The first time I was in Doncaster was Tuesday 18th
August 1992, when I made my only visit to Belle Vue to see Rovers lose 3-0 to
Lincoln City in a League Cup first round, first leg tie. I believe my team
Newcastle played a preseason friendly at Doncaster in either 92 or 93, but both
times I was on holiday, so my only experience of a Rovers game was that one. In
all honesty, I remember nothing about it, other than the ease of Lincoln’s win.
Fast forward to 24th October 2014, I
headed from Newcastle to Leeds, where my son is student, to take him to see the
reformed, belligerently magnificent Pop Group at Brudenell Social Club, 35
years since I last saw them. Next morning, being of the opinion that any Saturday
afternoon without football is a Saturday wasted, I decided to watch Doncaster
Rovers at home to MK Dons. Leeds city centre was absolutely teeming with
expectant fans. I felt pity for them as I eased aboard the almost deserted
13.05 to Kings Cross. It would be fair
to say I was one of the very few who got off that train at Doncaster to head
for the game.
I took a bus up to the ground, which had a few MK
Dons fans on it. Bearing in mind these blokes were, at the outside, mid 20s,
the chances are the only team they’ve watched regularly in their life are the
side still known as Franchise FC in some quarters. Frankly, to have such a
dismissive attitude towards fellow fans strikes me as unnecessarily
confrontational absolutism; these people simply want to watch their local team.
That said, the witless droning of approximately 200 Buckinghamshironians
through a predictable litany of “you’re not very good “and “shall we sing a
song for you?” in flattened quasi estuary English tones was exceptionally
grating.
We’ll not bother talking about the game shall we?
The fact the found as much as 12 seconds of highlights on The Football League Show
astonished me. However, in all seriousness, you’ve got a lovely ground; if I
could design a new football ground, I think the Keepmoat would be the blueprint
I’d base it on. Great access in and out
of the ground, good signposting, plenty of facilities (decent coffee I must
say) and helpful stewards who guided me to the correct car park for the bus
back to town. I’m disappointed not to have seen James Coppinger as I actually
remembered his only appearance for NUFC (won 2-0 home to Spurs in August 2000);
mind I’m also disappointed I didn’t see any goals. In conclusion, I had a great
day and wish you and your club well for the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment