Former Doncaster Rovers favourite Stan Brookes dies at 72
A former Doncaster Rovers star who was a stalwart of the side during the 1970s has died at the age of 72.
Defender Stan Brookes made more than 250 appearances for Rovers between 1971 and 1976, scoring seven goals.
Born in Doncaster in March 1953, Brookes, a former pupil of the city’s then Percy Jackson Grammar School, he joined Rovers’ youth system and signed professional terms in February
1971, when the club was in Division Four of the English Football League set-up.
He played mainly as a central defender, although he was also deployed at left back occasionally.
He made his debut on 26 August 1971 and went on to play for six seasons at Belle Vue.
His debut came in a 1–0 home defeat to Barrow and his first goal came in the following season on 20 February in a 2–1 win at Chester City.
In April 1974 he took over in goal in a game against Exeter City. Rovers were losing 2–0 at the time and came back to draw 3–3
He played in all seven matches as Rovers reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup in 1975-76, Rovers reaching the quarter finals where they eventually bowed out in a 7-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
He also was a member of the team that won the Sheffield County Cup in May 1976, Rovers beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane in the final.
He was released at the end of the 1976-77 season and he moved to Belgium, joining KV Mechelen, along with fellow Brit Keith Coleman from West Ham.
He spent six seasons there, winning a Second Division play-off (1980-81) and a Second Division Title (1982-83).
His Rovers record was 263 appearances, seven goals.