ROVERS REMEMBERED
Taking inspiration from the Memory Clubs currently being run by Bristol City and Exeter City, and no doubt many other clubs, Bristol Rovers Supporters Club and Bristol Rovers Former Players Association will be hosting their first Memory Club meeting, at the Memorial Stadium, on Monday 16th November from 10.30am – 12.30pm with the working title ‘Rovers Remembered’.
Supporters Club Committee members Clive Marshall, Keith Brookman and Gary Brindle, along with Former Players Association Chairman Tony Mills have made four visits to Care homes in the area to talk to residents and take along some Rovers related memorabilia, all of which were well received.
In terms of establishing a regular meet up of Rovers supporters and former players at The Mem, those mentioned above have also attended Bristol City’s Memory Club to gauge ideas for a similar project at The Mem and also undertaken a joint venture with their Bristol City counterparts prior to the Talk Club Cup match at Ashton Gate, when former Rovers players Frankie Prince and Paul Randall were also in attendance, along with three former City players.
The aim now is to host ‘Rovers Remembered’ meetings on the third Monday of every month with like minded Rovers supporters, along with interested former players; it is suggested that a two hour session, with tea/coffee and biscuits available for free would gradually grow in popularity and the Football Club has been very supportive of the venture, and agreed to provide the refreshments for our first few meetings.
At each meeting there will be a display of photos, programmes, medals and books; in fact, anything Rovers related will be available for supporters to look at and, over time, we would hope to receive donations of memorabilia from supporters and former players. However, we have decided that there should be a central theme at each meeting and our first will concentrate on 30 years at The Mem – and we will have photos, press cuttings and programmes from that first season on display.
There will also be photos, programmes and books on display from other eras and, over time, we will feature a display of photos taken by former club photographer Alan Marshall.
We have already received offers of assistance from one or two other collectors who would be happy to display their own memorabilia at such gatherings so if anyone out there has memorabilia from our first season here, then please bring it along to share with others. For instance, do you have a ‘Tesco Bag’ shirt, from 30 years ago, or maybe photos of the Broom Army or the certificate given away by SWALEC on the day of the match.
We hope that many of you will drop in to see us on 16th November and that you will enjoy the experience. We are hoping that some of our former players will join us – Lee Mansell has already promised us that he will be there.
We will also have a small selection of football books available for sale, along with other merchandise and we look forward to seeing you on 16th November or on any of the following dates.
18th January 2027
15th February 2027
15th March 2027
19th April 2027
