The sad news has reached us of the death of former Rovers player Michael ‘Micky’ Slocombe, at the age of 81, on 30th August 2022.
A Bristolian, born in St Phillips Marsh on 3rd May 1941, Micky arrived at Rovers in 1961, having represented Bristol Boys on eight occasions; he was in the side that reached the semi final of the English Schools FA Shield in 1955/56.
He also played for Dings United and after graduating through the junior ranks at Eastville he turned professional in June 1961 and made his Rovers league debut on 28th August that year in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Bury.
(The image shows Micky on the right, at the front, next to Joe Davis, with Ray Mabbutt and Harold Jarmman behind them. From the 1961/62 team photo).
It was the first of his 32 league appearances for the club and after leaving Eastville in the summer of 1963 he played non league football for many years, turning out for Welton Rovers, Bath City and St Phillips Marsh Adult School, Doug Hillard Sports, Venture United and Hungerford Ferrets.
His time with Welton was particularly memorable as the cluh were Western League Champions for three consecutive seasons from 1964/65. At Bath City he was a member of the side promoted to the Southern League in 1968/69.
He returned to Welton as player/coach after his time with Bath and then turned out for the aforementioned local sides before retiring from playing in 1990.
He became Chairman of St Phillips Marsh Adult School in 1992 and there will be many mourning the loss of someone so well known in local footballing circles.
All at Bristol Rovers Supporters Club sends their condolences to Micky’s family and friends at this sad time.