The 1975/76 season sees Rovers chasing "The Treble" and ending trophyless.
A slow start to the season was not helped by injuries to key players. Full-back, Ralph Derry suffered a career ending injury against Weston Town, forcing Roy into the transfer market. Powerful Portdean left-back, Duncan McKay impresses and is signed for a massive £300,000. The big Scot is not a hit with his new team-mates, who think him arrogant and selfish. However the Rovers back their man in a bruising encounter away at Portdean, with Duncan scoring the equaliser.
Later in the season with the squad straining, Rovers fans are introduced to perennial substitutes Len Peters and Trevor Cassidy, neither of whom impress Roy with their ability or attitude.
However, despite the issues, Rovers were flying high in the league and fighting for all three domestic trophies. But after the thrashing of Whitburn in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, Jumbo Trudgeon announces his retirement, signing off with a hat-trick.
Again Roy seeks a replacement from outside his squad, angering Cassidy and Peters. Young university student, Gerry Holloway, playing for Fourth Division Malbury United has great potential, but is another with suspect temperament. But Roy takes a punt on the speedster and throws him into the first team immediately. In true Roy of the Rovers fashion, Holloway nets the winner at Railford and becomes a key part of the Rovers first-team squad for years to come.
A disastrous result away at Hansfield (0-3) sees Rovers knocked out of the League Cup at the Semi-Final stage (2-3 on aggregate). But the title challenge is still strong and convincing wins over Deans Park and Sandford see Rovers reach Wembley for the F.A. Cup Final.
Double dreams end with a defeat at Westhampton gifting Tynecaster the title. Rovers finish runners-up before a cruel defeat in a match that they dominate versus Oldfield in the Cup Final.
Line-up:
Squad:
G - Carter, Morton
D - Baxter, Derry, Peak, Giles, McKay, Peters
M - Slade, Trudgeon, Holloway, Cassidy, Makin
F - Race, Gray, Eliot, Wallace, Fane, Shaw
Transfers:
In - Duncan McKay (Portdean), Gerry Holloway (Malbury United), Len Peters & Trevor Cassidy (both reserves)
Out - Ralph Derry & Jumbo Trudgeon (both retired)
Notes:
Tynecaster United win the league, Rovers second, Burndean third.
8 Comments
Storky,
ReplyDeleteGerry Holloway signs from Malbury United. Sorry to nit pick mate. But just read it.
Dunno why I wrote two different names! One was half wrong and the other entirely wrong. The 2nd one, Mawlton Town - I have them appearing in ROTR in 84/85 and wearing green and white, but can't find them anywhere, or it could have been Malton Villa from Goalmouth. Amazing how many typos double for other teams!
DeleteI definitely remember Mawlton Town in 84/85. Think it was a cup tie.
DeleteMawlton are also in one of the Nipper stories from around 818283.always thought of them as Molton United from the rotr story
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStorky - do you know what the first name is of the player Makin? I've not heard of him before?
ReplyDeleteNope, that's all I had. I don't think he "appeared" was just named
DeleteBTW - many thanks for keeping ROTR alive....much appreciated and I love the new & revised stories!!!
ReplyDelete