Rover, Adam Hughes had scored Sligo's opening
goal as they eventually drew 2-2. Meanwhile, in the Arngrove Northern League, ex-Rover Neil Campbell scored for Durham City in their match against Billingham Synthonia on Saturday. The match, which ended 1-1, saw an earlier Campbell effort cleared off the line, but, as has been common with former Rovers players this weekend, Durham were then awarded a penalty, which Campbell took, giving the goalkeeper no chance with the spot kick. |
| August
14, 2006 |
Dino
returns to Port |
 |
Ex-Rovers
striker Dino Maamria has rejoined Southport after being released by Stevenage
Borough during the summer. Southport made the return to full time status
during the summer, with manager Paul Cook making a number of changes to
his 'Port squad as they prepare for their Conference National season. |
| August
14, 2006 |
Swansea
match all-ticket |
 |
Please remember
that next Saturday's away game at Swansea City is all-ticket, and no
tickets will be on sale on the day of the game. Tickets will go on general
sale this morning and will remain on sale until 1pm on Friday. Rovers
have received an allocation of 1,100 tickets. |
| August
12, 2006 |
Rovers
0 Tranmere 0 |
 |
In a scrappy game
where neither side really stamped their authority on the game, there
were only a handful of chances in the entire match, making a goalless
draw unsurprising. Rovers' best two chances fell to Paul Heffernan and
Sean Thornton, with Heffernan having a good chance with a header, and
Thornton's 20-yard piledriver being beaten out by the keeper. The Rovers
defence was only occasionally troubled - at least Rovers shouldn't lose
many games on this showing. On the other hand, they need to make sure
that the strikers receive more scoring opportunities. |
| August
13, 2006 |
Ex-Rovers
players - penalty kings! |
 |
We have traced five
former Rovers players who scored goals yesterday - and all but one of
them scored their goals from the penalty spot! |
| August
13, 2006 |
Youth
team 4 Chesterfield 2 |
 |
Chesterfield's
first team may have recorded a handsome 5-1 victory over Millwall yesterday,
but their youth team succumbed to their Rovers counterparts by a 4-2 scoreline.
Unfortunately at the time of writing, no further details were available. |
| August
12, 2006 |
Rovers
team news |
| |
Doncaster Rovers
will delay naming their side until the outcome of late fitness tests
over Kevin Horlock and Graeme Lee are known. Both are expected to play,
but Nick Fenton is likely to replace Lee if necessary, with Paul Green
or Antony Griffith likely to step in for Horlock. Sean McDaid is now
available for selection, but will be unlikely to start, although he
is set to play the next two games after today, with Gareth Roberts due
to start a two match suspension, carried over from an offence committed
whilst at Tranmere. |
| August
12, 2006 |
Tranmere
team news |
| |
Tranmere winger
Kevin Ellison is expected to have recovered from an ankle injury in
time to play in this afternoon's game at Belle Vue after missing their
midweek defeat at Cheltenham. Midfielder John Mullin is also due to
play after recovering from illness. |
| August
12, 2006 |
Weaver
moves |
 |
Former Doncaster Rovers central defender Simon Weaver has completed a free transfer to York City after spending a trial period at Kit Kat Crescent this summer. Now aged 28, Weaver left Scarborough at the end of last season, and has also played with Lincoln City, Kidderminister Harriers and Nuneaton Borough. |
| August
12, 2006 |
Gradi
praises Rovers |
| |
Crewe manager Dario Gradi praised Doncaster Rovers' performance after seeing his side slump from a one goal lead to a 3-1 defeat. The Crewe boss said: "This is a decent league and they are a good side. I thought they caused us a lot of problems and played some super football at times. We didn't start badly ourselves and we scored a great goal, but after that we were unable to test Doncaster as much as they tested us. I never thought that this league would be a walkover but we are learning each game and our time will come." |
| August
11, 2006 |
Man
of the match |
| |
Unsurprisingly,
the winner of the "Man of the Match" voting for Tuesday's
home game against Crewe Alexandra was James Coppinger, winning by a
clear margin, and gaining as many votes as second and third placed Bruce
Dyer and Graeme Lee combined. There were nominations for nine different
players, with the leading votes being cast as follows: |
| August
11, 2006 |
Blackpool
for Bayo? |
 |
League One side Blackpool have been linked with a move for Swansea striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, as boss Simon Grayson looks to solve his goalscoring problem. Blackpool have failed to score in either of their opening two games, and Grayson has confirmed that he is looking to boost his attacking options. His interest in ex-Rover Akinfenwa first surfaced during the summer, but it is understood that the player's wage demands may be a problem. Neither club has so far confirmed that any approach has been made. |
| August
11, 2006 |
Dyer:
Rovers for the Premiership! |
| |
In
an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Rovers striker Bruce Dyer has said
that he believes that Rovers can emulate another of his former clubs,
Watford, in rising through the leagues to reach the Premiership. "Winning promotion to the Premiership is not a pipe-dream for Doncaster Rovers," he insisted. "It is not that long ago that Watford were playing at this level, so if they can do it, why can't we? The club has got everything in the making and has already come a long way in a short space of time. There is a new stadium on the horizon and they have signed one or two players this summer that should make us capable of challenging for promotion to the Championship." He continued: "I know some people are saying this is a step back but it was God's will and I have joined a club that is moving in the right direction." |
| August
11, 2006 |
Vote
to name the stadium road |
| |
Doncaster
Council are to let the public decide the name of the approach road to
the new stadium. However, no currently living people are to be allowed
onto the short-list, which is the policy of Doncaster Council, thereby
ruling out a Rovers' fans campaign to have the road named after John Ryan. Councillor Margaret Ward, launching the scheme, said: "The new complex is for everyone in Doncaster, so we have involved the local community in the major decisions. We want this road to be named after an individual who has had a significant impact on Doncaster, and who better to comment on this than the people who live here? I hope all of our residents embrace this opportunity to play their part in Doncaster's history. If people don't have a computer at home, remember they can use the internet free at council libraries." Voting can be made via the Doncaster Council web site at www.doncaster.gov.uk. |
| August
9, 2006 |
Around
the goals |
 |
Michael McIndoe
scored his first goals of the new League season last night. His two
goals, either side of half time helped Barnsley to win 3-2 at Hull City,
which lifts Barnsley to half way up the table, and still leave Hull
pointless. |
| August
9, 2006 |
Two
old boys see red |
 |
We may have mentioned
the goal-scoring exploits of former Doncaster Rovers players above,
but misfortune hit two of our former players over the weekend. |
| August
9, 2006 |
Campbell
finally finds a club! |
| |
Former Rovers striker Andy Campbell has finally signed for a club after spending the summer on trials at a number of clubs. He had appeared to be about to sign for York City after asking to trian with them in an bid to win a deal with the Conference club. However, Halifax Town moved in to wign the former Cardiff and Middlesbrough hit-man on a twelve month contract. Campbell went on to score for Halifax during a friendly fixture last weekend. |
| August
8, 2006 |
Rovers
3 Crewe 1 |
| |
Rovers made just
one change from Saturday's away game at Carlisle, with Sean Thornton
replacing Paul Green in central midfield. Things did not get off too
well though, as Rovers conceded an early goal again. Not as early as
on Saturday, but the tenth minute setback did nothing to calm the nerves.
Thankfully, equality was achieved eight minutes later as Bruce Dyer
fired a superb shot home from just outside the box. Two second half
goals, the first from Kevin Horlock who shot home from close range,
and an audacious shot from James Coppinger in the 70th minute gave Rovers
a two-goal cushion, and consigned Crewe to their first defeat of the
season. |
| August
8, 2006 |
Rovers
v Crewe |
| |
Rovers face Crewe
Alexandra in the League for the first time in just over twelve years
when Dario Gradi's men arrive at Belle Vue this evening. |
| August
8, 2006 |
Voting
results |
 |
The first "Man
of the Match" vote of the season, which was for the away game againt
Carlisle on Saturday, saw a very close contest to win the voting. With
a total of nine Rovers players receiving nominations, it turned into
a contest between Jonathan Forte and Graeme Lee - with Forte just edging
ahead of the Rovers skipper. The leading votes were cast as follows: |
| August
8, 2006 |
Warrington
injury shock |
 |
Doncaster Rovers'
goalkeeper Andy Warrington looks as though he will have to sit on the
sidelines for longer than anticipated following the results of a scan
on his injured ankle. Andy will be out for at least three months after
having an exploratory operation yesterday. There was more ligament damage
than originally thought, which will consequently take longer to heal. |
| August
8, 2006 |
Sockatyes
first |
| |
Doncaster Rovers will be the first club to have their Sockatyes sponsored for this evening's game against Crewe. This follows news that a six-figure sponsorship deal will see all 68 Conference clubs wearing the tie-ups, with more Football League clubs likely to follow. The Premier League have deferred a decision, but Football League clubs have been given permission to wear them. There is also a chance that "La Liga" clubs could soon also follow the Sockatyes trend set by Rovers! |
| August
7, 2006 |
Goals
review |
 |
Accrington Stanley's
dream of a fairytale return to Football League action on Saturday was
not to be, and the harsh reality of the real world consigned them to
a 2-0 defeat at Chester City. Chester did not name a single former Rovers
player in their starting line-up, but all three substitutes used were
former Belle Vue boys, with Jermaine McSporran, Simon Marples and Gregg
Blundell all coming on during the second half. Blundell went on to have
the biggest impact, as he was brought down in the penalty area in the
85th minute, and duly converted the spot kick to give Chester a 2-0
victory. |
| August
7, 2006 |
Barnard
on the move |
 |
Former Doncaster Rovers defender Mark Barnard has signed for Nationwide North club Alfreton Town, with former Rovers striker Tristram Whitman als having arrived at the club during the summer. Alfreton boss Gary Mills is making big changes in the hope of success, with eight new players having already arrived, with another two expected to arrive before their League season starts. |
| August
7, 2006 |
Barker
finally signs |
 |
After months of waiting, former Rovers striker Richie Barker has finally signed a new contract at Mansfield Town, just hours before the season kicked off. Barker, who scored 23 goals for the Stags in League Two last season, signed just before Mansfield's opening game of the season at Shrewsbury. |
| August
6, 2006 |
Carlisle
United 1 Rovers 0 |
| |
Rovers went down
to a fourth minute goal on Saturday afternoon to newly promoted Carlisle
United. Rovers took 1,200 supporters with them, but despite their backing
and an improved second half showing, they could not get the equaliser
with Graeme Lee particularly unlucky after having two headers cleared
off the line. |
| August
6, 2006 |
Season
tickets sold out for Main Stand Terrace |
| |
Doncaster Rovers
have announced that they have sold out of season tickets for the main
stand terrace, although there will still be space for a few tickets
to be bought on an individual match basis. There are also only a few
season tickets remaining for the seated areas of the main stand. |
| August
6, 2006 |
New
beer for Rovers |
| |
A new beer has been launched to help celebrate the departure of Rovers from Belle Vue later this year. "Farewell to Belle Vue" is a real ale which has been made by the Acorn Brewery, and is on sale at the Salutation Inn on South Parade. 20p from each pint sold will go to the Rovers from now until the end of the year. |
| August
5, 2006 |
Carlisle
v Rovers |
| |
At
last, the opening day of the season is here! Rovers travel to newly promoted
Carlisle United for this afternon's curtain-raiser in League One, and
will have to contend with the loss of James O'Connor and Jan Budtz, both
of whom miss the game due to injury. Dave Penney is giving little away in terms of team selection, apart from the certainty that Alan Blayney will start in goal. Sean McDaid is considered doubtful after picking up a knock last weekend, but has travelled with the squad. A five-figure crowd is expected today, with Rovers taking at least 1,200 supporters. Five hundred tickets were returned by Rovers yesterday, and they will be on sale at Brunton Park this afternoon. Carlisle are expecting the attendance to be the biggest opening day crowd since 1971, when 11,063 turned up to watch a goalless draw with Preston. As usual, we wil be opening our "Man of the Match" vote following this afternoon's match. |
| August
5, 2006 |
Rovers
sign keeper |
| |
Dave
Penney yesterday managed to sign a goalkeeper to cover for the injured
Andy Warrington, Jan Budtz and Lee Cockerham. He has signed Ben Smith,
a nineteen-year old keeper who was most recently with Stockport County
after being released by Newcastle on transfer deadline day last season.
Smith has signed on non-contract terms until the end of the month, when
Rovers hope that at least one of the other injured keepers at the club
will be fit again. |
| August
5, 2006 |
Roberts
is the Dragon's skipper |
 |
Former Rovers striker Neil Roberts has been appointed as Wrexham's team captain for this season, being described by the Dragons' boss as a natura lader. Roberts rejoined Wrexham fora second stint during the summer after feeling that hsi first team chances at Rovers would be limited this season. |
| August
4, 2006 |
Carlisle
ticket update |
| |
Doncaster
Rovers have reported that they have sold 1,200 of the 1,700 ticket allocation
given by Carlisle United for tomorrow's opening League One game of the
season. Tickets will remain on sale at Belle Vue until 2pm this afternoon, with all remaining tickets being then returned to Carlisle for sale tomorrow afternoon. To avoid disappointment tomorrow, we would recommend that you buy your ticket in advance - ticket prices on the day will, in any case, be higher. |
| August
4, 2006 |
Timlin
in Irish call-up |
 |
Michael
Timlin, who was at at Doncaster Rovers on loan from Fulham in the latter
part of the 2005/06 season, has been called up to the Republic of Ireland
Under-21 squad for their UEFA Championship qualifying game away to Greece
on 16th August.. The Irish side then face Belgium on 1st September in
Galway. Republic of Ireland squad: Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Kevin Foley (Luton Town), Paul McShane (Manchester United), Alex Bruce (Birmingham City), Marcos Painter (Birmingham City), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Glenn Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Willo Flood (Manchester City), Paul Keegan (Drogheda United), Michael Timlin (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Kevin Deery (Derry City), Jay Tabb (Coventry City), Roy O'Donovan (Cork City), Andy Keogh (Scunthorpe United), Stephen Ward (Bohemians), Anthony Stokes (Arsenal). |
| August
4, 2006 |
Rovers
travel for first game |
| |
The
Rovers squad will travel up to Carlisle this afternoon after today's training
session at Cantley Park. Dave Penney is still hoping to sign a goalkeeper
on loan as cover for Alan Blayney whilst both Andy Warrington and Jan
Budtz are out of action. Definitely missing tomorrow's game will be James O'Connor, who has failed to sufficiently recover from a stomach injury, so Adam Lockwood looks likely to make his Rovers debut at right back. Sean McDaid is also doubtful for tomorrow's match. |
| August
3, 2006 |
Big
Mark signs on |
 |
Doncaster Rovers yesterday confirmed that big striker Mark McCammon had signed a one year contract with the club. McCammon had been at the club on a trial, but a prospective deal appeared to have fallen through, and he was absent for the home pre-season game against Middlesbrough. His signing ends Dave Penney's search for a big target man to replace Leo Fortune-West, who left Rovers at the end of last season. |
| August
3, 2006 |
Injury
update |
 |
Adam Lockwood, who
was substituted in the Middlesbrough match after picking up a knock
below the knee, was due to resume training this week and should be available
for selection, as should Gareth Roberts. |
| August
3, 2006 |
Redfearn's
new book |
 |
Former
Rovers midfielder Neil Redfearn, who has just joined Bradford Park Avenue
as a player after leaving Scarborough, where he was player/manager, is
having his autobiography published in the next few days. Titled "The
Ups and Downs of My Footballing Life", it spans his 25-year career
which has seen him make virtually 1,000 senior appearances. Most of his
career has been in the colours of clubs in Yorkshire. In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Redfearn gave the following assessment of Rovers' chances this season " My old club are definitely on the up at the moment and it is wonderful to see. John loves Rovers and has found the money for Dave to make some excellent additions this summer and they have as good a chance as any of going up. There is a good mix of experience and talent at Belle Vue these days and the planned move to the new stadium mid-way through the season can only be a good thing as it will give everyone a further lift. League One has a lot of good sides, the promotion race is going to go right to the last and Doncaster will definitely be involved. Verdict: Automatic promotion for my old team." |
| August
3, 2006 |
Andy
joins Wise |
 |
Ex-Rovers
goalkeeper Andy Beasley has joined Swindon Town as goalkeeping coach as
new manager Dennis Wise seeks to give Swindon the best chance of instant
promotion back to League One. Beasley joins Swindon from Nottingham Forest,
where he had been goalkeeping coach for almost ten years. The former Mansfield, Rovers and Chesterfield goalkeeper came highly recommended to Wise, and will be responsible for putting Town's three keepers, Peter Brezovan, Phil Smith and Jon Stewart through their paces each day. |
| August
2, 2006 |
Quailey
moves on |
 |
Former
Doncaster Rovers striker Brian Quailey has signed for Nationwide Conference
National new boys Stafford Rangers on a free transfer from Nuneaton Borough.
Quailey was only offered non-contract terms for the forthcoming season
at Nuneaton after just recovering from a knee injury, and completed the
move to Stafford over last weekend, bringing to an end his third spell
at Borough. |
| August
2, 2006 |
Warrington
injury update |
| |
An
X-ray on Andy Warrington's ankle has shown that he has suffered a badly
sprained ankle, but no fracture was revealed. He will have a further scan
this afternoon when the extent of the damage will be revealed, but whatever
the outcome, he will be missing for a several weeks. Keeper Jan Budtz will have a scan on his broken finger to discover how well his recovery is going, but he is also expected to be out for a few weeks. With only Alan Blayney available for first team duty, unless Dave Penney puts youth team keeper Lee Cockerham on the bench as cover, Rovers look like having to sign a keeper on loan later this week. |
| August
2, 2006 |
Ricky's
aiming at promotion |
 |
Ricky
Ravenhill, who moved from Rovers to Chester City last week after protracted
negotiations over his transfer, impressed the Chester fans with what sounds
like a typical "no-nonsense" performance at the weekend against
Huddersfield Town. He spoke of his ambition of helping his new club to
promotion from League Two by saying: "The boys all know we are good
enough to get out of this division and that`s what we`re all here to do.
We`re not here to have an average season, there have been plenty of new
faces and we`re all here to help get Chester City out of this division
and to be in a league higher next year." |
| August
2, 2006 |
Macca
scores but Tykes lose again |
| |
Ex-Rovers
winger Michael Mcindoe scored a goal for Barnsley last night, but his
new club still went down to another defeat, this time a 2-1 loss at home
to Wigan Athletic. McIndoe scored direct from a free kick in the 25th
minute to put Barnsley ahead, with David Connolly equalising for Wigan
in the 70th minute, and Henri Camara getting the winner just a minute
from time. |
| August
1, 2006 |
Gateshead
5 Rovers 1 |
| |
Billed
as a first team match, Rovers disappointed the travelling fans when naming
a combination of youth team and first year professional players as the
squad for the final pre-season match of the season. Gateshead went in front in the 15th minute with a diving header from Appleby, with the second goal coming four minutes later as a header out hit Liam Green on the back and bounced into the net. It became 3-0 when former Rovers winger Ian Clark headed home in the 37th minute. Thankfully, some half time substitutions halted the flow of goals for a while, and it was the 77th minute before Pounder scored the fourth goal. Just two minutes later, Ian Clark scored Gateshead's fifth goal. Rovers scored a late consolation two minutes from time when Lodge fired home. Rovers: Lee Cockerham, Matt Noble, Andrew Boyce, Rob Pacey, Gerard Alonso, Adam Brown, Craig Sutton, Liam Green, Craig Nelthorpe, Wade Fairhurst, Luke Bythway Substitutes used - Alex Harrison (for Fairhurst, 53), Jordan Lodge (for Bythway, 53), Liam Nelthorpe (for Sutton, 55), Andy Hawksworth (for Boyce, 65), Tom Griffiths (for Brown, 70), Michael Guilliat |
| August
1, 2006 |
Redfearn
signs for Bradford Park Avenue |
| |
After
training with Bradford Park Avenue during their pre-season campaign, former
Scarborough manager and Rovers midfielder Neil Redearn has signed a contract
with the club, and will boost their chances of success in the UniBond
League Division One. Redfearn joined Bradford after leaving Scarborough
during the summer, with Bradford's manager, Phil Sharpe, saying: "Neil's
arrival should certainly excite our supporters. It has lifted me without
a doubt. Neil in fact turned down several tempting offers from clubs based
in the south and despite some being from Conference outfits he still opted
to join us. He is a local lad and there is the connection with his father
who was an Avenue professional in the 1950s." Redfearn's debut for the club is likely to be on August 5th when Avenue face Farsley Celtic. |
| August
1, 2006 |
Campbell
- give me a chance! |
 |
Former
Premiership striker Andy Campbell has written to York City to ask for
the chance of rebuilding his career at the Conference club after plummeting
form has resulted in his fall from grace after leaving Cardiff City. Campbell
has been on trials at Wycombe and Halifax Town this summer, and has played
for numerous clubs in the last couple of years, including a month's loan
at Doncaster Rovres, in a bid to rediscover his form which persuaded Cariff
to pay Middlesbrough over £1 million for his services. York manager Billy McEwan, is reported as saying: "He's out of work and we are short up front so, after he wrote me a letter, we have decided to have a look at him. We only met before the match and I think he needs to be at a club where he gets some proper training inside him rather than spending a week here and there. He's got ability and there's no way a player of his calibre should be messing around at this stage of the season looking for a job." |