LIVE updates as Doncaster Rovers begin pre-season campaign at Armthorpe Welfare
and live on Freeview channel 276
Sixty-three days after their relegation to League Two was confirmed, Rovers play their first match of what they hope will be a far more successful 2022/23 season.
A mixture of first-team players and the club’s second-year youth scholars will get a run-out today, in part due to several senior players still missing.
The club’s three new arrivals could be handed the chance to impress, as well as a number of trialists.
Scroll down for live updates.
Armthorpe Welfare v Doncaster Rovers LIVE
Key Events
- Rovers expected to field a mixture of first-team players and second-year scholars
- Trialists could be involved this afternoon
- Captain Tom Anderson will miss out after suffering injury setback
Stoppage in play
Some confusion here as Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey leaves the pitch. Apparanty a spectator was hit by a ball that ricocheted out of play.
More on that left-back trialist
We’ll get more info from Gary McSheffrey after the full-time whistle.
First touch for trialist Dunne
...And it goes out of play.
Tidy play from Rio Griffiths almost leads to the first goal but a home defender turns the ball over the bar.
We’re under way
Armthorpe get us started. Rovers are wearing their new home kit. Must be about 2,000 fans here.
Two trialists in the starting XI
Cieran Dunne, who was released by Sunderland in May, is understood to be the left-back on trial.
No word yet on the other trialist in action today. But we do know he’s a winger.
McSheffrey on Ben Close
Unfortunately, the midfielder is not quite yet up to speed and will miss this afternoon’s match. Here’s what McSheffrey had to say about him.
Who’s available today?
Jon Taylor and Tommy Rowe should be involved, but there’s bad news concerning defenders Tom Anderson and Kyle Knowle.
The 2022/23 season starts here
Hopefully this afternoon is the first match in a season that’ll be remembered for all the right reasons.
The club are determined to turn over a new leaf and while the playing squad is still undergoing an overhaul, the backroom team has also seen several changes.
Today is the first outing for several of the club’s new recruits and McSheffrey is expected to tinker with formation and personnell on the pitch throughout pre-season, so expect plenty of experimentation in the coming weeks.
The Rovers boss is also expected to provide a transfer update after the full-time whistle this afternoon, so stay tuned for the latest on that front.