Imps News

“I think he will be good for us and will bring his experience from the time at West Bromwich Albion.”

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The only previous visit to the Keepmoat Stadium to play Doncaster Rovers was on 14th August 2007 in the First Round of the League Cup. It finished 4-0 to Donny, in front of a crowd of 5,084. The goalscorers for Rovers that night were James Hayter (23′), Richie Wellens (55′), Paul Heffernan (59′) and Mark McCammon (73′), with Jamie Forrester scoring a consolation for The Imps in the 80th minute. A certain James Coppinger was in the Doncaster Rovers line-up that night and is likely to be in it today at the age of 38.

You have got to go back to 23rd January 2004 for the last league meeting (Division 3) between the two sides. An own goal scored by Tim Ryan (12′) and one by Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the 58th minute were enough to secure all three points at Belle Vue, in front of a crowd of 8,774.

Match Thread: Doncaster Rovers v Lincoln City

Time for the Q&As. Thank you to Doncaster Rovers supporters John and Derek for answering our questions. The answers have been published on two pages. To get to the second set of answers, simply click here!

First up, the answers provided by John:

How long have you supported Doncaster Rovers?

Since our Second Division days, so about 60 years.

Where did you finish last season?

6th and lost in the play-offs to Charlton.

What do you think of your Manager?

I think he will be good for us and will bring his experience from the time at West Bromwich Albion.

Who Are The League One Managers? No.9: Darren Moore (Doncaster Rovers)

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

Personally, think we will be “ok” this season and be around 10th at the end.

One(s) to watch?

Kieran Sadlier and Ben Whitehouse will attract attention plus that young Coppinger could yet develop!

Who do you think will finish in the top six of League One?

Surely Sunderland WILL be in there with Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Rotherham United. Then it will be a case of picking any 2 of “the pack” behind them.

Who do you think will finish in the bottom four of League One?

Probably Bury and Bolton are handicapped with -12 and -11 and Accrington will make it a bad season for the North West and maybe AFC Wimbledon won’t do a great escape this time.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Seem to be a well-run Club and those Cup runs raised their profile (please lose the Air raid siren if you haven’t already lol)

What do you think the score will be?

I do a prediction competition so don’t want to give away the score, but Rovers will win narrowly.

Random fact about your Club?

Currently 140 years old (older than most) and paying homage to that with Away Kit in original colours Dark Blue/Yellow. We won’t use the Tam o’ Shanter though thankfully.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

If I could turn the clock back Jason Shackell for sure. He was a class defender. I really rated him and very disappointed when he did not sign for us.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Doncaster Rovers Supporter?

Probably returning to the League after the “Richardson era” – when winning in Conference Final with Tierney’s Promotion Goal.

Personally, I went once to Scunthorpe for a night game v Rovers and found we were at home. I still made the kick-off, but we lost.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Me without a doubt – if they could see me in the stand tackling, getting shots in etc they would sign me on. I have scored 6 already this season.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Yes, and they play a huge role – deserve a bigger mention but space/words are tight.

Which was your favourite match involving Doncaster Rovers?

Like all fans of all teams, there are lots of games to pick from, but I go back time and again to Stoke’s Britannia Stadium and Rovers play-off win v Dagenham. The moment we were BACK!

Which was your least favourite match involving Doncaster Rovers?

Most of the ones we lose or draw when we should have won.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Doncaster Rovers?

Pass. The club is proactive in all areas so probably “yes”.

What’s the best thing about Doncaster?

Most people are very friendly and have a great sense of humour – though you can’t tell from these Q&As.

Do you actually consider us rivals?

Rivals in the sense of where we will finish in the League and will we get 6 points from you – yes – but in the sense of Barnsley, Rotherham United and Scunthorpe United, NO! Our fans split age-wise on greatest “rivals” and The Iron seems to the biggest now.

With the loss of several important players from last season – Marquis, Rowe, Wilks, Kane, Marosi, Butler and Andrew – do you think Moore’s objective this season is just consolidation?

I think the Managerial change happened really late so there will be a period of “catching up” by DM but he will do it.

How much better is it now to waltz down to the excellent Keepmoat Stadium for matches rather than trudge along to dilapidated Belle Vue?

Much better x 100 – it was for me a great day when we moved – and I still get a “kick” out of seeing the ground even when it’s not a game day. Don’t forget your roots but don’t ignore improvement which the Keepmoat is.

What is it about Rovers and non-English managers? The last ‘proper’ one you had was Dave Penney and he left in 2006!

Well, Sean O’Driscoll was born in Wolverhampton and Darren Moore in Birmingham thus making them “more” English than Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

How old will James Coppinger be when he finally retires?

Personally, it would be good if he went on forever but I think he will go at the end of this season.

Why did we never see the best of Dany N’Guessan at Rovers?

His famous damaged toe held his career back.

Has anyone ever had a shinier head at Donny than Paul Keegan?

Yes. Those as old as myself would remember Keith Kettleborough who to me seemed a really old man when I watched him but in fact, was only 32 ish.

Page Two: The answers provided by Derek!

Posted by Vital Lincoln City on Saturday, 24 August 2019

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