Our page that appeared in last night’s Match-Day programme, The Pirate:
Welcome
Good evening to all at the Memorial Stadium for tonight’s League 1 fixture with Oldham Athletic. We extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, staff and officials from the North West. Enjoy your football with us in Bristol and a safe journey home after the game.
Jim’s View
A second home game inside four days awaits us this evening on the back of what seemed like a lifetime on the road, (it was only actually four away trips out of five matches inside three weeks), during the latter part of August. These notes were written before last Saturday’s visit of Walsall for which Ken kindly put the entire Supporters Club column together in order that I could have an extended trip to Bradford and visit some of my partner’s relatives in the area.
I’m glad that we had something else to go to Yorkshire for because the game itself was a big disappointment following four consecutive victories in all competitions for Rovers. We just didn’t get going at Valley Parade despite almost scoring in the opening minute and I agree with ‘DC’ that we were very week defensively. It was a nice though to see the lads turned out in the famous quarters for a change and on national TV as well; just a pity about the result. Let’s hope the lads got it all back together with three points against Walsall.
I got back home from Yorkshire with just minutes to spare before a very lengthy, (4-hour), executive committee meeting here at the Mem. The Committee has several important on-going issues to deal with currently not least being our next Annual General Meeting planned for October 19th. All members will be aware by now that last season’s scandal involving embezzlement and theft of club funds has recently been dealt with by the Crown Court and all monies returned with all our expenses covered. That has been a great relief to us but unfortunately it is only part of the story because whilst the thefts were taking place, over a period of around eighteen months, the Club’s accounts were being neglected and we are having to employ the services of an accountant to get them back in order in time for presentation to the membership before we can hold the A.G.M.
Fortunately it appears that this is going well and we hope to publish in time but, with less than six weeks to go, it is obviously going to be a close call. Hopefully I can confirm the A.G.M., along with the usual members-only forum involving the Officers and Management of the Football Club, within the next couple of weeks. Make sure you have a current Supporters Club Membership Card if you wish to take part.
The closing date for applicants to stand for election to the Committee at the A.G.M. passed on June 30th with only one member putting himself forward for office and we are currently still operating without a full-time Treasurer; our Secretary Sue Williams having taken on the added responsibility on a temporary basis. As the post of treasurer is such an important one we would much appreciate any member with accountancy skills putting themselves forward so that he or she can be co-opted onto the committee at least for a trial period. I’m sure that somebody out there can do the job
and we would very much like to hear from you.
That long and quite serious meeting at least ended with some brief but quite pleasant business as we decided back in the summer that few of us could remember all the many wonderful goals scored by Rovers throughout all of last season, especially early on, and therefore elligible for our ‘Goal of the Season’ trophy. The Committee has therefore decided to vote at each future meeting on what we consider to be the best goal scored by the team during the past month and then that would be listed for voting for by the fans at the end of the season. As every goal is now covered by Rovers’ Media Department and they are all up for viewing on the Club’s website it is now much easier for all us supporters to remember just how good they were. So it was that after quite a brief discussion we unanimously decided on Liam Sercombe’s brilliant finish against Cambridge United in the 1st Round, Carabao Cup tie here as the best of many good August goals. This then will be the first to be listed for you to ponder over in eight month’s time and it will have to be a real ‘good-un’ to beat it!
The draw for the next round of the aforementioned Carabao Cup has not been very kind to us with difficult trip to Molyneaux facing Rovers a week from tonight. Many younger fans will have never seen us perform against the once mighty ‘Wolves’ and the Midlanders’ finely developed stadium will be a ‘first’ for many ‘Gasheads’. Whatever, we are bound to have another great following for an atmospheric evening in Wolverhampton so enjoy the trip; coach bookings available in the Clubhouse this evening.
Firstly though some very important business this evening with the visit of Oldham Athletic and the chance of another three valuable points so get behind the boys in blue from the start. Up the Pirates!
Jim Chappell.
A Bid on the Side
Jamie never fails us and here are two more items for your bids.
Item 1. England v Wales U18 International programme with ticket and Teamsheet.
On 21 March this year, the Mem hosted the England v Wales schools U18 international. This item is the match programme, which includes an article on our very own Chris Lines who was a schools international in 2003/4, a Teamsheet and a used match ticket.
Item 2. A Bristol Rovers Tie.
For those of us that like to look the part on an evening out, but still want to discreetly support the club, here is the perfect way to manage both. This tie gives you a classy way to show you are a fan of our great club but still look good. I am not sure when or indeed if it still is sold but it has it’s “official merchandise” label on the back.
Both of these items have been auctioned on Ebay since Sunday the 10th of September 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.
Generation Game: Thursday
Phil and Janet have been busy preparing for the next Quiz Night. The quiz will take place in the clubhouse on the 14th of September, this coming Thursday. Teams up to six a pound per person will get the evening underway; doors at 7.30 for a first round start at 8 pm.
The highlight will be Janet’s ginormous raffle with many fab prizes. We have a multitude of books, CDs and even an amazing Spa Getaway (Bag). Many other prizes far too many to mention; cuddly toys as well. Feels like the Generation Game! God bless Brucie.
Janet would like to thank everyone for the donations. See you there at the quiz; best of luck to all teams.
Southgate Wins It
Not Gareth this time but our very own Simon from Bishop Sutton.
Simon has come forward with the 50/50 winning ticket drawn out at half time of the Fleetwood game. The winning ticket was number was 006844 and the prize a massive £1,150. Well done Simon and good luck everyone with your tickets in tonight’s draw.
Thank you for purchasing your tickets and thank you to all of out volunteer sellers.
Membership Update
The Membership for this season stands at 1,781 so far and growing weekly. Please don’t forget that we have made a discount provision for under 21’s and that you can now join on line; log on to the BRSC web site and follow the links.