Doncaster Rovers could not have dreamt of a better start to their first season back in English football’s second tier since 1951 as they picked up all three points against Championship big-fish Derby County.
Just six years ago the South Yorkshire side were plying their trade in the football conference and the future of the club looked to be securely restricted to the lower echelons of the football league.
In 1995 former Ken Richardson was sent to jail for conspiracy to commit arson following a fire in the main stand of the clubs former ground – Belle Vue. Like a Pheonix from the flames though Rover’s bounced back from a record 34 games losing streak and relegation from the football league and under the new ownership of John Ryan fought their way out of the conference and within one promotion of the English Premiership.
When Doncaster were promoted from the football conference via the leagues inaugural play-off with victory over Dagenham and Redbridge, Ryan’s claims that the club would be a Premiership side within 10 years may have seemed slightly ambitious. Following title-winning promotion to league one the following year and now a further step up to the Championship, this wiley businessman’s claims may not appear as foolhardy as many will have thought.
Saturday the 9th August 2008 could very well go down as the day which sparked the South Yorkshire side’s push for a top-flight spot and perhaps after witnessing their incredible rise and rise, clever money may well be bet on Doncaster gaining the final promotion they need to achieve this feat.
To the match itself and Paul Jewell is still waiting for his first league victory in charge of Derby County thanks to a close range finish from Donny striker Lewis Guy on 59 minutes.
The home side looked to be dominating possession and were seemingly the most likely to grab the winning goal, that was before a Robbie Savage foul led to a free-kick and his subsequent substitution.
Brian Stock swung in a free-kick which Guy pounced upon, flicking the ball beyond the helpless Roy Carroll sending the thousands of travelling Rovers’ fans into raptures and leaving the Rams’ support with a very similar sinking feeling to which they had become accustomed with last season.
The hosts had further pressure to claim an equaliser or even take the game outright but with time running out former Blades striker Rob Hulse hit the bar and then missed a sitter with Steve Davies coming close with a couple of headers which ‘keeper Neil Sullivan was equal to.
They will no doubt be celebrating tonight and rightly so but with the season just begun, Donny fans may do well to remember that there is still a long way to go in their Championship campaign. Still, considering their recent history, perhaps a cheeky fiver bet on Doncaster gaining promotion may well be an investment too good to turn down.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
