11,000 Bucks

I was sent to Ecclesfield Red Rose versus Swinton Athletic in November 2013, not only for the football match, but to meet football grasshopper Brian Buck who was attending his 11,000th match. Here is my interview-turned-article praising his achievement

 

Football groundhopper, Brian Buck, selected the County Senior League match between Ecclesfield Red Rose and Swinton Athletic to be his 11,000^th football match.

Brian watched his first match in March 1956 between Cambridge United and Colchester United Reserves and since leaving school at 18 has targeted viewing as many games as he possibly can. He is now 62, and has averaged four games per week during this period.

He recalls Fulham versus Santos in 1969 to be his all-time favourite game and hasn’t missed a home fixture for his beloved Tottenham Hotspur since the 1960’s. 

Last week he had seen matches involving Enfield, Carlisle and Hitchin as well as a youth fixture and selected Ecclesfield Red Rose versus Swinton Athletic, an intriguing relegation battle at the bottom of the County Senior League Premier Division, to be his milestone match, in a decision made on Wednesday.

The match itself didn’t disappoint, with Jon Billups goal giving the visitors a 2-1 victory and securing a vital three points for the league’s bottom side in an entertaining encounter.

Buck’s parting words from the game “I’m sure we’ll meet again”, certainly suggests he enjoyed the standard on offer, and he will undoubtedly return to a future County Senior League fixture in the not-too-distant future.

The match report of the game itself is available here. 

Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-9 Liverpool Ladies

Doncaster Rovers Belles suffered their second heavy defeat this week when they lost 9-0 to Liverpool Ladies, a game in which the visitors led 7-0 by half-time.

Liverpool got off to a flyer. Three minutes in Amanda Da Costa’s effort was denied by the crossbar, before captain Gemma Bonner blasted in the rebound.

It got worse for Doncaster soon after. Nicole Rosler was fouled by Victoria Williams from behind when bearing down on Nicola Davies. Williams was last the defender so was promptly dismissed for her troubles. Louise Fors stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, left-footed she slotted, unnerved, into the bottom-right corner, sending Davies the wrong way.

Down to ten players, the Belles failed to readjust and after waves of the Merseysider’s attack, Davies was beaten again after twenty-one minutes. After some neat passing build-up, Fara Williams slid a perfect ball through to Corina Schroder who beat the offside trap, before pulling back to Natasha Dowie, situated on the penalty spot, who slotted home the third.

It was 3-0 for only seconds. Millie Bright misjudged a challenge on Da Costa in the box, and Dowie stepped up for the resulting penalty. She opted for the bottom left-corner, and although the keeper dived the right way, the kick was perfectly placed.

Liverpool’s next two goals were distance shots. Fara Williams first struck with a low effort into the bottom right corner; she scored again with a stunning blast which flew into the top-left of the goal, five minutes later. 6-0.

 Liverpool were certainly showing why they had been tipped by many to win the title, whilst Doncaster were definitely rocked. Nicola Rosler went beyond Leandra Little as if she wasn’t there before sliding it back to Dowie, who netted her hat-trick. 

The visitors knew the job was done and produced a more relaxed second half-performance, and they waited thirty-minutes before adding to their tally. Nicole Rosler cut inside from left and hit a stunning right-footed effort into the corner of the goal. Nine minutes prior to this Doncaster had lost Bethany England to injury subsequently creating seven minutes added time. Liverpool completed the scoring in the third minute of the stoppage time period. Lucy Bronze pulled the ball back from the byline, before Kate Longhurt smoothly made it Doncaster Belles 0-9 Liverpool Ladies.

Doncaster Belles Team: Nicola Davies, Lyndsey Cunningham, Naomi Chadwick, Leandra Little ©, Kasia Lipka, Sue Smith, Millie Bright, Bethany England, Victoria Williams, Ashleigh Mills, Rhiannon Roberts. Subs: Emma Higgins, Julie Melrose, Danni Cox, Emma Johnson, Lauren Cresswell, Lucy Sowerby.

Liverpool Ladies: Rachael Laws, Whitney Engen, Fara Williams, Gemma Bonner ©, Lucy Bronze, Katrin Omarsdottir, Natasha Dowie, Louise Fors, Nicole Rosley, Amanda Da Costa, Corina Schroder. Subs: Sarah Quantrill, Becky Easton, Samantha Chappell, Sophia Roccio, Jess Holbrock, Sarah Gregorius, Kate Longhurt

Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-6 Arsenal Ladies

Already-relegated Doncaster Rovers Belles were comprehensively beaten, 6-0, by reigning Womens Super League champions Arsenal Ladies at the Keepmoat Stadium in South Yorkshire.

Perhaps surprisingly, the game started off cagey with the Belles, who had only picked two points from the first seven games of the season, vying for control in midfield with their North London visitors. But then the FA Cup Holders switched gears and the Arsenal express train rolled into town. 

Before the game the Doncaster hierarchy stated: "I'm not prone on exaggeration, but I'll put my money on Doncaster Rovers Belles being champions within ten years.", but when the Gunners grabbed a foothold in the game the ambitious statement began looking like an even taller order than may have been first anticipated. 

Rachel Yankey's corner on 28 minutes was met by the head of Gilly Flaherty, whose bullet header flew into the corner of the goal, beyond Nicola Davies.

It was the lacklustre Belles defensive performance during this five minute period which defined the match; by the time it was over the Belles trailed by three goals and the tie was effectively over as a contest. Arsenal doubled their lead when Lyndsey Cunningham's sloppy pass was intercepted by Jordan Nobbs who cheekily chipped the effort from inside the area into the back of the net. The third was scored when Yankey crossed to Gemma Davison who passed the ball across the penalty area which, via a deflection, found itself Kim Little who struck the shot into the corner of the goal.

Doncaster regrouped for a while after that, holding out to the 67th minute before Arsenal grabbed a forth. Substitute Ellen White seemed to sneak through on goal unnoticed by the host's defense. Perhaps Doncaster defender Rhiannon Roberts may have felt she could have nicked the ball from the attacker's toes, but missed the opportunity as the blonde neared goal thus outpacing the defender. One-on-one the striker kept her composure to stroke the ball past Davies who was left the pick the ball out of the net for a fourth time.

The Doncaster defence was again exposed five minutes later. White's powerful sprint meant the away side were two-on-one with the keeper. Davies narrowed the recent-scorer's angle but she was left to slide the ball across the six-yard box where Danielle Carter slid the ball into the empty net. 5-0.

Three minutes later, on 75 minutes the scoring was complete. Captain Steph Houghton's free-kick was deflected off the wall and flew past the diving Davies. Despite stopping the rout, Doncaster undoubtedly have a difficult job upping spirits and confidence ahead of their fixture with Liverpool on Saturday evening.

Arsenal Ladies are certainly title contenders, the club sit two points behind leaders Liverpool however have a game in hand, and it was the visitors who had the first three half-chances, all squandered by Steph Houghton. Kim Little's corner on twelve minutes was aimed at goal by Houghton's boot however the effort was blocked by the the Doncaster defence. The second Houghton effort was from the edge of the box and flew high and wide. Rachel Yankey then played a perfect ball to Houghton who found herself unmarked on the left-hand side of the penalty area however the attempt was blasted over the bar.

Arsenal looked lively down the right too. Gemma Davison dispossessed Lauren Cresswell before appearing to play a perfect pass to Jordan Nobbs who could only send it straight at the Doncaster stopper. Davison increased in confidence from this move and attempted a solo run two minutes later, reaching the byline she tried a dangerous looking cross across the six-yard box but the Doncaster defence were able to deflect the ball over the crossbar. Arsenal refused to get frustrated and it was less than a minute later that Flaherty knocked in the opener.

 Arsenal had become the dominate force in the match and another attack on the right nearly resulted in another goal. Davison played through Alex Scott, but the first-time effort was sent straight at the keeper. Nobbs made amens for her teammate's chances with a beautiful finish for Arsenal's second soon after, before Little made it three.

They could have found a fourth within the next five minutes, Carter's flick-header found Rachel Yankey who shrugged off Leandra Little's pressure but sent the shot inches wide.

Late in the first-half a goal for the hosts may have turned the tides of the game, and they did have two opportunities. Bethany England played in Sue Smith who cut inside from the right, Arsenal keeper Emma Byrne appeared to slip but Smith's effort couldn't hit the target.

Shortly after Millie Bright was fouled on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, the Doncaster attacker sent the ball over the crossbar from the resulting free-kick.

Doncaster's momentum continued for a short time in the second half. England's left-footed cross was met by Bright but the header was deflected just wide. England showed silky skill to weave a way into a scoring opportunity but wide went the effort. After fifty-three minutes England had another chance, but her half-volley disappeared over the bar after Smith's cross. Bright then had a low effort which the keeper parried low to her right who then saved Victoria Williams' header from the resulting corner kick.

Davies made her finest save of the tie at the other end from the resulting counter attack, substitute Emma Mitchell was sent through one-on-one, but Davies narrowed the opportunity and denied the shot. But she couldn't do much with Ellen White's shot five minutes later. The penultimate goal was then scored by Cater with eighteen minutes from time.


Arsenal could have had six much sooner if it wasn't for the woodwork. Mitchell rounded Davies but was denied by the post, Carter's attempt in the aftermath was too denied by the left-hand post. But Houghton soon added the sixth goal of the night from a deflected set-piece.


Arsenal harried for a magnificent seven. Kim Little maneuvered a majestic run but the long-range shot was spectacularly denied by Doncaster's Davies.Little's corner then fell to Freda Ayisi but her chance was cleared off the line.

Doncaster still challenged for a consolation goal. Naomi Chadwick's cross found England who turned the defender, but who's right-footed shot was sent just wide of the right hand post, as The Belles went a fourth consecutive game without scoring as they suffered their third consecutive defeat.

Doncaster Team: Nicola Davies, Lyndsey Cunningham, Leandra Little, Kasia Lipka, Sue Smith, Katie Brusell, Millie Bright, Victoria Williams, Ashleigh Mills, Lauren Cresswell, Bethany England. Subs: Emma Higgins, Naomi Chadwick, Julie Melrose, Jemma Purfield, Danni Cox, Rhiannon Roberts. Emma Johnson

Arsenal Team: Emma Byrne, Steph Houghton, Gilly Flaherty, Liara Grant, Jordon Nobbs, Rachel Yankey, Gemma Davison, Danielle Carter, Kim Little, Katie Chapman, Alex Scott, Subs: Yvonne Tracy, Ellen White, Emma Mitchell, Caroline Weir, Freda Ayisi, Cherie Rowlands.

We Are The Champions: And that’s Only the Beginning

The 27^th April will go down in Doncaster Rovers folklore, not only did it secure the club their forth promotion in ten years, but in dramatic style in which they were staring defeat and the subsequent play-offs in the face, won the League One title in the most dramatic of twenty seconds. 

Rovers needed a draw to clinch promotion to the second tier after just a one year absence, and as added time started they were on course to achieve it with the scoreline 0-0 against Brentford.

But as the full time whilst sounded at then-league leaders Bournemouth’s match with Tranmere ending goalless, Michael Oliver made the decision to point to the penalty spot at Griffin Park’s tie in Brentford’s favour.

The penalty was undoubtedly dubious, with several news outlets reporting different things- the football league show declared it Jamie McCombe’s handball, yet the BBC’s website report suggested it was a foul by Dean Furman. You can probably work out from this confusion; the decision was far from clear-cut.

Yet, defeat for Doncaster would have sent the side crashing into the play-offs, a Brentford victory would have sent them promoted in their place. So the referee would have needed to be certain with his call.

But it was enormous pressure for the spot-kick. Undoubtedly newspaper headlines and a £6million financial reward would be the prize for promotion and it was Marcello Trotta that fancied writing his name in the history books, much to the annoyance of regular taker Kevin O’Connor.

Trotta stepped up and went for power. Sullivan was beaten as he dived to his right, but the ball crashed against the crossbar. A desperate scramble in the penalty area followed and Doncaster’s Paul Quinn pumped the ball upfield. Substitute Billy Paynter received the ball with the whole field in front of him completely empty of Brentford defenders. He sprinted from the halfway line into the penalty area, before squaring the ball to the far-post where Doncaster’s James Coppinger slotted the ball into the net. Incredible. 

And with that Doncaster were champions, seconds after being down-and-out.

Bournemouth fans demanded “We Want Our Trophy Out” at Prenton Park, completely unaware what had happened in West London as Rovers completed a fine season with the trophy they undoubtedly deserved.

Rovers fans barely had time to get their breath back when Brian Flynn made the decision to move into a Director of Football role with the club. This left the manager’s position vacant for the second time in four months, with Flynn (formerly a scout at Rovers) had succeeded Dean Saunders who left for Wolves.

Saunders’ move in hindsight was a mistake. As his old Rovers side won promotion to the Championship, Wolves were relegated from it. Many expected Saunders to be prepared to admit to his mistake, as he was sacked at Molineux, but he refused to reapply for his old role, and Rovers entered a thorough application programme.

Considering Doncaster were playing in the Conference in 2003, there were some very high-profile names linked with the club, many with Premier League experience, showing how far the South Yorkshire side has come in a short space of time. Just last season Neil Warnock and Owen Coyle were managing with Queens Park Rangers and Bolton Wanderers respectively in the Premiership, yet suddenly the pairing were both 10/1 for the Keepmoat Stadium vacancy. Former Sunderland manager Terry Butcher admitted an interest, whilst Simon Grayson and Kenny Jackett were low odds during the process after over achieving in the Championship with clubs of similar size of Doncaster at Blackpool and Milwall.

But as the weeks passed by, two major candidates emerged. Paul Dickov and Michael Appleton are believed to have gone head-to-head for the final weekend, after Stuart McCall and Craig Levein reportedly completed the shortlist. Dickov was odds-on favourite from an early stage, and the media were unsurprised when he eventually won the race. However, the fans weren’t as convinced - unlike the press - until the last moments, when odds-on favourites in previous vacancies were rarely appointed by Rovers chairman John Ryan; such as Mark Robins who claimed this position early on in the season before Flynn was appointed.

Dickov, a former Manchester City striker, excited the Rovers hierarchy with his strong links to several sides including the 2012 Premier League champions, and arrives with energy and a both a long-term and short-term plan.

The Scot spoke passionately about unearthing quality from the Rovers academy in the longer term and utilising his contracts to add immediate short-term quality in Donny’s survival fight next season. He was also incredibly enthusiastic and optimistic, stating: “I don’t want to go into the Championship with the expectation of staying in the division. I want to raise the bar… why can’t we be pushing for the top half of the table?”

This was met with favourable support from the Rovers supporters. Of 221 supporters surveyed on the club’s VSC forum, just six were critical, with most backing another careful, shrewd decision from the board which has churned success over the last decade.

Dickov has a huge task on his back though. The club has very few Championship-quality players with 5 key signings targeted by John Ryan. Rovers lack quality down the side of the team, most notably with the absence of a first choice goalkeeper following the departure of Gary Woods. Rovers too are very weak in central midfield following the expiring of Dean Furman and John Lundstram’s loan spells, whilst striker Iain Hume has also returned to Preston North End.

The football league releases it fixtures on the 19^th June and despite Dickov’s great optimism the club are 100/1 for a second successive title.

Doncaster Vacancy

"Picture the scene; David Cotterill's stunning goal had given us (Doncaster Rovers) a 1-0 win over Colchester, to send us joint-top of League One. I looked ahead to this meeting, thinking it was going to be a breeze..." John Ryan opened the Rovers Fans Forum with, on Monday evening to an abundance of laughter. But the following forty-eight hours showed, once again, that you can never be sure of anything in football.

When Dean Saunders was appointed manager of Doncaster in September 2011, he was immediately under the cosh. He had replaced Rovers' most successful manager in Sean O'Driscoll, despite having no Football League management expierence. He was forced to work with Willie McKay who's signings divided a dressing already depressed from a huge slump in form, linked with the injury crisis of the previous Spring. Signings like El-Hadji Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda, often under-performed throughout the campaign, as Rovers were relegated following a 4-3 defeat at home to Portsmouth.

With McKay out of the door following relegation with the vast majority of Rovers' first team squad. Diouf, Chimbonda, Beye, Stock, O'Connor and George Friend all departed as Saunders had a task to build a squad from scratch. Of the players still remaining only Martin Woods, Paul Keegan, Tommy Spurr, Kyle Bennett, Chris Brown Gary Woods and James Coppinger had featured for the club prior to Saunders' arrival. Yet with signings such as Cotterill, Rob Jones, Jamie McCombe, Paul Quinn, James Harper, David Syers, Billy Paynter and loanee Iain Hume they had drastically reduced the wage bill, but still recorded a 3-0 away win at Walsall on the opening day; and that was just the start.

Saunders leaves Rovers joint-top of League One and have not suffered an away defeat in eleven matches, allowing for a club record to be beaten if the club avoides defeat post-Saunders at Stevenage on Saturday.

Saunders was somewhat a surprise choice for the Wolverhampton board given his previous brief spell in the Championship, accumulating in the clubs' relegation. But it shows how successful the club has been this season, and Rovers' fans will understand the lure of such a large club would be difficult to turn down.

Rovers must now find themselves a new manager. Chairman John Ryan stated their had been around 50 applicants by Monday Evening, a figure which has surely increased in the days since. Of those 50 he declared "8-10 are first-class". He recalled how when Rovers were relegated from the Football League 15-years-ago, he had to beg a manager to come to Belle Vue.

But in a shiny new home, with average attendances over x5 larger and a potential promotion on the cards for any manager who maintains momentum for a couple of months, it's not difficult to understand why the large amounts of interest in the position.

Here are the contenders (odds as 12:31, 10th Jan 2013):

Mark Robins - 1/3 (StanJames)

A former manager at Rotherham and Barnsley where expectations were met whilst playing attractive football, Robins is now rebuilding Coventry City after a difficult start to the season both on and off the pitch. A dire financial situation at the Ricoh may tempt him to move on, aswell as a South Yorkshire past. However, following hiring of managers who the fans had barely heard of such as Dean Saunders and Sean O'Driscoll, any appointment of Robins would surely be too mainstream for John Ryan's eager-eye? However like SO'D a couple of weeks prior to managerial change, the managers' side beat Rovers convincingly in the League. O'Driscoll's Bournemouth beat Penney's Rovers 5-0 at Dean Court in 2006, whilst Robins' Coventry hit Saunders' high-flyers for four in December 2012.

Paul Dickov - 5/1 (BetVictor)



The former striker is currently managing Oldham amongst a sea of uncertainty. Athletic are currently battling relegation at the foot of League One, but having just lost his backgroom staff, Dickov may too be threatened and the opportunity at Doncaster may catch the eye for the young coach.

Steve Lomas - 9/1 (StanJames)

A relatively unknown manager, Lomas took St Johnstone into the Europa League last season after a good finish, building on the work done by Derek McInnes and Owen Coyle in Perth. Linked with Crystal Palace, Burley and Bournemouth this season, Lomas may be tempted into management in England like his predecessors. His relatively unknown persona to Rovers fans is most likely of the leading candidates to fit John Ryans "who's he, then?" choice.

Owen Coyle - 12/1 (StanJames)

Despite success at Burley, Coyle was relegated with Bolton from the Premier League last season. He may be looking at a Championship club of similar size to Burnley, and Rovers could be six months away from being just that, with the opportunity of a promotion on the way. I suspect Coyle would hold out for an established Championship side however, and his wage demands would not fit with Rovers' offerings.

Glynn Snodin - 12/1 (StanJames)

Regarded as one of the best assistant managers in the game, former Rovers skipper Glynn admitted an interest in the Doncaster managers job on Radio Sheffield last night admitting the club is very close to his heart. Hired by John Ryan as assistant manager to brother Ian in 1998, he went on to Charlton, Southampton, West Ham, Leeds and Northern Ireland. He is currently first-team coach at Huddersfield Town.

Brian Flynn - 20/1 (StanJames)

When Glynn departed Rovers in 1985, Brian Flynn arrived at Belle Vue and shortly after became club captain. Following a spell as scout since the summer, the former Wales and Wrexham manager was installed as caretaker manager following Dean Saunders' exit. Approaching from within would maintain momentum aswell as having respect from the current squad aswell as plenty of expierence. Therefore Flynn would be my choice as the next Rovers manager.