Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to the Memorial Stadium for today’s League 1 fixture with our friends from AFC Wimbledon. We extend a warm welcome as always to the supporters, players, staff and officials from South London. Enjoy your football with us in Bristol and a safe journey home after the game.
Jim’s View
Many of us attended the funeral of Vice President and former Club Chairman Geoff Dunford. It was a typical ‘Rovers funeral’ where all the great and good from our famous old club gathered in a packed Keynsham church to pay their last respects. It was a great turn-out for a great man.
I wonder what many of the past players and managers thought of Rovers’ rapid fall from grace into non-League and the subsequent climb back to respectability in League 1. The ‘post-Christmas’ improvement has been a feature in each of Darrell Clarke’s campaigns in charge so far and let’s hope it’s business as usual as we ‘concentrate on the League’ once more although a nice cup run is obviously something both he and the fan base would love to savor in the future.
The Friday night collapse at Meadow Lane after Rovers had taken an early two-goal lead thanks to a couple of fine headed goals was a big blow, especially as we should have also had a penalty but the referee gave us nothing and the big Notts forwards easily ‘bullied’ their progress into round 2. Another lack-lustre display here against Swindon got rid of any further involvement in the much discredited Chekatrade Trophy, something that many supporters will see as a blessing. However, any sort of a cup run brings the club additional income as well as a boost to confidence so I view our exit as a big disappointment.
So it was that we returned back up the M42 last Saturday for a tough encounter at high-flying Scunthorpe with another depleted squad, both ‘first-choice’ centre
backs being on international duty and several players out injured. Some of these should be back in action today but anyone who made the long trip to ‘Scunny’ will feel sorry if either Tom Broadbent or Rollin Menayese is left out after putting in a great shift at Glanford Park. The entire defence gave everything as did the whole team in fact and to lose to a 94th-minute goal was a real sickener. Perhaps ‘Locks’ could play in front of the back four but that’s only my idea and I’ll never make it as a football coach!
Following the Supporters Club’s recent Annual General Meeting the Committee met the following week to discuss a major issue that will become public in due course and also to sort out the various positions made vacant during the last eighteen months or so. The club has been without a Vice-Chairman since Chris Walker stood down last season and long-serving Matchday Organiser Phil Draper has stepped-up to undertake this role whilst continuing to run our sales cabin in the car park on match days. Our erstwhile Secretary Sue Williams has also been carrying out the Treasurer’s
duties alongside her secretarial role and she has now taken over the former position permanently. This move left a gap filled by David Thomas who has become Club
Secretary. David will continue his fine work on our website as well as taking the minutes at meetings in future.
Helen Wigmore will continue to organise the Share Scheme for the time being although this may alter if we elect another Director to replace Brian Seymour Smith in due course. The Football Club has indicated they do not see the need for a replacement as they consider one S.C. Director to be more than sufficient in a greatly reduced Board of just four members at present compared with the eight that served on the Board before the takeover. However, we have legally binding agreement for a second BRSC Director, in substitution for the right to appoint an Associate Director, having subscribing for and being allocated 200,000 Subscription Shares. We are currently in negotiations with the FC Chairman regarding this important issue.
Talking of the Share Scheme, it was nice to have a decent take-up of members to a buffet in the Executive Bar before the Checkatrade Trophy match here against Swindon and this is something we would like to repeat in future but of course it is difficult to fit in availability in a hectic League campaign when all the bars are normally busy. Those who continue to pay into the Scheme certainly deserve some reward for their loyalty.
We are very much need three points today so please get behind the boys in blue and white– Up the Pirates!
Jim Chappell.
Weston to Blackburn
Weston-super-Mare Members are arranging local transport for the game at Blackburn Rovers on 25th November and will be joined by Burnham on Sea Gas. This years Christmas meal will take place at the Windsor Castle on Saturday 23rd December. To avoid disappointment an early bookings highly recommended.
A Bid on the Side
Today we feature a couple of shirts from around 2007.
Item 1. J.P. Trophy 2007 celebration shirt.
This T-shirt is size XL, is dark blue with white parts on the sleeves. It was obviously produced to be worn at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. This will serve as a great reminder for someone of that wonderful day in the Welsh capital.
Item 2. Multi signed home shirt.
This Errea home shirt is I believe from 2007-08 (though not 100% sure). It has been signed by around 15 players. I have never collected signatures and must admit that I can’t recognise any of them. Maybe you can do better than me. This is a big shirt, it is size XXXL
Both of these items have been auctioned on Ebay since Thursday the 16th of
November and will be available for 10 days. The minimum price is just 99 pence each item and the highest bidder wins.
Links to all both auctions will be found at http://bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com/
If any other Rovers fans have any rare or interesting Rovers related items that they would be happy to donate, please pass the item(s) on to 199 Two Mile Hill Road, or pop in to the Supporters Club matchday shop in the car park by the Dribuild Stand.
Many thanks Jamie.
Who’s got the Answer
Someone will for sure; they always do but will it be you?.
The next Quiz Night of the season will take place on Thursday 23rd November 2017
at the Memorial Stadium. Doors will be open by 7.30 pm and the quiz starts at 8.00 pm. Teams of up to six and it costs just £1 per person to take part. You can bring a team or you can join a team on the night.
Thee will be the usual rounds on General Knowledge, Music, Utter Trivia and Sport but you can expect some surprise “odd topics” as well. How do you choose when to play your joker and Can the Committee for public safety be stopped?
Will Janet’s team win the wooden spoon again?
Donations of raffle prizes would be very much appreciated.
Proceeds to the Bristol Rovers Youth Academy
Telephone Claim
Well done to David Kennington from Hanham. David called 199, Two Mile Hill Road by telephone and claimed the amazing £1,325 fist prize in the 50/50 half time draw at the MK game on the 28th October. Dave Hewitt sold the ticket with number 024085 in the pubs and clubs, many thanks Dave. The second fixed prize of £100 went to Melissa Calway from Paulton with ticket number 025210; many thanks to Angela Thomas for selling the ticket from her station inside the clubhouse turnstiles.
One winning ticket draws were made at both the West Ham and Swindon Town games. John Davis from Kingswood claimed £225 with ticket number 022457 at the West Ham fixture and Nick Prosser came up trumps to win £220 with ticket number 028378 at the Swindon Game; many thanks to David Thomas and Pete Collins respectively for selling the tickets.Thank you to all for taking part in the 50/50 draws and good luck this afternoon.
Bristol Rovers Supporters Club is the proud sponsor of the Bristol Rovers Youth Academy and the Bristol Rovers Central League group of young professional players.