Our page that appeared in Saturday’s Match-Day programme, The Pirate:

Welcome

Good afternoon and welcome to the Memorial Stadium for today’s League 1 fixture with Walsall Football Club. We extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, staff and officials from Walsall. Enjoy your football with us in Bristol and a safe journey home after the game.

Ken’s Comment

It was an early start for BRSC members and Rovers supporters travelling to Bradford for the televised away game in North Yorkshire last Saturday. Most were on the road around 6-30ish to 7 with time allowed for a service break on the route.

We are normally well heard at away games and often we rise above the home support but up at Bradford, with over 19,000 in, life was difficult. The game was made more difficult with the Manager having to select from a depleted squad of players because of international call-ups and a number of injuries to first team regulars; a huge thank-you to all who travelled to Wycombe or Bradford or both to support our team.

The Wycombe game presented the manager with the opportunity to field a number of younger players and players from our newly formed Under-21 development group. The subs bench was made up entirely from this group and we congratulate all players who made their debuts for the club on the night. Chris Hargreaves, his staff and players are guaranteed the support of BRSC at all times. Home games will be played at Yate Town for mid-week League fixtures. You will be made most welcome to take in a game at Lodge Road if you can.

It was with great pleasure that we watched Ollie Clarke lead the team out at Adam’s Park and up at Bradford. Ollie came up through our youth system to make it at first team level and remains a one-club player. I well remember Ollie getting a nasty injury on his first day of training as a professional player. Ollie overcame the early set back and has worked very hard to be the player that he is today. Well done Ollie Clarke.

Bristol Rovers Supporters Club is very proud of Ollie Clarke and we congratulate him most warmly for the distinction of wearing the captain’s armband at Wycombe and Bradford.

The atmosphere at Valley Parade certainly makes it a fortress for the home club and likewise The Mem is our fortress. We have the opportunity for three points today; get behind our players as always, together we can do this, come on Rovers, come on you Blues!

New Badge

A new “limited edition” die cast badge has been produced by the Supporters Club for 2017/18 season. The badge is available from the Supporters Club outlets at 199 Two Mile Hill road and the stadium Supporters Club shop on match days and evenings. Priced at just £3.00 each the badge is very attractive and a must for seasonal badge collectors. Be sure not to miss out while stocks last.

Away Match Programmes: Free Service

Those of you who collect Rovers away match programmes but are not able to go to the games may be interested in a free service provided by the Supporters Club.

Phil Draper began obtaining away programmes to order when Rovers dropped to the Vanarama Conference. This was because an increasing number of clubs stopped exchanging programmes from their respective fixtures.

The idea is a simple one. Collectors call into the Supporters Club Match Day Shop in the main car park and pay £3 per programme for the coming up away games that will be taking place before Rovers next home fixture. Phil uses the cash collected to buy the programmes and these are then kept until the purchaser collects them from the shop on their next visit. Supporters can order as many as you like as long as you payments are made up front. There can often be a few spare copies if you haven’t ordered or miss a game but to guarantee them it is best to and pre-order.

The Supporters Club Match Day Shop is also the place to call at if you are missing one of our award-winning Home Match Programmes. You will also find a range of other clubs’ programmes on sale, plus a couple of 20p bargain boxes to rummage through. Collectors can also ask Phil or Jamie to search for those elusive programmes needed to complete a set for the season, or a one-off first match or particular edition.

These older programmes are kept off-site but can be brought to The Mem for a future home match. Prices for home programmes back to 1975 can be as cheap as 50 per copy with some notable collectable and rare exceptions.

Clubhouse Winner

Fifty-fifty tickets were sold in the clubhouse at the time of the Bradford City game. The winning ticket number was 009117. The lucky winner was by Pat Mullinder from Southmead. Pat collected the “Saturday night out” prize money of £52.50 during the half time break. Well done to Pat and many thanks to Dave Hewett for organizing the draw and selling the tickets.

Under Twenty-One SC Membership: Join Online

Membership of the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club for the 2017/18 Season is now available online.

An Under 21 category has been introduced for the new 2017/18 season at a fee of just £6.

Log in to the SC Web site and follow the links.

A Bid on the Side

Two more great items for you to bid for today.

Item 1. Andy Rammell 2002-03 Match Worn Shirt.

A fans favourite at both Walsall and the Gas, Ramell was an instant legend at Rovers. Former Saddlers boss Ray Graydon used funds raised by the Supporters Club Sharescheme to bring Andy to the Mem. Rambo scored four crucial goals in seven games to help the club avoid relegation to the conference in the 2002/3 season.

This shirt is in excellent condition and is size XXL.

Item 2. England v Ireland May 2017. One day International Cricket Programme.

As we reach the end of the cricket season, we have something for the fans of the summer game. This week on the BotS we have two copies of mint edition programmes from the cricket international played at The County Ground in Bristol between England and Ireland from May this year.

Both of these items have been auctioned on Ebay since Thursday the 7th 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.

Fleetwood Unclaimed

At the time of going to press the 50/50 winning prize of £1,150 remained unclaimed.

Please check your pockets for ticket number 006844. Dave Hewett sold the ticket somewhere around the stadium but we can’t be sure where exactly. The money can be claimed on the production of the ticket from 199, Two Mile Hill.

The second prize of a fixed £100 went to Lauren Matthews of Farrington Guerney. Well done Lauren and thank you to Dave Bean for the selling Lauren her ticket from his match day station at the top of the Poplar Stand access ramp.

Don’t miss out on your chance to collect today’s prizes. Our SC Sellers are located all around the ground and will visit you in all the boxes and hospitality areas.

Bristol Rovers Supporters Club is the proud sponsor of the Bristol Rovers Youth Academy and the Bristol Rovers U-21 development group of players.