Opponents No.4 - Oldfield

The Northern team of Oldfield first emerged as a Rovers rival in the mid-70s; the deadly strike partnership of Carver and Robson breaking Rovers hearts in the 1976 F.A. Cup Final. A strong defence marshaled by the solid Sam Nolan holding out despite the intense Rovers pressure to claim a 1-0 win on Roy Race's wedding day. Local rivals Tynecaster United had won the league, so the Championship and the F.A. Cup would spend the year in the North-East.

Rovers would gain some revenge on the opening day of the 1976/77 season; Oldfield going down 3-1.

In 1977/78 wearing their famous red and white stripes, Oldfield held defending league champions Rovers to a 1-1 draw. Oldfield were building a formidable side around England international Nat Gosden. Then in 1978/79 Oldfield would become pioneers, Sandor Kovac, the Hungarian international was signed for a "colossal transfer fee." Kovac would score five goals in his first five matches, including two in the FA Cup defeat of a strong Portdean. Other foreign stars would follow Kovac to the First Division notably Spanish wizard Paco Diaz (to Rovers) and German Kaiser Kurt Gruber (to Carford).

Kovac was the star of probably Oldfield's strongest ever side. Johnny Barret, a one time Melchester Rovers target and Terry Brand provided the foil for Kovac. Mel Jeffries and young captain Dave Henning offered energy and go forward. While the centre-back pair of Lenny Pearce and Arthur Mason kept things tight at the back. With Gosden a calming presence in his deep-lying midfield role.

Perhaps a top quality goalkeeper and genuine target man could have led Oldfield to trophies. But attendances were up and Oldfield could consider themselves genuine contenders at the top end of English football.

The 80s would be a quiet decade as Henning's side suffered from the transfers of Gosden to Melchester Rovers and Barret to Weston Villa. Kovac too would move on and the great Oldfield side had not really achieved anything.

But the one thing Oldfield could always count on was the hostile atmosphere created every other week by over 40,000 fanatical supporters.