Conference trucks::football;1

A whole note dedicated to Rovers' arch-enemies? Oh, the injustice of it all.
It's a good job we righteously stuffed them a couple of weeks back. If only we
still had Tony Woodcock playing for us, we'd be challenging for promotion. 8-)

Mike

(Note, absolutely no mention of those rich gits from Ewood Park.)

>A whole note dedicated to Rovers' arch-enemies? Oh, the injustice of it all.
    
    Mike,
    
    Which Rovers do you mean. Is it Donny Rovers at the moment or is it a
    reference to Blackburn a few seasons ago (smiley thing).
    
    Paul.

    A Scunny note out of the blue - how did you do that? It fair teks me
    back to when I worked at BOCM in Selby and Scun'orp was that
    star-spangled spot on the horizon still trying to harness royalties
    from anybody who had anything to do with Kevin Keegan.
    
    Simon

Paul,

Donny. Scunny are our eternal enemies. A curse on them and their children.

Donny's much publicised home run of form (4 pts from two games) ended on
Saturday when we lost 4-0 to Scarborough after they were awarded a last minute
disputed penalty by referee Alan Scarborofan.

Either that or we are crap and they stuffed us. You decide.

Mike

    
    
      For those interested,this noted was started by an irate Blackburn
     fan who was fed up of Scunny being mentioned in the Blackburn note.
      See 202.347 for where it all started.
     
      There seem to be a few third division supporters around (Donny &
     Crewe supporters spring to mind),so perhaps we can keep this going 
     for a week or two,with some match reports ?
    
    

     ...and a part time Rochdale fan as well (who still have to play sunny
    Scuuny needing a win to stand a chance of getting in the play-offs)
    
    Rob

    A draw last Saturday put Scunny just out with that play off spot.If we
    get a good result against Shrewsbury(that team Blackburn toiled to
    beat) we could be on the way to Wembley again.
    
    We're IRON.
    
    JC.

    
    The Blackburn fan wasn't irate, just helpful as you can see.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Well I hope Scunny stuff Shrewsbury cos that will mean that CHESTER
    have a chance of being champs as well as Going up , Going up ,Going up.
    
    P.S. Provided of course that Chester win their remaining games which is
    never certain (don't want to tempt the fates here). Interesting game as
    regards who else goes up on Saturday, Crewe V Wycombe.
    

    Re:-1
    
    CHESTER being promoted means they can renew their nice friendly
    rivalry with the sh*t* from North Wales next season !!  Brings
    back such happy memories !

    
    What ? TWO Chester fans ? They'll be building a bigger ground next !
    
    I'm surprised that there's nobody out there with a relative from Wrexham
    who took exception to .10 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

re: -1
	If you had a relative in Wrexham, would you own up to it ???

Bl**ody big club fair weather fans. Bog off out of our note.

It's bad enough using the only note we proper football fans care about for your
supposedly humourous battles of wit, but slapping our faces with it's title is
going just a bit too far. So you think Division 3 is trivial do you? Patronising
g*t. 8-)

At least we earned our success through hard graft rather than through selling
our souls to capitalist oppressor money-grabbing pseudo-southern building
industry barons.

Or something like that.

Mike

    Mike,
    
    Thanks for that, we've waited a long time to be recognised as a bloody
    big club. We were fair weather fans until we spent �20M on a new stadium 
    with lots of seats and big roofs, now we are all-weather fans ! Thats
    progress for you eh.;-)
    
    And how could I patronise what will always be Division Four in my heart, 
    I know nothing about it, we've never been that low  ;-)
    
    When I started this note I was actually in Uncle Jack mode myself, 
    you know the kind of thing, a home for the homeless. Particularly my 
    good buddy the Chester fan who had no outlet for his frustration. 
    Now I'm temped to rename it "Scunthorpe and ungrateful bastards" 
    but I suspect the moderators might not see the humour :-)
    
    As for your socio-economic insult I suggest you do a little more
    research into the background of the blessed benefactor before you start
    such nonsensical ramblings. Jack is a true football fan and genuine
    working class hero. I just wish there were more like him !
    
    Regards,
    
    Your Sponsor :-)      

    Now I know whats wrong with Burnley, the rotten swines have taken
    Lancashire back, can't they find out who their good players are
    themselves or don't they want CHESTER to be champs. I beleive certain
    other people dislike Burnley due to others factors (such as local
    rivalry, better pies etc.)  
    ya  h

    
    Did I or did I not warn you !
    
           <<< TRUCKS::DISK$USER72:[NOTES$LIBRARY]FOOTBALL.NOTE;1 >>>
                                 -< FOOTBALL >-
================================================================================
Note 371.11             Scunthorpe,Doncaster,Chester etc.               11 of 15
WOTVAX::GREENJA "Andy Green"                          9 lines  27-APR-1994 15:43
                      -< Quick, buy the Burnley reject ! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    When you take Burnley players on loan you are flirting with the DEVIL !
    
    These evil people are not to be trusted. (And never eat their pies!)
    
    But fear not, Graham Lancashire, goal scoring wonder that he is, will 
    no doubt return to Chester next season.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 
    

Andy,

Oh, thank you, thank you. (Doff cap, tug forelock)

What can I say? I was mistaken. How foolish of me to think that just because
Uncle Jack earns more money than several large African nations he isn't working
class.

I'll never do it again.

All hail Comrade Jack Walker and his supremely modest Jack Walker Stand. Hurrah!

And what's more, let's have more talk about proper clubs like Blackburn rather
than poxy Sunday League teams like the one in the title of this note.

8-)

Mike

(Bitter, me? Never. We've got our own rich benefactor, you know. Paul Daniels
sponsors our centre circle.)

>>Mike

>>(Bitter, me? Never. We've got our own rich benefactor, you know. Paul Daniels
>>sponsors our centre circle.)
    
    Surely he sponsors the defence?......
    
    ....after all it does a disappearing act most Saturday afternoons.
    
    Boom, boom !
    
    Rob

    The 4-1 defeat by Shrewsbury bombed out any chance Scunny had of
    reaching the playoffs.A win on Saturday will only give 59 points
    which is less than Carlisle etc already have.
    JC.
    

Wahay, Donny got panned by Colchester at the weekend. We are now 18th, but the
good news is that Scunny are finished and we are still one place ahead of
Lincoln.

Life is good when your expectations are low.

Mike

    And another home defeat for Lincoln at the weekend, their tenth this
    season.
    
    Expect the much respected manager Keith Alexander to soon receive the
    vote of confidence from the chairman.
    
    Pity there's unlikely to be any new blood from the Conference this
    time. Kidderminster have a ground that would shame plenty of league
    sides, but just not enough seats.
    
    John

You should never have sold Matt Carmichael. 

Do you think the Imps will keep their low quality squad numbers next season now
that they've just failed to get promoted? 8-)

Mike

    I believe Matt Carmichael was swopped with Scunthorpe for their
    Richard(?) Hill.
    
    He played as a striker for Lincoln a few times and was then converted
    to a defender. Having scored 18 for Scunthorpe this season, he's now
    playing for them as a defender. At Wycombe recently, he moved upfield
    for free kicks etc, but never looked likely to add to his tally.
    
    Meanwhile, Hill is in and out of the Lincoln side.
    
    Squad numbers, and unreadable names on shirts, can both go as far as
    I'm concerned.
    
    John 

    Well following a victory over the Shrews on Tuesday, the Cumbrians have
    hit their highest position this season... oh and it's a play-off
    place!!
    
    Beat Colchester on Saturday and it's into the play-offs, which would be
    the first bit of good news for many news (this years auto-glass run to
    the semis excepted).
    So, after many years of wingeing at big clubs taking all the home
    receipts, taking our best players, having sugar daddies etc., we now
    have Michael Knighton to thank for saving us from the yearly fighta
    against going out of the league and reviving memories of Stan Bowles,
    Peter Beardsley, Bob Hatton and particularly the 1st division team
    which included John Gorman and Chris Balderstone (now more famous for
    being Swindon manager and England's first 'third umpire'
    (respectively!)
    
    Hoping to be at Brunton Park on Saturday !
    Dave Clarkson 
    Balderstone, Frank Clarke!
    league

    Well its crunch time on Saturday for Crewe, Wycombe, Chesterfield,
    Rochdale and Carlisle. I think Crewe have to win at Chester as I don't
    fancy their chances in the playoffs, Carlisle and Rochdale seem to be
    the form teams for winning the playoffs with a late run (if the
    can get into them). Preston's chances don't look good given their
    current form, Crewe/Wycombe have past their peak and would be deflated
    by not winning automatic promotion, Torquay and
    Chesterfield are a bit erratic.
    
    Forecast:
    
  	Shrewsbury - already champs
        Chester - already runners up
    	Crewe	- Win against Chester who have nothing to play for 
    		  
    
    Playoff
    	Carlisle to beat Torquay in Final
                                   

    re -1
    Oh no - some-one tipping Carlisle - we prefer to be the underdogs!!
    
    I was at Brunton Park on Saturday and the match was tense, but Carlisle
    played well enough to win by 3 or 4.  The defence was solid -
    restricting Colchester to long range shots.  There was the most blatant
    penalty I have ever seen turned down.... The ball came back off
    Colchester keeper's chest and a Carlisle player took it round him with
    the outside of his left boot, whilst the keeper quite blatantly grabbed
    his right leg with both arms... unbelievably, the linesman right in
    front of us and with a clear view waved play-on!!
    
    The play-off at Carlisle is all-ticket (I think because the (in)famous
    scratching shed is being knocked down to be replaced by a new stand,
    function suite etc.)
    Does anyone know anything about Wycombe - where is the ground, is the
    match there all-ticket? what chance of getting a ticket etc.?
    
    BTW see new note for a bizarre incident observed at this game!!
    Come on you Cumbrians!
    Dave C.	
    

Donny stuffed Hereford 1-0 at the weekend to finish 15th which is about our
second best performance in living memory (we finished 11th a few years ago). 

I hope Carlisle win the play-offs because that way Wycombe don't. 8-)

Mike

    Wycombe's ground Adams Park, sign posted from junction 4 of the M40.

    There is no news of tickets as yet, but it will probably be all 
    ticket, I will let you know the details when I here them.

    Jane
    

    Tickets for Wycombe V Carlisle go on sales on Saturday 13th.

    Jane    

    Is it true hat Wycombe's capacity is 8000?  If so, what's the chance of 
    getting a ticket for Wycombe v Carlisle (assuming that it is
    all-ticket) ?
    
    
    

    Wycombe have recently added crash barriers to one of the stands and
    the capacity is now about 9000.  I do not know how many tickets they
    are giving to Carlisle, but there will probably be about 2000 - 2500,
    on sale on Saturday, I will find out more details for you tonight and
    post them tomorrow.

    Jane 

	Tickets go on sales to the general public for the Wycombe V
	Carlisle match on Saturday between 10.00 am and midday, from the
	commercial office at the ground.  Maximum of 2 per person.
	Hope this helps.

	The idea is to sell the tickets for the return leg before they
	have played the first, cos the way Wycombe are playing at the
	moment they will be be at least 2-0 down, and thats hoping that
	Carlisle have an off day.

	Jane

    Well we got tickets for Wycombe v Carlisle... but I am not sure if I
    want to go now (0-2!!!)
    It aint over till its over!
    

    Wycombe were the better team and deserved to go through - Simon Garner
    (ex Blackburn) was easily the best player on the pitch and made the
    difference, crossing for one goal and scoring a break-away for the
    second, ading to one from the first leg I think !
    Still we had a reasonable evening and were glad that Carlisle scored at
    least.
    
    One note, though, if Wycombe go up and entertain teams like Birmingham
    City, they need to get there policing together...  As, what must have
    been one of their biggest crowds of the season left, the police very
    kindly shut one of the large gates across the only exit from the ground
    (strange behaviour!)  Also, it was good to see that Cralisle police
    were there to look out for known trouble-makers, but why was only one
    turnstile open for away fans - it was a little frustrating to be
    standing in a very slow moving queue (every single person was searched)
    whilst the game could be heard starting!!!
    
    Here's to next season
    Dave C. 

    
    
    Dave,
    
     next time your there walk right around the queue and go to gate 56. 
     That an away turnstile thats hidden up the back. We all queued the 
     same way as you.
    
     Not even the stewards or Police told us it existed !!.
    
    Gazzer

    Bad news for Chester fans, Burnley have offered Graham Lancashire a new
    contract. Bit surprising that after being promoted to Div 1 they should 
    want to keep a lad they wouldn't play in Div 2. 
    
    So does the boy stay with the Clarets or does he try to get back to 
    Chester where after his very successful loan periods they would no 
    doubt give him hero status and the choice of local virgins (baa) ?
    
    cheers,  
    
    Digital's East Lancashire PSC.

    re:-1
    
    I don't know why you're so surprised.  Chester are famous for
    converting ordinary players into potential world-beaters.  One only has
    to look at the long list of Chester exports such as Ian Rush, Lee
    Dixon, etc etc etc.  You watch and see where Blackburn send Shearer
    when the goals dry up.
    
    I presume the (baa) is a reference to sheep.  Well ho ho ho !  Let me
    take this opportunity to remind everyone that Chester is most
    definitely in England and NOT Wales.  However Mr Lancashire might have
    a bit of fun on the away trip to Wrexham.

    Sir,
    
    Sheffield isn't in Wales either but you'd be a mug to go out in a
    sheepskin coat there on a Saturday night !
    
    When Shearers goals dry up he'll be about 50 and I can't think of
    anywhere better to send him at that point than Chester. However  
    I think Chester would need to find out exactly where all the money went 
    before they could pay his wages for a week, even then. You haven't had a
    decent crowd since the Romans left and I don't see that changing much
    in the near future !
    
    Yours in jest,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. When you next go to a Chester game if the other person there is
    a grey haired old bloke without a smile go up to him and say 
    "Your name's Gareth North and I claim my �5". :-) Or if you are a
    sadistic type you could always try "hey mate, did you see what those
    kids were doing to that Sierra outside!"
         

    No decent crowds since the Romans !!!!  How dare you sir.  I remember
    the glory days of the mid-70s when Chester charged to the semis of the
    League/Rumbelows/Milk/Fizzy Pop cup dispatching  clubs like Leeds
    and Newcastle on the way.  Those games attracted massive attendances
    approaching the 20k mark.  Now remind me - what was Blackburn's average
    gate this season in probably their best ever year ?  A bit of success
    will soon see the crowds "flock" back to Chester.
    
    Dave

    Dave,
    
    If you want history then Blackburn have won just about everything over
    the years and Ewood Park once held 62,000 for a cup tie 
    against Bolton. People were obviously much thinner in those days.
    
    However we are now in the 1990's and we have spent this season building
    3 new stands, any one of which holds more than Chesters new 
    ground/future supermarket (except when Preston are your visitors). 
    Average gate has been 20,000 sellout, thats not bad when you've got 
    the builders in.
    
    Obviously we don't have to compete for crowds with a Zoo like you do
    (although Burnleys not far away). 
    
    Be warned, a bit of success at Chester and you'll all get 'fleeced' again !
    
    So are you the other one of the faithful ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

    >Sheffield isn't in Wales either but you'd be a mug to go out in a
    >sheepskin coat there on a Saturday night !
    
    Andy,
    
    Of course, as usual, you are completely correct apart from one minor
    detail. I would not agree with your inferance that people in Sheffield
    are likely to try to get romantically involved with anyone wearing a
    sheepskip coat. People in Sheffield would not go out in a sheepskip
    coat because in our chic and fashionable city they would simply be
    laughed at. A Lancastrian, on the other hand, would not go out in a
    sheepskin coat because it his prized fashion item and he might spill
    some shandy and ruin it.
    
    Yours in friendly Roses rivalry,
    
    Paul.
       

    Andy,
    
    Actually my 1st love is Man Utd.  I was taken to Old Trafford to see
    Utd V Scousers when I was about 6 and have been hooked ever since.  I
    used to see Chester play whenever Utd were either not playing or
    all-ticket games etc so I have been to some wonderous grounds following
    "you blues".  I did follow Chester all over the shop for about 2-3
    years when I was a bit disillusioned with the 'big leagues' - transit
    vans to Mansfield, Orient, Sunderland and a double-decker bus Boxing
    day trip to Cambridge on a 'piss-awful' day being the highlights - but
    all that came to an end when we moved darn sarf 7 years ago.
    
    Still get to see Utd with the Hampshire Reds but the Chester games
    were never the same without the chaps/transit/booze etc.
    
    I think you're being a tad cruel about the Italia-designed new stadium.
    An imposing sight to anyone used to the old cow shed we used to have.
    At least it's got 4 sides !
    
    Dave
    
     

    Hey Paul,
    
    good to see you'll still rise for a small crumb of bait ;-)
    
    Dave,
    
    what a sad tale. You start out as a good solid northern lad, following
    the blues, rolling around in the transit van, with a good 
    stock of cans and you end up in the Hampshire Reds ! I suppose its a
    Range Rover ride down to the Yacht Club now, for a large Pimms and
    watch the highlights on satellite T.V. !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

    Andy,
    
    I admit it does appear to be a sad familiar tale of Northern Man trying
    to make it big darn sarf.  Fortunately, most of the Hamphsire Reds are
    fellow-Northerners who have had to "get on their bikes" and look for
    work in the sunny south, so I still get the chance to exchange stories
    about whippets, black pudding and flat-caps.
    
    Still, it could have been worse, I could have been taken to watch the
    Scousers play when I was in my informative years and been noting here
    about the merits of Five-Chins Whelan and TGA.
    
    Dave 

    Lanacashire has been offered a contract by Burnley but is supposed to
    be still interested in moving to better living conditions.
    
    Dave, I was in some of those 20K crowds in the L.C. run, 3-0 against
    Leeds when they were champions was magic. However going even further
    back I also went to Old Trafford for a third round F.A. game in which
    Jimmy Humes scored an early gaol with a diving shoulder into the top
    corner. United won with two goals in the second half, one by Kinsey
    (who received just reward by being transferred to Wrexham) which was
    reckoned to be offside. Bobby Charlton was majestic. I wish we still
    had a CF like Gary Talbot.
    
    Gareth,
    
    P.S. As I pass the reservoirs in Wales with my legs crossed I always
    remember were the English get their water from :).
                              

    
    For those who don't know him, Gary Talbot was a welsh sporting hero of
    the sixties, he was in fact the first double winner of the modern era.
    In 1965 Gary took the One Man and his Dog individual time trial and the 
    Crufts Best in Class for Working Bitches. His dog, Meg, was said to be the
    brains of the partnership.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy :-)
    
    p.s. Only Scousers drink welsh water, the civilised world gets it from 
    Cumbria.

    Gareth,
    
    Blimey, if you can rememeber the Utd games then Andy's description of
    grey hair and a sierra is indeed correct.
    
    By the way, I'd change Gareth to Gazza if I was you - just in case
    people started questioning your ancestry.
    
    Dave

    Dave,
    
    Nothing wrong with my Welsh blood - however Gazza leads to a vision of
    a permanent limp and mild insanity on football pitches and in night
    clubs.
    
    Andy,
    
    The only ex- Blackburn player I can remember playing for City was Faz -
    and he deprived us of a visit to Wembley by falling over the ball at
    Mansfield - Hope you won't be remembered in a similar light.
    
    Signed,
    
    Grey haired old man
    

    Gazza,
    
    I won't hear a word said against Faz, he went on for years and years
    and always managed to create the impression that he knew what
    was going on. A bit like yourself, but he didn't need 3 miles of
    printing to perfect the illusion.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

>                        <<< Note 371.37 by SHIPS::EDWARDS_D >>>
>
>    converting ordinary players into potential world-beaters.  One only has
>    to look at the long list of Chester exports such as Ian Rush, Lee
>    Dixon, etc etc etc.  
    
    Well, I never thought that I'd see the words Lee Dixon and
    world-beaters in the same note ! 
    
    Terry

    Gazza,
    
    Do you still get to many games - an old fellow like you must find it
    difficult getting aroung nowadays.  At least there are plenty of seats
    in the new ground.  
    
    If you are Welsh, how is it you follow "you Blues" instead of the
    goats from Wrexham ?
    
    Dave

    Dave,
    Season ticket holder. I can still manage the 100 metres in 15 seconds
    (that's in the car).
    
    I was born in Chester (nearest hospital) whilst parents lived in Wales. 
    Welsh mum, English dad. The first match I went to was Chester V Borough Utd
    in the Welsh Cup as our lodger supported Borough, thought City were a
    better bet after a 5-2 win. Who in their right mind would go and watch 
    Wrexham?
    
    I have a funny feeling Mr. Green is going to enter some comments about
    lodgers after this note.
    
    Gareth

    Dave,
    
    don't be fooled by Gareths gentile homespun facade, he's really quite 
    sprightly for an old-un. Not many people are agile enough to spend 
    the day typing at two keyboards without taking their feet off the desk.
    
    He assures me that he has trolled round most of the lower league grounds 
    in his time (in the sierra from the look of it), and I am confident that 
    his frequent dissappearances are down to a serious golfing fetish, 
    not incontinenence, as some would have you believe.
     
    Being careful not to start an anti-welsh thread I will make no
    reference to his parentage, OR the strange lodger who appears to have
    shaped his life. 
    
    Yours discretely,
    
    Andy           

    >Hey Paul,
    
    >good to see you'll still rise for a small crumb of bait ;-)
    
    Andy,
    
    I thought you'd be able to recognise my angry citizen/defender of the
    fair White Rose tone of note by now. I'd say rising for some bait was
    when the fish became *really* wound-up about some point the angler
    had made. I thought the sheepskin jacket thing was part of our ongoing
    banter but I see you may be interpreting it differently.
    
    Paul.
    
    BTW have you lot over there learnt how to make fire yet??
    

    Paul,              
    
    worry not, its banter. I just had to cast a Sheffield reference on the water
    to see if you were awake.
    
    RE: have you discovered fire yet ? the answer is yes , in fact we
    discovered a long time ago that if you bang a couple of yorkshire heads
    together it is both a practical way of making sparks and highly amusing at
    the same time :-)  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Old Red Rose.

 >   don't be fooled by Gareths gentile homespun facade, he's really quite 
                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

very interesting Andy, but what's his presumably suppressed allegiance to the 
Jewish faith got to do with football ? (no Spurs references please)

	Ray

    
    I assure you I am complete.
    
    Gareth

    
    O.K. so I meant Genteel, not Gentile or even Genital.
    
    As to Gareths completeness, certainly there are times when he is a complete *  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy :-)

    >discovered a long time ago that if you bang a couple of yorkshire heads
    >together it is both a practical way of making sparks and highly amusing at
    >the same time :-)  
    
    Andy,
    
    This is getting very repetitive. I find myself agreeing with you once
    again, and again with qualification.
    
    If the two Yorkshiremen in question are Howard Wilkinson and Brian
    Deane then I'd have to go along with what you say.
    
    BTW had some Thwaites Craftsman last night. Good stuff, although still
    not as good as Tim Taylor Landlord.
    
    Paul.
    

Donny were on teletext twice yesterday, which is a record for us. We have sacked
player-manager Ian Atkins because he wouldn't move closer to our fair country
town from the grimey industrial midlands wasteland that he currently calls home.
He was crap anyway. I don't know how this affects his status as one of our
poorest quality attackers. We shall have to see, but hopefully he'll never pull
on the gorgeous red and white strip again.

We also signed England U-21 international superstar keeper Perry Suckling from
Watford for the princely sum of �none. What a steal. I've long been of the
opinion that Suckling was the best keeper in the first division. Honest.
Suckling is 28 and previously played for Coventry, Man City, and Crystal Palace.
Our current keeper, Andy Beasley, is old but popular. I hope he doesn't lose his
place.

Other fantastic facts: Donny hold the record for most points in a season under
the old two point system: 72 points in 42 games. Lincoln got 74 once but that
doesn't count because a) they played four more games, b) their manager was
Graham Taylor so if they hadn't done so well he might never have risen to fame
and we might be in the World Cup, and c) they are gits from a crap city.

Also, Donny hold the record for most away wins in a seaon, and even more
sensationally, lowest points in a season: 8. 8-)

Where would Western civilisation be without the Rothmans Football Yearbook?

Mike

    Glad to see Mr Suckling getting a new team - he wasn't really to blame
    for our narrow 9-0 defeat at Anfield, but he was never the same again.
    
    Paul

    
    	>where would Western civilisation be without the Rothmans Year
    	>Book
    
    	Dunno, Mike, but Cunno's notes would be a LOT shorter and possibly
    	more interesting/readable ;-)
    	
    	Andy.

    
    A tearful half-welshman has just told me that Graham Barrow has resigned.
    
    The only candidates that spring to mind are Phil Neal and Lou Macari.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Help , If its Phil Neal I'll have to give up football, that means the
    wife and kids on Saturday afternoons. Any volunteers to go and shoot
    him?, I.E. Neal or Mr. Green for suggesting such things.
    
    Gareth

    Gareth,
    
    more good news for you, Graham Lancashire has signed a 2 year contract
    at Burnley. Maybe Barrow knew this and jumped...
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

Donny have appointed Sammy Chung as manager to replace el crappo Ian Atkins.

This is it. We're bound for the Big Time. Now all we need are some players.

Mike

    Well my local paper at the weekend said Lancashire had signed for
    Chester - shows you can't beleive etc. Pugh is going to Bury, Grenall
    will probably go to Carlisle and I'm going to get upset! Anyone got
    enough dosh to buy a (loosely described) football club.
    
    

    
    If you'd told me this morning I'd have paid top whack for a club like 
    Chester, but I went and blew it on a cup of tea this afternoon !
    
    yours predicatably,
    
    Andy

    Pejic has been named Chester manager with Ratcliffe as assistant. When
    Barrow left Hinnegan and Jakub also resigned. Seems very quick,
    something was obviously going on. Well they can't blame failure on the
    previous manager, there's only two players on contract, Lightfoot and
    Flitcroft, and Lightfoot asked for a transfer when Barrow resigned!
    Will I recognise anybody on the pitch next season - I can recognize the
    majority of the crowd :>.
    
    Gareth

    
>>    Will I recognise anybody on the pitch next season - I can recognize the
>>    majority of the crowd :>.
    
    	lets see now, there's your mum, dad, big brother and mmmmh well,
    thats 80% already! Oh, plus you that make it 100%!
    
    8-)
    
    JBG

    Gareth,
    
    I heard a rumour that Chester had proposed squad numbers and names on
    the crowd's shirts because they stayed longer than the players and
    it was cheaper because there were less of them !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy.
    
    p.s. I think you deserve a crack at the job of managing Chester, you
    seem so happy in an environment of uncertainty, poor results, no
    money and lack of direction !. 
                  

Donny have signed Gary Brabin from Runcorn for �40,000 and defender Warren
Hackett on a free from Orient. Any ides as to who they are?

Mike

    Brabin is ,I think, a central defender.

Good. I wouldn't want to think we might have bought a decent attacker by
mistake. 8-)

Mike

Donny have bought a defender whose name I can't remember from Telford for
�20,000 plus 20% of any future profits from his transfer. He can't be that good
because we got beat 3-0 by Hull in a friendly on Saturday.

Mike

Donny won their first game of the season 1-0 at Hereford. Jones scored a
brilliant solo goal (I'm guessing that bit). I hope that this is a different
Jones to the one we had a few years ago who was about ninety even then. We also
has a man sent off, completely without justification. We are fifth, which is
pretty good for us.

Mike

    I note that Graham Barrow (ex Chester manager) was mentioned earlier in 
    this note, well on Teletext last night there was a small item stating that
    he had won �200- on Chester's lottery.  
    Mmm I wonder if he traded in the cash for the first team squad ;-)
                                               
    Dave C.

    I can understand the silence from Conference bound Chester fans, but why 
    is this note so quiet, when Dony are top of the table... 
    (equal with Carlisle!!)
    Dave C.

I was keeping quiet so I didn't get embarrassed when it all finished. After
getting crap-haircutted Sunderland reject Jamie Lawrence sent off with half an
hour gone last night, I was pretty pleased with the result. We're now fourth and
play Darlington at home on Saturday. On the 10th we've got Barnet away, so I'll
actually get to see the lads for the first time this season. Hurray. 8-)

Bum. I'd better change my personal name.

Mike

    3 points for Scunthorpe last night,could that trip to Wembley at the
    worst,happen again.
                               JC. 

    re .78 He could buy the squad and give them all fish and chip suppers
    for #200. Plus it'll take us two season to get to the conference but at
    least we'll have lots of local derbies, Northwich, Runcorn, Altrincham,
    Carlisle etc.
    
    P.S. Don't let your club get bought by property developers, for some
    reason they are only interested in money.
    

13.8.94  Hereford United    0:1 Doncaster Rovers    (Jones)
15.8.94  Doncaster Rovers   2:4 Wrexham             (Jones, Torfason) LEAGUE CUP
20.8.94  Doncaster Rovers   1:0 Northampton Town    (Jones)
23.8.94  Wrexham            1:1 Doncaster Rovers    (Swailes)	      LEAGUE CUP
27.8.94  Colchester Utd     0:3 Doncaster Rovers    (Jones, Donaldson 2)
30.8.94  Doncaster Rovers   0:0 Fulham
 3.9.94  Doncaster Rovers   0:0 Darlington
    

P5, W3, D2, L0, GF5, GA0, GD+5, Pts 11, Position 4th, Top scorer Graeme Jones 4


Wahay, our best start to the season since we won our first 6 games in 91. Barnet
on Saturday and I'll be there. Come on you Rovers.

Mike

    My brother went to the Scunthorpe v Carlisle game on Sat' ...
    Apparantly Scunny played us off the park for 80 mins - But what a last
    10mins for the Carlisle fans!!
    
    CUFC are now top on alphabetical order, it can't last - suely they've
    peaked too soon.
    Dave C.            

The Irish U-21 side to play Latvia tonight includes Gallen of Donny. Looks like
the conveyer belt of youth talent that brought you Brian Deane and Ian Snodin
continues to roll ever on. 8-)

Mike

For the first time in years, Donny have actually got a decent team. It cheered
me up no end after the aeons of abject misery that supporting them has meant.
Obviously, we'll have sold all our decent players to Leeds for 30p within a week
but that doesn't stop me enjoying it while it lasts.

On Saturday we completely outplayed 3rd placed Barnet and were criminally
unlucky to end up with a draw. Barnet had only one chance, which was a
twenty-five yard shot from their winger which bounced off the crossbar.

The first half was a bit of a battle with Barnet spending a lot of time in our
half, but our defence never looked like cracking. Chris Swailes was brilliant in
the centre and hackett kept the Barnet winger under control. Jamie Lawrence,
whom I have slagged off repeatedly in the past, was superb. He skinned their
full back every time he got the ball and his crossing was superb.

In the second half, Donny took control completely. They bombarded the Barnet
penalty area with shots, and Neal Donaldson narrowly missed the net with a
couple of headers. At one point Lawrence and Jones burst through the Barnet back
four only for the blind southern referee to give offside because Neal Donaldson
was jogging back onside on the opposite touchline. Neal didn't even look towards
the play, so he obviously wasn't interfering. 

Donny kept the pressure on and looked to have earned their reward when Donaldson
pushed the ball past the goalie in about the last minute. With the goalie on the
ground Graeme Jones slid the ball towards the goal only to have it hit the
inside of the post and trickle along the goal line before being cleared. Jammy
gets.

On the tube afterwards a Barnet fan told me that he hadn't seen the Bees
outplayed so comprehensively for days, sorry, months. 8-)

The Donny team was:

			Dean Williams
Ryan Kirby	Chris Swailes	Russ Wilcox	Warren Hackett
Jamie Lawrence	David Roche	Gary Brabin	Sean Parrish
		Graeme Jones	Neal Donaldson


At last, a team worth supporting. 8-)

Mike

    Well, Chester have failed to take the record from Man Utd, though not
    for want of trying. I regret they will make the attempt again next
    season in the third.
    
    Gareth

Friday night saw Donny score for the first time since in 5 games. We beat
Hereford 3-0 at Belle Vue in our second match of the season. It's a bit early to
have already played a return fixture isn't it?

I'm off home for the weekend so I'll get to see Rovers take on the Evils Hordes
of John Beck's North End. Fnarr, fnarr. Should be a crap game given Preston's
chosen style of play but at least it'll give me a chance to buy a new key ring
and pencil case from the club shop.

Mike

I saw my second Donny match of the season on Saturday, when the
Rovers beat Preston North End 2-1. Donny's team was for the most part
the same as the one that played barnet with the exception of the
strikers:

	      Williams
Kirby	Swailes	    Wilcox  Hackett
Thew	Brabin	    Roche   Parrish
	Harper	    Williams

Sub: Jones for Williams at half time (the forward)

For the first 10 or 15 minutes, Preston's crap kick-and-run tactics
caused a lot of problems for the Rovers full-backs, as Preston sent
men aplenty hurtling after their "passes". After that, Donny started
to assert their authority, and Swailes and Wilcox totally took over.
With a couple of exceptions, Preston never really threatened after
the traumatic first few.

After about thirty minutes, some evil Lancashire git callously kicked
Chris Swailes in the head and left him sat on the grass trying to
stem the gushing blood. The trainer came on, applied a bandage, and
the game restarted. Gary Brabin split the Preston defence in two with
an incisive pass from the left but Steve Harper pulled his shot wide
of the far post. Brabin was then put through, and had he been a
couple of stone lighter, might have made it one nil. As it was, the
Preston centre back jogged back, dispossessed him, and passed it back
to the goalie.

At half time Sammy Chung swapped the completely crap Dean Williams,
who had been making his debut, for the completely excellent Graeme
Jones and it soon became obvious that Preston were going to struggle.
There was one scare, when Swailes (I think) cleared off the line and
a preston attacker fluffed his shot but not much else apart from lots
of long passes that were easily mopped up by our back four.

After about an hour, the Preston goalie (who wasn't very good) came
miles off his line stopped a shot only for Brabin (I think) to smack
it back to Steve Harper on the left of the penalty area. The goalie
scrambled to get back in position, but Stevie calmly lobbed him and
it was 1-0. Seven minutes later Brabin was put clean through and,
having learned from his previous attempt, shot early and smacked it
under the diving keeper.

From then on, Preston started to exert a bit more pressure and
eventually scored a crappy six inch knock-in after about an hour of
injury time. That was it though, and Donny ran out deserved winners
2-1.

Williams (goalie), Wilcox, and Swailes were all excellent at the
back. Hackett occasionally looked a bit dodgy, Brabin needs to lose
some weight but is greate at short passes. He held our midfield
together despite the fact that his supposed fellow central
midfielder, David Roche, was yet again complete arse. He's been crap
every time I've seen him, and judging by the cries of "Get back in
the reserves Roche" that echoed around the ground, that's a common
sentiment. Lee Thew was good, Harper was mostly alright but a bit
lazy.

We certainly missed Jamie Lawrence (suspended) and O'Neil Donaldson
(presumably injured) but I'm sure they'll be back soon.

We're going up.

Mike

    I leave Digital on Fri 30/9 so I would like to just pass on my best
    wishes to all supporters of 'smaller' clubs.
    
    Things have been down-hill since the big clubs voted to keep all their
    home receipts, in recent times however, the family/club aspect has been
    good to see. 
    At the end of the season give a thought for me and whereabouts Carlisle
    United are!!
    Up the Blues - may the twinkle-toes be with you!
    Dave C

Best of luck for the future. It's a shame to lose another proper supporter in
the face of the onslaught of fair weather big club fans. At least we can still
shout "Who's the w****r in the black?" 8-)

I'll look forward to seeing you in years to come when Donny and Carlisle are
fighting it out for the Premiership title. 8-)

But I won't hold my breath.

Mike

Donny scored another impressive win on Saturday, beating Wigan 5-3. Conceding
three goals to the bottom team is a bit disappointing but one of them was a
penalty and one was a last minute consolation. Up to 4th, Scarboro on Saturday
which should be three more in the bag. Carlisle and Bury look like they're going
to run away with the two automatic spots but play-offs would be as good a way to
go up as any.

Mike

Endsleigh League Division 3, 1994-95
------------------------------------
13.08.94    (A)	Hereford Utd	1-0	Jones				5th
20.08.94    (H)	Northampton T	1-0	Jones				2nd
27.08.94    (A)	Colchester U	3-0	Jones, Donaldson 2	        1st
30.08.94    (H)	Fulham		0-0					4th
03.09.94    (H)	Darlington	0-0					4th
10.09.94    (A)	Barnet		0-0					6th
13.09.94    (A) Bury		0-2					8th
16.09.94    (H)	Hereford Utd	3-0	Brabin, Thew, Harper		5th
24.09.94    (H)	Preston N.E.	2-1	Harper, Brabin			4th
01.10.94    (A)	Rochdale	0-2					5th
08.10.94    (H)	Wigan Athletic	5-3	Roche, Brabin 2, Harper 2	4th
15.10.94    (A)	Scarborough


Coca-Cola Cup, 1994-95
----------------------
1st round
15.08.94    (H)	Wrexham		2-4	Jones, Torfason
23.08.94    (A)	Wrexham		1-1	Swailes


Auto Windscreens Shield, 1994-95
--------------------------------
1st round
27.09.94    (A)	Hull City	2-0	Thew, Jones


Top Scorers
-----------
		League	    F.A.Cup	C.C. Cup    Auto Shield	    Total
		------	    -------	--------    -----------	    -----
Jones		  3			   1		1	      5
Brabin		  4						      4
Harper	       	  4						      4
Donaldson	  2					       	      2
Thew	       	  1					1	      2
Roche	       	  1						      1
Torfason			       	   1			      1
Swailes				       	   1			      1

    Another 3 points for Scunthorpe.
    
    JC.

Err, yes, quite. But sticking to reality for a second, Bury have gone 11 games,
scored 19 and conceded 3, and are still only second. Carlisle are top and are
likely to stay there with Michael "tedious moneybags git" Knighton behind them.
Mind you, having to buy success in Div 3 is a bit sad. Let's hope they all die
miserably anonymous and never get any further than the nether regions of
Division 2.

Consequently, I am fairly sure that the rest of the decent working-class type
teams with some remaining shred of integrity can hope for little more than
play-off spots even this early in the season. That bothers me nary a jot,
because it just means two more games for Fatty Brabin to break all known scoring
records, but for you Scunny types it must be a bit disappointing to know that
you're going to have to play Preston North End again next year. 8-)

Mike

Another clean sheet for Rovers at the weekend sees us go up to 3rd, our highest
position since we topped the table after three games. Carlisle beat previous
third place team Barnet 4-0 which was nice of them, and helps confirm my theory
about Bury and Carlisle already beging certs for the two automatic promotion
places.

Unfortunately, the draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup confirmed the
global conspiracy against Donny achieving anything this year. In a draw that
contains only qualifiers, Div 2 and Div 3 teams, we pick Huddersfield who are
top of Div 2 I think. Curses. I don't know what day the tie will be played on,
but it should be a good game, and it'd be tempting to get a day-return if it's a
Saturday.

Mike

Endsleigh League Division 3, 1994-95
------------------------------------
13.08.94    (A)	Hereford Utd	1-0	Jones				5th
20.08.94    (H)	Northampton T	1-0	Jones				2nd
27.08.94    (A)	Colchester U	3-0	Jones, Donaldson 2	        1st
30.08.94    (H)	Fulham		0-0					4th
03.09.94    (H)	Darlington	0-0					4th
10.09.94    (A)	Barnet		0-0					6th
13.09.94    (A) Bury		0-2					8th
16.09.94    (H)	Hereford Utd	3-0	Brabin, Thew, Harper		5th
24.09.94    (H)	Preston N.E.	2-1	Harper, Brabin			4th
01.10.94    (A)	Rochdale	0-2					5th
08.10.94    (H)	Wigan Athletic	5-3	Roche, Brabin 2, Harper 2	4th
15.10.94    (A)	Scarborough	2-2	Roche 2				5th
22.10.94    (A)	Mansfield	1-0	Jones				3rd


F.A. Cup, 1994-95
-----------------
1st round
	    (H) Huddersfield


Auto Windscreens Shield, 1994-95
--------------------------------
1st round
27.09.94    (A)	Hull City	2-0	Thew, Jones
17.10.94    (H)	Lincoln City	1-0	Turner


Coca-Cola Cup, 1994-95
----------------------
1st round
15.08.94    (H)	Wrexham		2-4	Jones, Torfason
23.08.94    (A)	Wrexham		1-1	Swailes


Top Scorers
-----------
		League	    F.A.Cup	C.C. Cup    Auto Shield	    Total
		------	    -------	--------    -----------	    -----
Jones		  4			   1		1	      6
Brabin		  4						      4
Harper	       	  4						      4
Roche	       	  3						      3
Donaldson	  2					       	      2
Thew	       	  1					1	      2
Torfason			       	   1			      1
Swailes				       	   1			      1
Turner							1	      1

Chintzy Carlisle scrape a lucky equaliser in the 86th minute through the use of
players bought by Michael Knighton's infinite pockets. We were robbed. We are
still third and points aplenty ahead of 6th but it won't matter come the end of
the season, because we'll still be in the play-off lottery. What a con.

Mike

Endsleigh League Division 3, 1994-95
------------------------------------
13.08.94    (A)	Hereford Utd	1-0	Jones				5th
20.08.94    (H)	Northampton T	1-0	Jones				2nd
27.08.94    (A)	Colchester U	3-0	Jones, Donaldson 2	        1st
30.08.94    (H)	Fulham		0-0					4th
03.09.94    (H)	Darlington	0-0					4th
10.09.94    (A)	Barnet		0-0					6th
13.09.94    (A) Bury		0-2					8th
16.09.94    (H)	Hereford Utd	3-0	Brabin, Thew, Harper		5th
24.09.94    (H)	Preston N.E.	2-1	Harper, Brabin			4th
01.10.94    (A)	Rochdale	0-2					5th
08.10.94    (H)	Wigan Athletic	5-3	Roche, Brabin 2, Harper 2	4th
15.10.94    (A)	Scarborough	2-2	Roche 2				5th
22.10.94    (A)	Mansfield	1-0	Jones				3rd
29.10.94    (H)	Torquay		3-0	Hackett, Jones, Lawrence	3rd
05.11.94    (A)	Exeter		5-1	Parrish 2, Harper,Turner,Jones  3rd
19.11.94    (H)	Hartlepool	3-0	Brabin, Harper, Meara		3rd
26.11.94    (A)	Carlisle	1-1	Lawrence			3rd
10.12.94    (A)	Northampton
16.12.94    (H)	Colchester
26.12.94    (A)	Chesterfield
27.12.94    (H)	Scunthorpe
31.12.94    (A)	Walsall


Auto Windscreens Shield, 1994-95
--------------------------------
1st round
27.09.94    (A)	Hull City	2-0	Thew, Jones
17.10.94    (H)	Lincoln City	1-0	Turner
2nd round
	    (H)	Bury


F.A. Cup, 1994-95
-----------------
1st round
12.10.94    (H) Huddersfield	1-4	Jones


Coca-Cola Cup, 1994-95
----------------------
1st round
15.08.94    (H)	Wrexham		2-4	Jones, Torfason
23.08.94    (A)	Wrexham		1-1	Swailes


Top Scorers
-----------
		League	    F.A.Cup	C.C. Cup    Auto Shield	    Total
		------	    -------	--------    -----------	    -----
Jones		  6    	       1	   1		1	      9
Harper	       	  6						      6
Brabin		  5						      5
Roche	       	  3						      3
Donaldson	  2					       	      2
Parrish	       	  2						      2
Lawrence	  2						      2
Thew	       	  1					1	      2
Turner	       	  1					1	      2
Hackett		  1						      1
Meara	       	  1						      1
Torfason			       	   1			      1
Swailes				       	   1			      1

The bad patch appears to be over so I can safely start noting again. Here's the
season to date:

Endsleigh League Division 3, 1994-95
------------------------------------
13.08.94    (A)	Hereford Utd	1-0	Jones				5th
20.08.94    (H)	Northampton T	1-0	Jones				2nd
27.08.94    (A)	Colchester U	3-0	Jones, Donaldson 2	        1st
30.08.94    (H)	Fulham		0-0					4th
03.09.94    (H)	Darlington	0-0					4th
10.09.94    (A)	Barnet		0-0					6th
13.09.94    (A) Bury		0-2					8th
16.09.94    (H)	Hereford Utd	3-0	Brabin, Thew, Harper		5th
24.09.94    (H)	Preston N.E.	2-1	Harper, Brabin			4th
01.10.94    (A)	Rochdale	0-2					5th
08.10.94    (H)	Wigan Athletic	5-3	Roche, Brabin 2, Harper 2	4th
15.10.94    (A)	Scarborough	2-2	Roche 2				5th
22.10.94    (A)	Mansfield	1-0	Jones				3rd
29.10.94    (H)	Torquay		3-0	Hackett, Jones, Lawrence	3rd
05.11.94    (A)	Exeter		5-1	Parrish 2, Harper,Turner,Jones  3rd
19.11.94    (H)	Hartlepool	3-0	Brabin, Harper, Meara		3rd
26.11.94    (A)	Carlisle	1-1	Lawrence			3rd
10.12.94    (A)	Northampton	0-0					3rd
16.12.94    (H)	Colchester	1-2	Brabin				3rd
26.12.94    (A)	Chesterfield	0-2					4th
27.12.94    (H)	Scunthorpe	1-1	Bryan				5th
31.12.94    (A)	Walsall		0-1					6th
02.01.95    (H) Gillingham	0-1
07.01.95    (H)	Mansfield	0-1
14.01.95    (A)	Lincoln		0-1					9th
28.01.95    (A)	Torquay		1-0	Hackett				8th
31.01.95    (H)	Exeter		1-0	Brabin				4th
04.02.95    (H)	Carlisle

Auto Windscreens Shield, 1994-95
--------------------------------
1st round
27.09.94    (A)	Hull City	2-0	Thew, Jones
17.10.94    (H)	Lincoln City	1-0	Turner
2nd round
29.10.94    (H)	Bury		0-1


F.A. Cup, 1994-95
-----------------
1st round
12.10.94    (H) Huddersfield	1-4	Jones


Coca-Cola Cup, 1994-95
----------------------
1st round
15.08.94    (H)	Wrexham		2-4	Jones, Torfason
23.08.94    (A)	Wrexham		1-1	Swailes


Top Scorers
-----------
		League	    F.A.Cup	C.C. Cup    Auto Shield	    Total
		------	    -------	--------    -----------	    -----
Jones		  6    	       1	   1		1	      9
Brabin		  7						      7
Harper	       	  6						      6
Roche	       	  3						      3
Hackett		  2						      2
Donaldson**	  2					       	      2
Parrish	       	  2						      2
Lawrence*	  2						      2
Thew	       	  1					1	      2
Turner	       	  1					1	      2
Meara	       	  1						      1
Bryan	       	  1						      1
Torfason			       	   1			      1
Swailes				       	   1			      1

* Jamie Lawrence to Leicester for �170,000 plus appearance bonus up to max of
�300,000
** O'Neal Donaldson to Sheffield Wednesday for �50,000

    A bad result for Scunie against Colchester.But with recent results the
    league position can only get better.
    JC.

Despite people in other notes saying reports are dull, I fully intend to record
this last ever season of Donny football in as much tiresome detail as possible.

Donny have said that they need to increase average attendance from just under
2000 to 5000 plus if there is to be any hope of survival. Things look bad. We
have been fighting against bankruptcy for years now, and it looks like we are
going to be the first team ever to get promoted and bankrupted in the same
season. The irony brings tears to your eyes (well, to my eyes anyway).

Right, on to the match report.

Donny had just five first team players available for the clash with Lincoln City
and I began to wonder whether I'd made the trip up north at the wrong time.
However, the Rovers began to exert pressure in the first half, spurred on by the
raucous chanting of at least twenty people in the stands.

After about quarter of an hour, Donny won a corner and the mighty Russ "Call me
Russell" Wilcox headed home from about three yards. Hero of Belle Vue that he
is, the crowds went insane and Russ was cheered for at least several seconds if
not longer. For the rest of the half, our centre back pairing of Russ and Chris
Swailes looked capable of handling anything that Lincoln threw at them. Clearly,
for the Imps at least, player names on shirts does not a top club make.

Donny winger Darren Finlay (aged 10 and a half) tormented the Lincoln right back
all through the first half but due to a complicated medical problem, his lack of
height and strength prevented him turning potential into actual goals.

Lincoln's best player by a street was midfielder Matt Carbon, a product of the
youth policy and an ex-England under 18 player (he's now 19). Although Carbon
normally plays at full back he looked born to the central midfield role he has
had to fill since the departure (to Rovers) of long time Imp mainstay Jon
Schofield.

The second half began some fifteen minutes after the first half ended, with
Donny continuing to terrorise the Lincoln defence. Schofield, in midfield for
Rovers, was magnificent for the reds and surely wouldn't look out of place in a
mid table second division team.

Two goals in five minutes killed off the Imps, and Donny ran riot. The first of
the pair was a fantastic lob / spawny deflected miskick by Finlay. "Only one
Darren Finlay" sang the faithful, although they didn't sound entirely convinced.
The second goal was a well deserved one for Steve Harper, and might go some way
to securing his future career if the rumours concerning onlooking Southampton
scouts were true.

Donny could have had a fourth when a Schofield pass found striker Micky Norbury
in the clear in front of goal. Unfortunately, his usual "deft" control deserted
young Micky, and it spooned into the stands off his ankles.

Still, when the whistle blew, none of the Rovers fans were complaining. We hold
on to 4th place, and the play offs beckon. Hopefully I should be able to see the
Rovers three more times before the end of season armageddon. It'll be a sad day
for a small slice of South Yorkshire.

Mike

    Re 98
    
    Thanks for the match report, and that's from a Lincoln supporter.
    
    While Doncaster fight to survive, Lincoln are close to finalising the
    complete rebuilding of their ground. Pity it seems that it will remain
    almost empty as another miserable season continues.
    
    John
    

Doncaster sold Chris Swailes to Ipswich for �225,000 and David Roche to Southend
for �50,000 yesterday. This is typical of what happens every year when we look
like having a bit of success. We've now sold four of the first team, so I think
that promotion is a dream for this year. Admittedly I've never rated Roche, but
losing Chrissy is a bit of a blow. Bang goes Donny's defensive record. Let's
hope we can use the money to survive. I'm confident that Sammy Chung will bring
us success sooner or later.

8-(

Mike

I thought I read somewhere that if Doncaster did get promotion that they
would resign from the League due to not being able to afford the extra wages.

Is this their last season in the League or will they be the 1st to go
part-time?

That's another version of the story. I've not heard it before but I hope it's
true because it means that we might survive another season. We lost to
Hartlepool on Tuesday so I think the play-offs are looking slightly unlikely.
Never mind, at least we're top half and tons of points in front of Lincoln. 8-)

Mike

    
    	If Doncaster Rovers do leave the league (for whatever reason),
    I suggest a ready replacement would be :-
    
    
    
    			Wormwood Scrubs United F.C.
    			===========================
    
    	A team with a very captivating playing style. A compact ground with
    a partisan crowd where nobody leaves before full time. Any trouble on
    or off the pitch is swiftly dealt with by solitary confinement and bread
    and water.
    
    	Team Pool
    	=========
    
    	Grobbelaar
    	Segers
    	Woods
    	Butcher
    	Roberts
    	Cantona
    	Wise
    	Ince
    	Durrant
    	Fashanu
    	D. Ferguson
    	Lots of Malaysian players
    
    	Brian Clough as manager (soon).
    
    	Guest appearances from old boy Tony Adams.
    
    	Others to be named shortly.
    
    Malc$come_on_ye_scrubs.
    

    
    	Interseting that you include some players there that have
    	
    	a) never been convicted of a crimianl offence, and/or
    	b) never been in prison.
    
    	Some more worthwhile selections might include
    
    	Terry Fenwick
    	Mickey Thomas
    	Mick Quinn
    	
    	Andy.

    
    	Oh come on Andy, lighten up a bit (loads of smileys).
    
    	Every player mentioned has a criminal prosecution against his name
    or criminal proceedings hanging over him. Admittedly Grobbelaar, Segers
    and Fashanu have not yet been charged (I used a wee bit of poetic
    license there) but if they are charged and subsequently found guilty I
    reckon Cantonas two week sentence will be as a blink of an eye in
    comparison.
    
    	I may have been a wee bit hasty with old Brian Clough to be honest.
    Although taking bungs may not be in the spirit of the game it may well
    be that it is not actually unlawful.
    
    	I was trying to remember Micky Thomas's name but couldn't. Also I
    didn't know Micky Quinn had been inside (although I'm not surprised).
    You don't happen to know the details I suppose ?
    
    Malc.
    

          
    	DD I think, Malc. It was a few years ago, I think while he was 
    	at Newcastle (after Pompey) but I'm often wrong ;-)
    
    	Andy (light 'n' fluffy, honest!!)

Malc,

I think the Inland Revenue are the main government organisation interested in
Mr. B.Clough's off-field activities in the money making department.  After
all, a certain Mr.L.Piggott spent some time in the pokey for forgetting 
about how much his income was.

    
    	Hmmm. Good point John. (It really hurts to say that.) I'd forgotten
    about that.
    
    	Ken Dodd got off with it though.
    
    Malc.
    

    Can we have 
    
    David Pleat as entertainment manager?
    
    Thingy Guadino as transport manager?
    
    Bernard Tappie as Euro-MP?
    
    Peter

Rovers have threatened to withdraw from the league if Doncaster Council haven't
promised them a new ground by tomorrow (that's the deadline for the promise
rather than actual delivery of the ground before anyone feels tempted to dive in
with a witty comment).

What a disaster. I'm so p***ed. 8-(

Mike

>>> I'm so p***ed.

Should you be in work then?  Has lunchtime drinking been brought forward a 
couple of hours?

    
    Can anyone tell me what Scunthorpes ground is like, as it says in
    todays Daily Record that Clydebanks new ground will be the same as it,
    and will be named after the late Davie Cooper.
    
    Choppers
    

    What is the situation at Doncaster now.
    
    JC

    
    
    Yer still banned from all the pubs John!!!!!!!
    
    8*)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
    
    Keiff.
    
    

Doncaster threatened to withdraw from the league unless the Council met certain
conditions. The Council did nothing, but I haven't heard any confirmation as to
the withdrawal going ahead. I hope it's just an empty threat by the Rovers
directors but I don't know.

Mike

    
    
     There are unconfirmed rumours that Gateshead may be elected into the
    football league as a third division team is widthdrawing at the end of
    this season.  Is this where Doncaster fit it ? 
    
    
    Fwiw -   Gateshead are the only GMV club with suitable facilities.
    
    
    Gary

	re .116

>     There are unconfirmed rumours that Gateshead may be elected into the
>    football league as a third division team is widthdrawing at the end of

	So, voting them out of the League has turned out to be a mistake?

	When will Barrow be back?

	Tony

    All the best to all you true football supporters.Not them glory seekers
    who follow those premier league teams.Hopefully one day I'll be back at
    Wembley watching scunthorpe.
    
     J.C
    

Donny are rumoured to have found a new owner. Strangely, their main stand has
just burned down in a completely non-insurance scam type way. The police are
investigating the blaze, which they are treating as suspicious. 8-)

Meanwhile, crappo Donny reject David Roche, who I have always hated, proved all
his doubters right recently. Not content with being done for assault, he has got
himself stabbed in the leg. A sound investment by Southend. They should have
asked me about him first. 8-)

Mike

    re -1
    
    Mike,
    
    Didn't he get shot in the leg?
    
    Stuart

Yeah, probably. My memory's not what it used to be. Whatever that was. 8-)

Mike