Fans Interview: ONB&B

How long have you been following Rovers and what was your first game?

I’ve been a Rovers fan for every one of my 42 years. I was 6 when I saw my first game – it was Saturday 5th August 1972 – The Watney Cup Final. You could pretty much say that it’s been mainly downhill ever since!

What is your most memorable moment following the gas?

Worst:

FA Cup 1983. The mists of time have clouded my memory somewhat and I can’t recall whether we’d gone 1-0 up or equalized to bring the game back to 1-1. The seconds were ticking away and a replay was on the cards until Neil Slatter (well, I think it might have been him) made his obligatory one mistake per match and allowed an EightyTwoer to slip past him to the bye-line and roll the ball across for another one of them to score. Amidst the deafening silence from the Tote End, I sat head and hands and cried.

Best:

There have been one or two but I’ll avoid the 73/74 and 89/90 promotions and I’ll even overlook Rickie making Basso look a fool in the Paint Pot semi; Jason Roberts and Wally Walters scoring in 2000; Beadle’s brace at Trashton in 1996, 1984’s FA Cup 3-1 away victory and even 2nd May 1990. My most memorable event has to be sharing the play-off victory over Shrewsbury with my eldest son. On the coach on the way back, he leant over to me and said ‘Dad, I didn’t want to say anything at the time, but at the end of the game I think I saw you crying’. I hope he still believes my tale of getting some sand in my eye?

Who is your all time favourite player?

Favourite player: Gary Mabbutt. A fine, skilful, committed footballer and a true gentleman who got where he did despite suffering from diabetes

Best Player: Mickey Barrett. A joy to watch, it sends a shiver down my spin just thinking about watching him play and joining in with the shouts of ‘skin him Mickey’ as jinked right then left then right again to leave the opposition right-back tied up in knots. He could have gone on to greater things and it’s a crying shame that the football world was deprived of his talent at such a young age.

Worst: Strange as it may seem, I’m not going to nominate ‘Super’ Lewis but ‘Evil’ Andy Spring. With his blond, partially permed mullet, he looked every inch the early-eighties footballer. Until, that is, he tried to kick a ball. Or head it. Or tackle. Or pass. Or even take a throw-in. He actually fell over his own feet running down the tunnel once. Truly an inspiration to all young footballers – if he could be paid to play, anyone can.

What would you say is the best goal you have seen us score?

It changes every time I think about it but at thismoment in time, it’s a header from Keith Curle at Eastville. It was probably only a two-yarder in reality but I remember if as a diving header from outside the box which flew into the back of the net. I don’t who we played or what the score was, just being amazed at how much power he got behind it.

Best away ground visited?

I prefer proper, old-fashioned grounds with a bit of character and one which I think has managed to retain some character amongst a bit of modernization is Carlisle United’s Brunton Park.

‘Character’ can go too far and Walsall’s Fellow’s Park was the pits.

What are your thoughts on the proposed new stadium?

In all honesty, I’ve never believed that it will happen and recent events have served only to confirm that belief.

Which player(s) would you like to see us sign (realistically)?

Now you’ve got me. My track record on predicting how a player will fit in and perform is appalling (I initially thought that the waster that David Hillier turned out to be was a good signing) so I’ll cop out of answering and instead give some areas I think need strengthening:

Goalkeeper – Whether he likes it or not (and no offence to Mike Green) Steve Phillips needs realistic competition and soon.

Midfield – an attacking midfielder is required as is someone who can cross consistently (either wing will do).

Forwards – Someone able to play off of and bring Rickie into the game and also hit the back of the net occasionally.

Which player would you like to see leave the club?

Lewis Haldane. ‘Nuff said.

What are your thoughts on how last season ended and how did it compare to your expectations?

I expected, as a minimum, for the team to stay up so we ended up with a minimum achievement.

What are your expectations for next season?

A vast improvement on the total of 12 league wins (only 5 at home) last season and for PT to have a plan B – especially when it comes to making substitutions instead of changing like-for-like in straight swaps which have no real impact on games especially when were are behind. Most of all I expect to see every player bust a gut for the Club every time they play. If we lose and you look at those players walking off and you know they’ve given everything to the cause, then I can accept that but what I can’t accept is players who blatently don’t give a toss. We had a few of the m at the turn of the Millennium and I don’t want to see any more like that ever again.

Where do you sit at the Ground?

DAS Enclosure – within earshot of the linesman, just to give him a helping-hand to make sure he (or she) gets off-side decisions correct.

Name the celebrity you would most like to bang

If that same question was asked of me in the mid to late seventies; I’d have said Leslie Judd. In the early eighties, it would’ve been Sally James; the late eighties/early nineties would have seen a cat-fight between Wendy James and Michaela Strachan over who would be heading the list but these days and at my age, you can’t afford to be too picky so I would gratefully accept any celeb who didn’t look like the back end of a bus as long as she had enough cash to keep me in the style to which I have become accustomed!

Other fans interviews are listed below
SWIFT AND SURE’S INTERVIEW
BASEL’S INTERVIEW
FORDINGBRIDGE PIRATE’S INTERVIEW
HODGES17’S INTERVIEW
CJ69ERS INTERVIEW
NOBBY`S INTERVIEW
ECLECTIC BLUE INTERVIEW