[Div3North]

Doncaster Rovers

V

Accrington Stanley

2024/25 Prediction League; Game 1 v Donnie (away)

“Rovers” may put you in mind, perhaps, of Melchester Rovers, and in particular, Roy of the Rovers ……….. the original comic strip began in September 1954, making Roy ineligible for the Winter Fuel payment …………. But can anyone remember his surname?

Of similar vintage is Donnie’s Marquee Summer Signing – nearer 39 than 38 – Billy Louis Sharp, player of all the clubs in Southern and Eastern Yorkshire and more besides, with over 600 appearances and 250 goals, 44 of them in 98 games at Donnie between 2009 and 2012 with an additional 14-game loan spell in 2014 …………. Got a feeling that even at his age he’ll keep two or three of our lads busy if he gets a sniff of the ball

Starter for ten, then; in the last 60 years, the Dutch top division has only been won by five clubs; Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, AZ and Steve McClaren’s Twente …… but apart from membership of that group, what else connects those five teams and their winning ways?

Seems to me that we’ve had a half-decent summer shop; seven ProperSigned (two defenders from Morecambe, two strikers from Boston (I’ve got a bet on with Valairian that he can’t complete a traditionally rude limerick with that as the first line by Christmas), a winger from the Coasters, a MF from Southport and a GK from the Plastic Wombles ……………. Good as they look to be, I’m pleased we haven’t just scooped up loads of loan signing (although the two we have look pretty handy) ……… I think it could be “Come On You Reds” time …………. And lots of games at funny times on Sky Sports 3 for free (after you’ve paid through the nose for Sky Sports, of course) ………

And here’s a Starter for Ten for the Clever Beggars; when was the last time that all the teams in the top English division ended the season with the same managers that they’d started the season with?

For Donnie, four signings in addition to Billy “Goals” Sharp; Hull GK Tom Nixon, MFs Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Joe Sbarra from Carlisle, Grimsby and Solihull Moors respectively (NB there are NO MOORS IN SOLIHULL) plus three loans ……

You’ll all recall that Donnie finished last season with 13 wins, four draws and but one loss (to Walsall), to end the season in fifth place on 71 points, and then won 2-0 at Crewe in the Playoff Semis, before losing at home by the same score in the return game, and then losing the penalty shoot out (to West Germany) 4-3 ………….. prepared to bet they can’t do that twice, but they might well be there or thereabouts come next May!

Only a short opener this week, pending seeing how many people play this season ……. I did have a tentative offer by one of our Stand-Out members to take on the Chimer role of preparing the League table, but it’s gone a bit quiet in the last week, so we’ll have to see .....

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick off time, which this week – and maybe for the last time – is 3.00pm on Saturday (10th August) ………… And for those still reading (if any), Roy of the Rovers was Roy Race, the connection between the five sides to have won the Dutch League in the last 60 years is that they all play in red and white, and the last time the whole tranch of managers lasted the full season was 1965/66, although it should be recorded that the Arsenal Manager – Billy Wright, the fourth Beverley Sister (look them up!) – resigned in June 66

Good Luck to everyone (if anyone plays!) ……….. Keep the Faith! ………. And thank you for playing (if you did)