Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s League 1 fixture with Fleetwood Town. We extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, staff and officials from the North West Coast. Enjoy your football with us in Bristol and a safe journey home after the game.
Jim’s View
Another large contingent of travelling ‘Gas’ left Gigg Lane feeling a little bemused when we should have been ‘over the moon’ with a first League victory of the new campaign. Those two very late goals definitely took the shine off what had been Rovers’ best performance on the road for a very long time. We completely dominated the game with a great attacking display and should have been ‘oiut of sight’ by half time.
A string of near misses and, it must be said, a brilliant series of saves by the Bury ‘keeper looked like it might continue in the second period but, thanks to the unusual sight of a headed goal, especially one by our young skipper followed by yet another from the prolific Billy Bodin and the ground suddenly emptied of home fans – I have never seen such a mass exodus before. Billy then capped it off with a well-placed third and Rovers were coasting. Unfortunately the ‘Shakers’ must have sensed that and struck twice to set up a completely un-necessarilly ‘hairy’ last couple of minutes along with a return to the stands of a few optimistic, if fickle, home supporters!
A win is a win and I certainly don’t want to decry what had hitherto been such a brilliant performance but a repeat of those last few minutes will almost certainly prove very costly against this afternoon’s opponents who have made the most perfect of starts to date – maximum points and not a single goal conceded. Rovers clearly have the fire-power to unlock any rearguard but any defensive frailties are sure to be exposed by the ‘Cod Army’ in their current form. Get behind the boys in blue and perhaps the Pirates can plunder the first points of the season from the Fleetwood trawlermen!
Jim Chappell.
Apologies
The Committee wishes to apologise for the Kingswood Club Shop not being open on the Saturday morning before the opening home League game against Peterborough on the 12th August when we know that many fans would have been planning to pick up their tickets for that match. There was no staff member present due to an administrative error that was not the fault of the staff. We thank the staff in Pirate Leisure for their kind assistance in sorting out replacement tickets on the day and promise to do our utmost to prevent a repeat.
Play the Joker
How do you choose when to play your joker? The first Supporters Club Quiz Night of the 2017/18 season is on Thursday 14th September 2017 at The Memorial Stadium. Doors will be open by 7.30 pm and the quiz starts at 8.00 pm.
Participate in teams of up to six and it costs just £1 per person to.
Questions on General Knowledge, Music, Utter Trivia and Sport you can expect some “odd topics” all dreamt up by quizmaster Phil. Contributions to Janet’s Ginormous Raffle greatly appreciated; massive opportunity to get your own back.
All proceeds to the Bristol Rovers Academy and the newly formed development squad of young players.
A Bid on the Side
Item 1. Alfie Kilgour Signed Shirt.
Last season the “SC Bar Regulars” sponsored first year professional Alfie’s home shirt. The money raised from the auction of this shirt will be added to the SC Bar Regulars fund as we will be sponsoring Lewis Ellington’s shirt this season. If you wish to take part in the post match 50/50 come into the SC bar after the game and ask to speak to Dave Hewett or Ron Cocks. This item is size large and is in very good condition.
Item 2. Errea Training Top.
Another item kindly donated by Keith Brookman. We are not sure if this was actually
worn by a player in training. Despite the Errea badge being slightly faded, this training top is in very good condition. This design did not seem to be available for general sale, so offers Rovers fans the chance to own a very rare item. It is size extra large.
Both of these items have been auctioned on Ebay since Thursday the 24th of August 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.
Ken’s Comment
It was with great pride that I watched Tom Lockyer lead the team out at Gigg Lane and to mark his 200 games for Bristol Rovers at first team level. It is not so long ago that Jim and I were at Cribbs and other venues and in all weathers to appreciate Tom’s special talent when he so admirably skippered the then under 18’s to a double League and Cup success.
Tom is a fine example to all of our Academy and younger players. Tom’s work in the community does not go unnoticed either. Tom is a fine young footballer and a fine young man; well done Tom Lockyer.
Williams Winner
SC secretary Sue Williams works very hard on a match day, giving up all of the first half and most of the second, to make sure that everything is in order and accounted regarding the 50/50 half time draw. Sue is the oil in the machine that enables the SC to so effectively sponsor the Youth Academy and the newly formed development group managed by Chris Hargreaves.
Sue buys a ticket or two too! Never a winner but that all changed at the Cambridge United EFL Cup game. Well done Sue, a well deserved £500 for ticket number 004951. The second prize of a fixed £100 is yet to be claimed; search your bags and pockets for ticket number 006363.
Gates for the Money
Bill Gates? No, with respect Bill has probably got enough, but the Memorial and Main Stadium Gates prior to the home game with the Posh. The big prize was picked up by David Tomlinson of Kingsdown with winning ticket number 003838. David bought his ticket from Sue Dry at the Memorial and collected a weekend changing £1,225 in cash from Jim at half time. Congratulations David and well done Sue.
Seconds out for Robert Wilcox of Bridgeyate who came forward with ticket number 003025 and picket up the very handy £100. Thanks to James Rudman for selling Robert his ticket at the Main.
The Bristol Rovers Supporters Club is up and running to again sponsor the Bristol Rovers Youth Academy and for the first time the Bristol Rovers Development Group; very best wishes to all of our younger players for a successful season in the famous blue and white quarters.