1967â68 to 1968â69, [42] Further safety conditions imposed after the Hillsborough disaster led the capacity to fall to 7,294.[41]. The outbreak of the First World War meant the club closed down, and the army took over its ground using it as a depot.[1]. In 1998 Rovers featured in a documentary on Yorkshire Television. The Club reformed as a limited company after the war in 1919,[3] rejoining the Midland League a year later playing at their new temporary Bennetthorpe Ground. The club lost re-election votes in 1903 and 1905 and so returned to the Midland League. 1959â60 to 1965â66, Welcome to the official Doncaster Rovers Facebook page. They currently play in the FA Women's National League Division One Midlands. From 1879 to 1885 Doncaster played in blue and white, and since then red and white. The win against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday 14 February was especially memorable considering it was the first time Doncaster had defeated the Owls in any league competition. John Marquis put Rovers ahead for the first time in extra time, only for Darren Pratley to equalise a minute later. [3] On the first day of the second season (1921â22) there, in the Midland League, the Bennetthorpe Ground saw 7,219 people watch Rovers against Gainsborough Trinity. During this time, several high class players were with Doncaster including Harry Gregg who kept goal, and was sold to Manchester United in December 1957 for £23,500. The Viking image would become known as "The Turk's Head". They spent four of the next five seasons in the Championship, winning the League One title in 2012â13, though were relegated out of the Championship in 2012 and 2014. Darren Ferguson left his post in June 2017 and was replaced by another former Peterborough boss in Grant McCann ahead of the 2018/19 season. Rovers finished the 2014â15 season in 13th place, before being relegated to League Two after finishing 21st in 2015â16 with new manager Darren Ferguson. The details of this season are collected in Ian McMahon's book The Only Way Is Up. Doncaster's first game at the new Keepmoat Stadium was against Huddersfield Town on New Year's Day, 2007[20] and the first goal scored at the Stadium was by Mark McCammon. At the time, he was the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. The 2019–20 season was Doncaster Rovers' 141st season in their existence, 17th consecutive season in the Football League and third consecutive season in League One. [20] The game also saw the first three red cards in the new stadium. Doncaster Rovers 3. [21], 2007â08 proved to be one of the most exciting seasons in Doncaster's history. Doncaster held on to claim their first major trophy. Doncaster Rovers were involved in the longest ever competitive football match, against Stockport County at Edgeley Park on 30 March 1946, in a Division Three (North) cup tie. Tranmere Rovers 0. 1947â48, 1904â05, The club were a founder member of the Midland Alliance League and came second. 1983â84, The club reverted to the previously used design in 2012 with a two-tone gold background. At the end of the 2011â12 season, chairman John Ryan deemed the McKay "experiment" over as it "didn't work" and "wouldn't work in the third tier" anyway. Ed Williams (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half. He ploughed a lot of money into Doncaster Rovers with one thing on his mind, a new stadium. The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. Coppinger has been the butt of granddad barbs for a while â in November, he was replaced by a 17-year-old Liam Ravenhill, whose father, Ricky, he played alongside at Doncaster, and at Exeter he was in the same midfield as Ethan Ampaduâs dad, Kwame â but at the end of the season his expertise will turn to the touchline and encouraging his boys, Finley and Isaac. The club continued to move between the third and fourth tiers, winning promotions in 1980â81 and 1983â84 and relegations in 1983 and 1988, before suffering relegation into non-League football in 1998. Some of the fencing/gates on Town Moor Avenue remain.[42]. Doncaster Rovers secured their place in the Championship for the 2009â10 season after an emphatic 3â0 win at Home Park against Plymouth Argyle. [31] In an incredible finale to the season at Griffin Park, they beat Brentford 0â1 when James Coppinger scored in the last seconds of 5 minutes of added time, only seconds after Brentford's Marcello Trotta had hit a penalty against the crossbar. In the sixties Doncaster council denied Rovers permission to use the coat of arms and therefore a competition was held, from which the best design would be selected as the club's new badge. [42] The "Popular Side" was extended in 1927 and concreted in 1928. Jump to navigation Jump to search. The club was founded in 1879 and turned professional six years later, moving to the Intake Ground. The 2009â10 season's success became a football league record. He was so authentic and you believed everything he said because he said it with so much passion.â, Robson once compared Coppinger to Gianfranco Zola but was not so enamoured when he spotted his sports car in training. [6], When the Club was reformed after the war in the summer of 1919, the Army were still occupying the old Intake Ground as a depot. The change placed the Club back in charge of its home Stadium after the period of renting since its move from Belle Vue (also leased from the Council) in 2007. Promoted: 1980â81, 2016â17, English fifth tier They play home games at the Keepmoat Stadium, having moved from … It is the kind of script even Quentin Tarantino or Martin Scorsese might deem a touch far-fetched. âForty-sixth game of the season, the last kick of the game to win your team promotion to go up as champions ⦠You couldnât have written that.â, Doncaster Rovers scored this manic goal against Brentford to clinch the League One title on this day in 2013! Links to Shrewsbury Town vs. Doncaster Rovers video highlights are collected in the Media tab for the most popular matches as soon as video appear on video hosting sites like Youtube or Dailymotion. ð²Reminds us of a certain Watford goal that happens just weeks later ð pic.twitter.com/aDhmKn8gpC, Doncaster have surely not spent a better £30,000, the fee paid to sign Coppinger from then non-league Exeter in 2004. had secured a 99 Year operating lease from Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council to lead the management of the Keepmoat stadium with a view to improving operating results. Doncaster finished the 2009â10 season marginally better than their first season back in the Championship, in 12th and earning two more points than the previous season with 60 points. In 2003â04, the first season they were back in the Football League, Rovers achieved promotion to the third tier as Champions. 3y ESPN staff. This version included a new Yorkshire rose design on the shield as well as a slightly different Viking image in dark yellow. A year later the stadium was officially named as the Intake Ground. A further modification to the Doncaster Rovers crest was introduced in 2006 and used until 2012. The club was formed in 1879 by Albert Jenkins, a fitter at Doncaster's Great Northern Railway works. 1923â24 to 1934â35, Other players who are deemed to have played an important role for the club can be included, but the reason for their notability should be included in the 'Notes' column. [58], "DRFC" redirects here. The youth system currently has Category 3 status with the U18 academy team playing in the EFL Youth Alliance North East Conference league. However, they did well in the following two seasons before the outbreak of war, being runners up in Division 3 North, with only the champions being promoted at that time. Little things bring it on: âLast this, last that.ââ, It has been an almighty innings punctuated by preposterous moments. Rovers spent two seasons in Division 2, relegated in 1936â37. Stoneacre also agreed a new contract with the club to last until the end of the 2021â2022 season extending the partnership to 13 years. records and statistics, "Doncaster Rovers's results from season 1923/1924", "English Third Division (North) 1923/1924 Historical league standings at 3 May 1924", The League Doesn't Lie: The 606 Book of Football Lists, "Doncaster Rovers Match Report â Doncaster Rovers 1 â Sheffield Wednesday 0", "Dean Saunders replaces Sean O'Driscoll at Doncaster", "Willie McKay experiment is over â Doncaster's John Ryan", "Agent Willie McKay's plan to keep Doncaster in the Championship", "League One 2012â13 season preview: the bloggers' view", "Dean Saunders: Wolves appoint Doncaster Rovers boss", "Doncaster Rovers boss Brian Flynn named director of football", "One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson signs for Doncaster Rovers", "John Ryan: Doncaster Rovers exit saddens former chairman", "Andy Butler honoured and ready for the challenge of managing hometown club Doncaster Rovers", "Doncaster Rovers have arranged new training ground facilities. Welcome to the official Doncaster Rovers Facebook page. Watch the top moments of Doncaster Rovers play on Sky Sports. A few years later in 1927, the stand from the Bennetthorpe Ground was jacked up and moved to the new venue providing a sheltered stand at the "Town End". Links to West Ham United vs Doncaster Rovers highlights will be sorted in the media tab as soon as the videos are uploaded to video hosting sites like youtube … Doncaster found their best form in 50 years in the 2000s. 1984â85 to 1987â88, [54], In 2016 Popular Stand won the Football Supporters' Federation Fanzine of the Year.[55]. A new company did take over the club soon after but all English league competition was suspended in 1915 due to the First World War and the club was closed down and the ground turned into an Army depot. Youâve made one appearance.â I sold the car ⦠every time I got in it after that I didnât feel like I deserved it. This was the first strip worn by the club in 1879. The attempt put Richardson in jail for four years, ruined Belle Vue and Rovers were edging closer to relegation. Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Oldham Athletic: Controversial penalty hands Rovers win (0:49) 2y. 7:45pm, Tuesday 4th February 2020. With the controversial help of football agent Willie McKay, Rovers brought in several players on loans and short-term contracts, and on low wages,[26] including El Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, Herita Ilunga, Carl Ikeme, Frédéric Piquionne, and Habib Beye. 2,213 talking about this. âI think you could say they got a bargain, but I was very grateful when they bought me. They were first elected to the Football League in 1901, as a replacement for New Brighton Tower. [1], English third tier Picture the scene: into the 102nd minute, James Coppinger, on as a substitute and for his first appearance aged 40, wearing a kit he designed with his sons to mark almost two decades of service to Doncaster Rovers â as well as gold boots decorated with his initials and number â dispatches a free-kick into the top corner to earn a 3-3 draw. But in the summer, after 17 seasons at Rovers, he is set to retire, even if a teeny part of him is wrestling with the idea. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.The team competes in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.Their home strip is red and white hoops, which has been the main design of the club's home shirt since 2001. 90'+1' Doncaster Rovers is an English football club formed in 1879. The fans blamed Richardson for effectively destroying Rovers and even a funeral was held at Belle Vue on the last game of the 1997/98 season complete with coffin along Carr House Road. Doncaster found themselves in the Fourth Division after suffering successive relegations in 1958 and 1959, though would win the Fourth Division title in 1965â66 and 1968â69. As we were warming up I could see the gaffer pointing at my car. [47], Doncaster train at Cantley Park which has been their main training facility since June 2000. 1971â72 to 1980â81, For the first six years the club began playing their games wherever they could, on playing fields at Town Moor and the Racecourse. âIf we got promoted to the Championship it would be so difficult to walk away but right now ⦠thereâs no doubt in my mind that at the end of the season that will be it,â Coppinger says. 1935â36, 1937â38, 1940â41, 1955â56, 1967â68, 1975â76, 1985â86, Doncaster Rovers have played their football in the following leagues:[50], Midland Football League: Mining subsidence in 1987 meant much of the "Pop Side" was removed, drastically reducing the grounds capacity to around 10,000. [2] Season 1890â91 was to be a significant move forward. List of Doncaster Rovers F.C. The first match back in the Football League was a 0â0 draw against Wigan Borough at Belle Vue on 25 August 1923,[9] with Rovers playing in red tops with white shorts. ", https://www.doncasterrovers.org/the-club/club-history/, Doncaster Rovers sack mascot Donny Dog for posing in her underwear, "Philippe Coutinho wins FSF Player of the Year Award", "Viva Video Special: 'Trading Places' « Viva Rovers", "Lion Television . They got off to the perfect start when a tap in from Jonathan Forte and brilliant finish from Paul Heffernan put Rovers 2â0 up within the first 5 minutes. 1923â24 to 1997â98, The documentary is notable not only for the inside look at the pre-match preparations, warm-up conducted in the dressing-rooms, starting line-up read out as if it is coming to Bremner there and then, but for such rare footage of early 1980s Belle Vue, with a full-size Popular Stand and the Cow Shed still standing at the Town End. 1903â04, Belle Vue had never been upgraded heavily since 1938 and despite minor cosmetic changes and the addition of some seating was really showing its age by the time Westferry took over. 1981â82 to 1982â83, They went ahead in normal time and Arsenal equalised, and in extra time Rovers went up for a second time but Gilberto Silva equalised in injury time and the North London side went on to win on penalties.[19]. Doncaster Rovers scored this manic goal against Brentford to clinch the League One title on this day in 2013! Champions: 1896â97, 1898â99 Here on Yoursoccerdose.com you will find West Ham United vs Doncaster Rovers detailed statistics and pre match information. He was so charismatic. Clips of live football goals, player interviews & video highlights from hundreds of games. A new stadium was completed in December 2006. Also included on the crest was a shield with the club's initials â D.R.F.C. The survival was also a major feat, as before the start of that season, they were tipped by many as strong favourites for relegation. Links to Oxford United vs. Doncaster Rovers video highlights are collected in the Media tab for the most popular matches as soon as video appear on video hosting sites like Youtube or Dailymotion. The inset shield was also coloured red and white to denote the team colours. Doncaster Rovers' main rivals are Rotherham United, Barnsley, Leeds United and Scunthorpe United, with Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Chesterfield and Mansfield Town all being rivalries to a lesser extent. Previously there have been several other fanzines "Raise The Roof", "Warboys is still God" and "Keegan Was Crap Really" which are no longer being published. Doncaster ended their first season in the Championship comfortably in 14th position, finishing above 8 former Premier League teams, including Charlton Athletic, Watford, Crystal Palace and Derby County. This led to the sacking of manager Sean O'Driscoll and assistant manager Richard O'Kelly. [37], On 3 May 2014 Doncaster were relegated back to League One after just one season following a 1â0 defeat to Leicester City on the final day of the season.[38]. They were voted out once again. The official opening of the Keepmoat Stadium was on 3 August 2007, with Doncaster Rovers playing a Manchester United XI in front of a crowd of 13,080. Billy Bremner, who achieved fame for his playing career with Leeds United and Scotland, managed Doncaster twice, his final spell ending in November 1991 â six years before his death. James Coppinger celebrates after scoring a 102nd-minute equaliser for Doncaster in a 3-3 draw with Hull on 20 February. Having become the first team to be bottom of the table at Christmas, but still managed to survive the drop. For other uses, see, This article is about the men's football club. Tranmere Rovers vs Doncaster Rovers. Their home strip is red and white hoops, which has been the main design of the club's home shirt since 2001. A new 15,231 all-seated stadium owned by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and rented by the club, was completed in December 2006. The 2010â11 season proved to be Doncaster's most trying season in the Championship thus far. They were admitted into the Football League for a third and final time in 1923 and went on to win the Third Division North in 1934â35. This time, in 1904â05, Doncaster finished bottom with W3 D2 L29, adrift by 12 points, gaining only 8 points â an unfortunate still standing record. Getty Images. He said: âWhose is that car?â I said it was mine and he absolutely went off on one and said: âWho do you think you are? [23] A long run of bad results saw them bottom of the Championship on 20 December 2008 following a narrow 1â0 defeat to Wolves at home. Some have suggested a statue outside the Keepmoat Stadium. The site was originally leased from Case IH.[48]. [26], The squad was rebuilt for the 2012â13 season with 19 players leaving. Following the Bradford City stadium fire disaster, in 1985 the wooden "Cow Shed", as the old Bennetthorpe stand was known, had to be removed for safety reasons. 1988â89 to 1997â98, 90'+1' Post update. [35] To boost support for their chosen charity, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, the club signed singer Louis Tomlinson on a non-contract basis. [36], On 9 November, John Ryan gave an emotional farewell and stepped down as Chairman of the Club after 15 years, minutes before the kick-off against a Championship encounter against Barnsley at Oakwell, amid reports of boardroom disagreements following a proposed takeover bid by a hedge-fund consortium led by Sequentia Capital. The kit uniquely included a blue Tam o' Shanter with a red toorie at the centre. James Coppinger in action against Blackpool this season. 1937â38 to 1946â47, Richardson hired three men to torch Belle Vue and planned to sell the ground to developers. Links to Blackburn Rovers vs. Doncaster Rovers video highlights are collected in the Media tab for the most popular matches as soon as video appear on video hosting sites like Youtube or Dailymotion. drfc_official Rovers' expanded video coverage in 2018/19 has seen the club's YouTube channel hit another landmark. [46], On 11 August 2012, the stadium was officially handed over to chairman John Ryan in a presentation before the League Cup tie with York City. They entered the Midland League in 1891 and were elected into the Football League in 1901. This episode titled "Trading Places" documents and contrasts the 1997â98 season for two of the region's football clubs; Rovers heading out of the Football League and Halifax Town heading the opposite the way as Champions of the Conference. [6] The following season, saw them enter the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA Challenge Cup, beating Sheffield United 2â1 at Bramall Lane to win the final. This article was amended on 5 March 2021 to clarify that Darlington, though currently a non-league side, were in the Third Division when James Coppinger was a trainee there. Another player, lesser known outside Doncaster, was Alick Jeffrey. He went on to help save lives in the Munich air disaster and was a regular goalkeeper for Northern Ireland. On 23 September 2011, Dean Saunders was unveiled as the new boss, leaving Wrexham. With council restrictions on the six acre[43] Low Pastures site having been satisfactorily negotiated, the Club moved there for the beginning of the 1922â23 season. [15] They also brought in John Ryan as a non-executive chairman and he took over at the end of this season. 1891â92 to 1900â01, The first half of the 2008â09 season saw Doncaster struggling to adapt to the Championship despite a promising start with an away win over newly relegated Derby County. When he was refused a new stadium by the council he soon lost interest. In five years, he went from Sunday League to partnering Alan Shearer up front. They showed faith in me and Iâd like to think Iâve paid that back, and a little bit more.â. The associated Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. Eight years ago Coppinger scored a 95th-minute winner to send Doncaster into the Championship at Brentfordâs expense, seconds after Marcello Trottaâs penalty clattered the crossbar. â Runners up: 1937â38, 1938â39, English fourth tier 1948â49 to 1949â50, Rovers’ seasonal members can stream home Sky Bet League One games for free starting Saturday September 12. Later in the same week she was reinstated back as the club's mascot. Doncaster were the first team to win the Fourth Division/Third Division (fourth level) Championship three times, 1966, 1969, and 2004. The rule at that time was that the game would carry on until one team scored. [1] They play home games at the Keepmoat Stadium, having moved from Belle Vue in 2007. Sky Bet League One. âHe [Robson] kissed his hand, slapped me around the face and said: âDonât let me down, son.â That was his way of saying: âI believe in you.â He always believed in me but I didnât believe in myself, and that is where I was at the time. 1935â36 to 1936â37, On 1 April 2007, Doncaster Rovers travelled with their new manager to the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to play Bristol Rovers in the Football League Trophy final. On 7 January, Saunders filled the vacant managers position at Wolves[30] and on 17 January caretaker manager Brian Flynn was given the permanent managers job till the end of the season with Rob Jones as player coach. James Coppinger celebrates with Doncaster teammates after scoring the goal at Brentford that earned promotion to the Championship in 2013. However, after 203 minutes, and with darkness closing in, the game was finally stopped. The institute side took a 4â0 lead but the game ended as a 4â4 draw. Club Doncaster Club Doncaster in the community 5 March 2021. After a slow start they were in serious contention for a top-six finish for much of the second half of the season. Popular Stand is currently edited by Glen Wilson. A stoppage-time strike by Fejiri Okenabirhie denied Sunderland victory right at the death against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium. They were formed by Rover's lottery ticket saleswomen in 1969 as Belle Vue Belles. âI coach both of their teams ⦠I was going to try and cling on to see if they can make it and then I could play with them,â Coppinger says, laughing. The following season saw them relegated from the Second Division, but two years later with Peter Doherty as player-manager, they won the Third Division North again. [57] In the early 1980s there was a documentary about Billy Bremner as the manager of Rovers. Watch the Dons take on Doncaster Rovers at Stadium MK in 2017/18, as well as 22 other Sky Bet League opponents, by becoming a Season Ticket holder. Doncaster were the last team to win Division Three before it was renamed League Two. How to stream Rovers matches on iFollow. In the early 1990s the crest was altered, omitting the red and white circle background and the Viking image was coloured gold. In the second half of extra time a Sean Thornton corner was headed home by skipper Graeme Lee who had come forward from his central defensive position. âI bought a BMW Z3 after I made my debut and a security guard waved me in thinking I must be a first-team regular, and I actually parked my car next to Sir Bobbyâs. As it was, the goal put Doncaster one point above Bournemouth as Champions. Sims, 23, has today completed a move back to the Keepmoat Stadium, where he spent a short amount of time during the first half of this term. The mascot was next portrayed by Tracy Chandler and in June 2011, she was relieved from the position after she posed in her underwear for a Sunday newspaper. 2013â14, 3rd Tier â Division 3 North, Division 3, League 1: [7] That same season, they also moved up to the Midland League, becoming Champions in 1896â97 and 1898â99.[8]. They finished in 21st place, 6 points clear of relegated local rivals Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United. The ground had a unique feature in that home and away teams had separate entrances. However, after a brave fight back from Bristol Rovers, the game finished 2â2, so it went to extra time. [1] One of the players in that first match was Rovers legend Tom Keetley[6] who went on to become the Club's highest scorer with 186 goals in 241 appearances. [41] The stadium was opened in 1922 by Charles Sutcliffe, a representative of the Football League when it was named Belle Vue.