John Ryan: I’m sending out an SOS - please help Save Our Season
John Ryan
SINCE I returned from holiday my feet have not touched the ground, it has been an incredible ten days in Doncaster Rovers’ history.
The bad news came in the form of four directors resigning, which included my fellow major shareholders Dick Watson and Terry Bramall.
This came as a terrible blow.
Now, more than ever, we need the townsfolk to rally round us as the back stops are no longer there.
We have also seen Billy Sharp move to Southampton.
It was always on the cards and he goes with my best wishes, and I am sure yours.
Billy has been a great servant in the two and a half seasons he has been with us.
His goals have been a joy to behold and I hope he gets his dream of playing in the Premier League should Southampton go up automatically or via the play-offs.
It couldn’t happen to a better person.
Obviously he will leave a gap in our attack but I am sure someone will step up to the plate in his place.
There was a much better away performance at Hull and the first point gained in six away games ensured we moved up a place in the table.
Our guns are now firmly aimed at Millwall who are five points above us but they have to come to the Keepmoat and that one will be a definite must win game.
At Hull every man gave his all and, while David Button was magnificent in our goal, it was their keeper Vito Mannone who saved their bacon in the dying minutes of the game when he denied El-Hadji Diouf.
For most of the game you would not have known who was fifth from top and who was second from bottom.
We have a very big game this Saturday with Reading the visitors to the Keepmoat.
But they will have noted that our home form of late has been very good and to be honest we fear no one.
In preparation for the forecasted freeze, we have had the covers down and also made provisions to get some down from the racecourse as an extra blanket, such is the importance of getting this game on.
I must take the opportunity to thank all the companies shown on this page for sponsoring Doncaster and District junior football teams to come to the Reading match.
We lost a generation of supporters when Rovers were on the slide and out of the Football League but we’re trying to reunite families around Rovers from grandparents down to grandchildren.
On a Sunday morning the local touchlines are full of proud parents and grandparents and we want them to come along in numbers and support their home town club in the Championship.
I want them to savour the atmosphere at the Keepmoat, make some noise themselves and then return to cheer us home to safety - hopefully forming a bond that will see them as supporters for years to come.
I would like to thank Gavin Baldwin, Shaun Lockwood and the commercial team for working on this project.
It was great to hear that the company chiefs were all in unanimous agreement that this was a major step forward in encouraging the support of three generations back to Rovers.
I won’t beat about the bush, it’s going to be tough out there on the field of play and equally hard off it.
The club is fortunate in having some loyal directors who have been with me for some time, people on the management side, and equally loyal supporters.
Right now I am calling on you all to put your shoulders to the wheel.
Please come along on Saturday, let’s fill the ground and let Reading wonder what has hit them when they hear a wall of sound.
Doncaster Rovers’ Junior Football Roll of Honour:
Close Building Services, Doncaster Rovers Community Foundation, The Wheatsheaf Pub, Cirencester, Trax FM, Anderson Hydraulics, Doncaster Dome, 4L’s Products Ltd, MVNO Partners, Adrian Welch Glass & Glazing, Andy Westmoreland, Hyde Park Club, Alan Auld, United Carpets, O Publishing, The Fruit Tree, Frankie & Benny’s, Hallam FM, AK Glass & Glazing Ltd, Eclipse Solar, Wlifreda Beehive, Jean Stewart, One Call Insurance, Visions in Plastics, Fleet Direct, Thieme & Co, VSC.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Wind direction: North east
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
RodgerBuckley
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:38 AMMy daughter supported DRFC while they were in the conference league, and has done ever since. It's only in the past couple of years she's been able to afford a season ticket, but she didn't miss many home games before that. We look forward to going to the keepmoat, and it is considerably more comfortable than the old ground ever was. Even paying a shilling to sit in the seating area at the Town End wasn't as comfortable. There is atmosphere at the Keepmoat, but what is lacking is a set of good chants to get the fans going. There's a limit to how many times you can chant "Bian Stock, Brian Brian Stock" for example. Perhaps the best atmosphere I can recall at Keepmoat was when Rovers lost 6-0 to Ipswich - and the place was alive in the South Stand as we all got behind the players to try and salvage something from the game. On that day, I decided that I would renew my season ticket, because despite the scoreline it was one of the best games of the season for atmosphere. As for Rovers being a lower league team punching above their weight, I disagree entirely. DRFC is a team which ended last season with a string of injuries to an already small team. That was the way this season started, and SO'D didn't have any contingency, unlike the bigger clubs. Unless the Town of Doncaster gets behind the club, it will never have that second line of defence because good players cost money. Munger - you may not be bothered about helping the club, but there are thousands of us out there who are. If all those who are negative about the club turned it into something positive, then you can rest assured that DRFC would go places - and I mean upwards, not down! We still need to field a consistent team which can score goals though.
John from Balby
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 04:38 PMYour right about the athospere at the Keepmoat there is none. I enjoyed the old Bell Vue great atmosphere I havnt been to watch them this season not because there are playing poorly but its too expensive and I cant stand the stadium. If they get relegated they could go for the JP trophy again that was fun
shazzan
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 01:54 PMThe trouble with Rovers is the same as it has always been.They are a lower league team punching above their weight. Everybody knows this and this is why people do not support them. Yes they do well for a while but it never lasts. They have even had some good players in the team among the dross but they can never hold on to those players. Billy Sharp being the latest to be sold. And lastly the atmospere is appaling. It is not just that the crowds are small the folk of Doncaster are just too nice. Thaey have no passion for football and no history. Millwall have small crowds but the atmoshere at The Den is amazing. Watching Rovers is like watching football in a church. It is not exciting even when the team play well. I feel sorry for John Ryan I really do. It is his misfortune to try and help the club he loves. Unfortunately he is banging his head against a brick wall because nobody else is bothered
dblido
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 01:26 PMWe are with you, all the way John, even the dissenters, I think they have become so used to being in the Championship, the quality and all the joy it has brought us, that they are frightened of losing it. and like frightened dogs will even bite the hand that feeds them. Pity the game is off but we will shout even louder at the replay)
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