Retro: Eleven of the best Doncaster Rovers matches of the last 20 years
Life as a Doncaster Rovers fan is pretty bleak right now – so let’s reminisce about better times.
By Jimmy Johnson
Published 12th Apr 2022, 14:30 BST
To help alleviate the pain of Rovers’ current predicament, we’ve put together this list to help you remember that it hasn’t always been this bad.
In fact, it’s actually been quite good on occasion!
If you feel like you’re falling out of love with Doncaster Rovers, give this list a read – it may be what you need to reignite your passion.
If you’ve got any favourite games we may have missed out (it was difficult to pick just 11), feel free to tweet us @FreePressRovers.
If you feel like you’re falling out of love with Doncaster Rovers, give this list a read – it may be what you need to reignite your passion.
9. Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (N) - National League Playoff Final 02/03
Arguably the tensest game on the list, made all the more nerve-wracking by the presence of the golden goal rule. It was a similar story to the game against Bristol Rovers - Donny lead comfortably by 2-0, before forfeiting the lead and taking the game into extra time. One final charge forward saw the ball laid off to a perfectly-positioned Francis Tierney, who tucked the ball home and sent the Rovers faithful into hysterics. Photo: Shaun Botterill
The final day of the season all came down to this - a draw was enough to see Rovers promoted, while Brentford needed to win. It was going according to plan, as the game looked to be petering out to a bore draw - until a penalty to Brentford was given right at the death. Pushing aside Brentford's usual penalty taker was the young, brash Marcelo Trotta - and thank goodness he did. He slammed the ball into the crossbar, causing it to ricochet round the box, until Paul Quinn cleared it to Billy Paynter, who had been sobbing in defeat on the sidelines just moments before. With no one to stop him, he squared it across the goalmouth to an onrushing Coppinger - and the rest is history. Photo: Mike Hewitt
Yeah, it really doesn't get any better than this. Pundits and fans alike had arrogantly dismissed any chance Rovers may have had before this game - how shocked they were after the match began. Donny completely outplayed Leeds - Caspar Ankergren hadn't been so busy all season. James Hayter finally scored a swan-like diving header which Ankergren did not have an answer to in the 48th minute, following a corner. In the end, a 1-0 scoreline flattered Leeds tremendously, but it was the result that mattered. Doncaster Rovers had gone from non-league to the Championship in just five years, and they'd conquered their bitterest of rivals in the process. Photo: Clive Rose