Wednesday 16 December 2009
Thursday 10 December 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1973-74
What a nervous end to the season! Rovers had completed their 46 league matches (on 27 April) with 61 points, and were in TOP SPOT, Oldham Athletic could leap frog them (44 games 61 points) and York City (44 games 59 points), Oldham only managed 1 point from their final 2 matches, York lost their 45th but beat Plymouth to total 61 points, Rovers squeezed into 2nd place on goal average.
A great home record Played 23 W 16 Drew 6 and just 2 defeats (1 against Oldham).
Top scorers Alan WARBOYS (22) and Bruce BANNISTER (18) next was John RUDGE (4!!)
Early 70s~ shorts getting shorter ~ men's hair getting longer.
Early 70s~ shorts getting shorter ~ men's hair getting longer.Thursday 3 December 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1970-71
Something will appear ~ honestly.
You can email me at steven.palmer@btinternet.com
or write comments on the website, you need to "set up an account" but it's free.
If you can scan photos/programmes of the Rovers I'll add them to the relevant season
(and....mention your name!).
Tuesday 24 November 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1969-70
I was one of the 14,334 crowd at Brisbane Road for this clash with ORIENT (no Leyton?), at the time Orient were top of Division 3 with 44 points from 32 games, Rovers were 5th with 42pts from 34 games, the result was a goalless draw.
At the end of the season ORIENT were promoted (46/62points) with LUTON TOWN (46/60) and Rovers 3rd (56 points). Just one win in the last 6 league matches cost Rovers promotion.
Rovers' new style programme was bigger than previous seasons to accommodate the Football League Review a magazine given free(?) with many league clubs' programmes.
Rovers visited Bournemouth (not forgetting Boscombe) for a 1st Round League Cup tie and returned with a very disappointing 3-0 defeat. But better news from Brighton (not forgetting Hove) where goals from Ray GRAYDON, Robin STUBBS and Bobby JONES gave Rovers a 3-0 win.
----ooooo00000ooooo-----
Rovers visited Bournemouth (not forgetting Boscombe) for a 1st Round League Cup tie and returned with a very disappointing 3-0 defeat. But better news from Brighton (not forgetting Hove) where goals from Ray GRAYDON, Robin STUBBS and Bobby JONES gave Rovers a 3-0 win.----ooooo00000ooooo-----
Any HIGHLIGHTS?
A much better season, 80 goals meant that they were the 3rd highest scorers in division 3,
Ray GRAYDON(13), Robin STUBBS(15), Harold JARMAN (10) and Carl GILBERT (12) all reaching double figures in the goal charts.
Monday 23 November 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1968-69
The cover of the new-look programme in August 1968, Ken RONALDSON and Wayne JONES along with an unknown goalkeeper.
Did you know?Rovers could turn out with 2 TAYLORS, 2 JONES and 2 WILLIAMS.
This team picture from the Rovers' home programme v Watford, the first match of the season which was a 1-1 draw, Rovers' goal from Frankie PRINCE.Larry LLOYD in the line up ~ my claim to fame.... I lived at 173 Bishopthorpe Road, Larry lived at 183 so I played football with him thousands of times on Horfield Common!!!! (He fouled opponents when he was 8!!!).
43 appearances in 1968-69 for ROVERS before his move toLIVERPOOL followed by international caps and European Cup Winners' medals with Liverpool and NOTTINGHAM FOREST.
Players who played the majority of matches this season:
-----ooooo00000ooooo------Laurie TAYLOR (43/46 league games), Lyndsey PARSONS (32), Larry LLOYD (43), Stuart TAYLOR (45), Wayne JONES (42), Bobby JONES (41), Harold JARMAN (45), Tom STANTON (32), John PETTS (32).
Not an impressive season in Division 3, longest unbeaten run was just 4 games.
Played 46 Won 16 Drew 11 Lost 19 For 63 Agnst 71 Pts 43
and finishing in 16th place.
Just a few highlights: HOME wins against
GILLINGHAM 5-1 and MANSFIELD 6-2 in the league,
and a 1-0 defeat in the 5th round of the FA Cup at EVERTON who were to finish 3rd in the top flight, a crowd of 55,294 at this match.The 4th round saw Rovers visit BOLTON WANDERERS and come home with a 2-1 win (Both from a young (and hairy) WAYNE JONES).
WATFORD and SWINDON both with 64 points from 46 matches were promoted to Division 2, while NORTHAMPTON, HARTLEPOOL, OLDHAM & CREWE were relegated.
Rovers fans could look forward to visiting Doncaster, Halifax, Rochdale and Bradford City in season 1969-70.
Friday 20 November 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1967-68
Rovers' two Taylors feature in this picture from the 3rd Round FA Cup 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate.
(Below) The Supporter Club's magazine from September 1967, I'm behind the banner.
The mag. featured a picture of QUEEN' PARK RANGERS!!!!! and a Meet the Manager spot (Matt Busby) ~very little about Rovers.
A new cover for the match day programme featured Bernard HALL diving at the feet of Doug HILLARD(?) No television in the centre pages - it's on the back instead!
This kit change would get my vote as the most unimaginative ever worn.
This kit change would get my vote as the most unimaginative ever worn.The squad shown is a mix of locally "grown" players and a few (cheap) transfers.
Another disappointing season under coach Bob Campbell....
Played 46 Won 17 Drew 9 Lost 20 For 72 Agnst 78 Points 43
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
Finished 15th with BURY and OXFORD UNITED gaining promotion, and PETERBOROUGH UNITED docked enough points to be relegated due to illegal payments to players.
A total of 67,000 watched Rovers draw o-o at Ashton Gate but lose the 3rd round replay at Eastville in January 1968.
HAT TRICK for Ray MABBUTT at NORTHAMPTON (Cobblers) on 28 October, little else to cheer during a season when Rovers' best unbeaten run was just 4 matches!
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1966-67
A 3-0 victory over SWINDON TOWN (Sept 1966) at Eastville, Harold JARMAN, Ian HAMILTON and Doug HILLARD grabbing the goals. Crowd 10,907.
Doug HILLARD played for Rovers from 1958 making his debut on 13 December in the home draw with Sheffield United until May 1968 in 313 games he managed 13 goals from the right back position.
Action from Rovers v. Mansfield Town on 15th Oct 1966, a 4-4 draw with Harold JARMAN (2), Ken RONALDSON and Alfie BIGGS scoring in front of a 7,598 (+ me) crowd.
What a poor photo! Just a few looking at the camera! This featured in the pre season friendly programme against TOURNAI of Bruxelles.
Ray MABBUTT played his first league game for ROVERS in September 1957, still going strong in 1967 when he passed the 350 game landmark.
ROVERS had discarded the striped kit for an all blue look.
The front of the programme used to have BRISTOL STADIUM - EASTVILLE, now it's in Bristol!
Rovers visited READING on Sept 9th 1966, Dick PLUMB and Alex MUNRO netted in a 2-1 victory.
Alex MUNRO in action at Eastville against OXFORD UNITED on 24th Sept 1966, Rovers won 2-1 with Alfie BIGGS and a Joe DAVIS penalty earning the points.
Ray MABBUTT played his first league game for ROVERS in September 1957, still going strong in 1967 when he passed the 350 game landmark.
ROVERS had discarded the striped kit for an all blue look.
The front of the programme used to have BRISTOL STADIUM - EASTVILLE, now it's in Bristol!
Rovers visited READING on Sept 9th 1966, Dick PLUMB and Alex MUNRO netted in a 2-1 victory. 
Alex MUNRO in action at Eastville against OXFORD UNITED on 24th Sept 1966, Rovers won 2-1 with Alfie BIGGS and a Joe DAVIS penalty earning the points.Playing record: Rovers finished 5th in Division 3, it was all going well until the away game at MANSFIELD (Mar 3 1967). in the final 13 games, just 2 victories.
P 46 W 20 D 13 L 13 F 76 A 67 Pts 53
QUEENS PARK RANGERS ran away with the league title, but with MIDDLESBROUGH promoted in second place with 55 points shows how close it was for Rovers.
Alfie BIGGS (23) and Harold JARMAN (19) contributed more than half the league goals.
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1965-66
TRUE BLUE Trudy started to appear in the 12 page programme, older fans may recall that there was friction between The Bristol Rovers Supporters Club and management. BRSC were not allowed any space in the programme and a new club THE TRUE BLUES supporters' organisation was formed.
A bit sexist ^^^ and even racist below!!!!
" What time did this happen?" in a recent match, the same photo appeared in 3 home programmes..... the result/winner (if there was one) was never mentioned!
I collected football cards from Barratt's sweet cigarettes for years ~ sold in packs of 10, on pocket money days I was a 200 a day man! Very few Rovers' players ever appeared, Geoff Bradford back in the black and white days and Ray MABBUTT appeared in set number 15.
I was a programme seller at the start of the 65-66 season and managed to get progamme number 1. 
An 18,354 crowd witnessed a great 3-3 draw with First Division WEST HAM UNITED on the 21 September, with the HAMMERS narrowly winning the replay 3-2 eight days later.
The team photo for the season which appeared in the FOOTBALL LEAGUE REVIEW, a magazine given away with the club's programme.
ELSEWHERE.....
I was a programme seller at the start of the 65-66 season and managed to get progamme number 1. 
An 18,354 crowd witnessed a great 3-3 draw with First Division WEST HAM UNITED on the 21 September, with the HAMMERS narrowly winning the replay 3-2 eight days later.
The team photo for the season which appeared in the FOOTBALL LEAGUE REVIEW, a magazine given away with the club's programme.-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
A disappointing season after going so close to promotion the previous season, finishing 16th/24
including a spell of 12 games (5 draws 7 defeats) in mid-season.
A disappointing season after going so close to promotion the previous season, finishing 16th/24
including a spell of 12 games (5 draws 7 defeats) in mid-season.
Played 46 Won 14 Drew 14 Lost 18 For 64 Agnst 64 Pts 42
Division 3 was won by HULL CITY(69pts) and MILLWALL(65) were runners up.
Bernard HALL (43), Doug HILLARD (46), Joe DAVIS (41), Ray MABBUTT (45), Harold JARMAN (42), and Bobby JONES (45) all appeared in over 40 league games.
ELSEWHERE.....
DIVISION 1.
LIVERPOOL.............. 42 26 9 7 79 34 61pts.
LEEDS UNITED ....... 42 23 9 10 79 38 55pts
BURNLEY ................ 42 24 7 11 79 47 55pts
MANCHESTER CITY and SOUTHAMPTON promoted from Division 2.
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1964-65
No expense spared on Reserve team programmes, Apr 10th 1965 Rovers v. Swindon Town, Keith EAST is number 10 for Swindon, I played with him at Corinthian Casuals in the late 1970s, he could sing and play the guitar (at the same time).
Would new signing Dick PLUMB from SWINDON TOWN replace the irreplaceable Geoff BRADFORD?..... '"fraid not!"
A much better league season when at times it seemed that promotion was a reality.
A much better league season when at times it seemed that promotion was a reality. On Jan 16th 1965 it was looking good but 4 draws and 3 defeats in the next 7 games was a great set back, eventually finishing 6th 4 points behind 2nd place.
A consistent team selection was the key:
Bernard HALL (46)
Doug HILLARD (29)................ Gwyn JONES (44)
Terry OLDFIELD (32).....Joe DAVIS (45).....Ray MABBUTT(41)
John BROWN (44 8 goals).............................Ian HAMILTON(33 21)
Harold JARMAN(44 14)...........................Alfie BIGGS(24 18)........................Bobby JONES(43 10)
plus Dave STONE (22) and Alex MUNRO (21).
ELSEWHERE.......
DIVISION 1
MANCHESTER UNITED 42 26 9 7 89 39 61pts
LEEDS UNITED............... 42 26 9 7 83 52 61pts
CHELSEA ..........................42 24 8 10 89 54 56pts
DIVISION 2
NEWCASTLE UTD................ 42 24 9 9 81 45 57pts
NORTHAMPTON "Cobblers" ....42 20 16 6 66 50 56pts
DIVISION 3
1st CARLISLE UTD........46 25 10 11 76 53 60pts
6th BRISTOL ROVERS.... 46 20 15 11 82 58 55pts
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1963-64
The WATFORD programme for Sept 21 1963, a 3-2 defeat for ROVERS, eagle eyed fans wil spot Dai WARD playing for WATFORD.A mid table finish this season (12th), the 46 games yielding 46 points.
91 goals meant an average of close to 2 per game with Alfie BIGGS notching 30 Ian HAMILTON(14) Harold JARMAN (13) and John BROWN 12).
Bernard HALL, Doug HILLARD, BIGGS and JARMAN all played in th 46 league games.
A trip to OLD TRAFFORD for a 4th Round FA Cup tie ended in a 4-1 defeat in front of 55,720 (and me and my dad) spectators. I am convinced Pat CRERAND headed an own goal to give us something to cheer!
Wednesday 18 November 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1962-63
The full Rovers' squad for the 1962-3 season pictured at Eastville, in a new style candy striped shirt. This picture featured in the Sept 27th programme v. Port Vale, who, oddly***, played against Rovers in the league, League Cup and FA Cup that season.
*** I can't spell coincidentally.
Team picture taken at the end of the 62-63 season and the players who were credited with saving Rovers from another relegation.Did the photographer ask for the gap in the middle "cus that's where the crease will be"?
Who decided to get rid of the quartered shirts, the kit since the 1930s?Were the fans asked? Well, I wasn't.
Gwyn JONES (44/46 appearances), Doug HILLARD (29), Joe DAVIS(13), Bernard HALL(8), Ray MABBUTT (37), Terry OLDFIELD(35).
Harold JARMAN(40), Bobby JONES(41), Alfie BIGGS(32), Ian HAMILTON (31), Geoff BRADFORD(21)
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
Top scorer was Keith WILLIAMS (36 games 17 goals) and goalie Esmond MILLION (38) both missed the last 8 games through suspension. Both had been involved in a match fixing scandal some months before they transferred to Rovers.
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
Rovers' first home game in the 62-63 season was against Northampton (Cobblers I hear you shout), this 2-2 draw followed a 3-0 defeat at HULL CITY 3 days earlier.
Was the black border proof that the club was still in mourning from the previous season's relegation?
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1961-62
Very unusual, Rovers decided to have a public trial match on August 14th 1961.
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
The match at Southampton was Rovers' 16th game of the season and two Geoff BRADFORD goals gave us victory,in front of a crowd approaching 15,000.
But, what a dreadful start to the season, 7 consecutive defeats left Rovers pointless by mid September, the next 9, however included 6 wins and 1 draw, so prospects were improving. Two 1-0 defeats to Brighton over Christmas and two wins in the last 11 games of the season meant Rovers were doomed and division 3 beckoned.
The league table shows that although Rovers were 21st they were just 6 points below LIVERPOOL in 11th position.
Monday 16 November 2009
BRISTOL ROVERS ~ 1960-61
Above: Harold JARMAN watches his shot hit the crossbar during the home game v. Sheffield United April 22 1961~ Rovers won 3-1 against the team that would finish runners up to Ipswich and be promoted to Division 1.Below: Doug HILLARD on goal line duty v. LIVERPOOL
At Eastville, Rovers beat Liverpool 4-3 a crowd of 16,522 enjoyed the victory.
Geoff BRADFORD draws the Aston Villa goalkeeper and sets up Alfie BIGGS to score in the FA Cup 3rd round tie at Eastville with a crowd of 34,060 (plus me). (7 Jan 1960)1-1 at home but Villa won 4-0 in the replay.
These 3 pictures from the ROVERS' SUPPORTERS' Club Handbook of 1961-62
Rovers visited Elland Road in their second league game of the 60-61 season and managed a point with a 1-1 draw with a goal from Peter HOOPER. Oddly, the return fixture was at Eastville just 5 days later.
Rovers played FULHAM in the first ever League Cup tie on Sept 1st 1960 and beat the First Division opposition 2-1 with Harold JARMAN and Geoff BRADFORD scoring in front of a 20,000+ crowd at Eastville.
Fulham boasted a number of international players including Johnny HAYNES, George COHEN, Graham LEGGATT, Alan MULLERY and Tony MACEDO.
The 2nd Round saw Rovers visit Reading and win 5-3.
A disappointing league season finishing 17th in a league of 22 and just 4 points above relegated PORTSMOUTH.
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----
A disappointing league season finishing 17th in a league of 22 and just 4 points above relegated PORTSMOUTH. -----ooooo00000ooooo-----
One highlight must have been 8 consecutive victories in the team's last 8 home games of the season, including a 4-3 victory over LIVERPOOL who ended up in 3rd position.
-----ooooo00000ooooo-----A few other positives must have been the appearance of Bobby JONES, Ray MABBUTT's industry in mid-field, a young Joe DAVIS in defence and the skill of Peter HOOPER on the left wing (playing all 42 games and 20 goals).
A game I recall was the home game against LEEDS UNITED on the 29th August, Rovers were 4-0 down at half-time but goals from Georgie PETHERBRIDGE, Ian HAMILTON and 2 from Peter HOOPER got us a point. I was at the Muller Road end and all 8 goals were scored at the Tote End!
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