Funeral details announced for former Doncaster Rovers boss Maurice Setters

Setters, who was in charge at Belle Vue between 1971 and 1974, died last month at the age of 83 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

His funeral is due to take place at Rose Hill next Monday, but due to coronavirus restrictions, the number of mourners will be limited to 25.

He was in charge of the Rovers team that held football giants and reigning league champions Liverpool to a 2-2 FA Cup draw at Anfield in the mid 1970s, nearly producing one of the club’s greatest upsets.

At the time of the clash in January 1974, Rovers were at the bottom of the Football League and when Doncaster born Kevin Keegan scored against his hometown club after just four minutes, the result looked a formality.

But Rovers hit back through Peter Kitchen and then Brendan O’Callaghan cancelled out a second Keegan strike to earn Doncaster a 2-2 side and a replay at Belle Vue a few days later, when the Merseysiders proved too strong and secured a 2-0 win.

Brought in as a replacement for Lawrie McMenemy, who was sacked in 1971, the former Manchester United left wing half endured a lean spell in charge of Rovers, with dwindling crowds and tight finances the order of the day against a backdrop of nationwide industrial unrest.

He was shown the door in 1974 and later linked up with long-time friend Jack Charlton at Sheffield Wednesday as assistant manager to the England 1966 World Cup winner, spending more than half a decade with the Owls and beginning the orchestration of their climb back up the Football League.

His death at Doncaster Royal Infirmary on November 22 came after a six-year battle with Alzheimers and just a few months after the death of Charlton and also Archie Irivine, Rovers’ skipper in the game against Liverpool.

Beginning his playing career at Exeter City and West Brom, he made his name at Manchester United.

The funeral will take place at Rose Hill on Monday at noon.