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Post by scdave on Oct 11, 2016 13:33:37 GMT
As a very young boy, Gary Mabbutt scored the first goal I ever saw and became my first "hero". When he wrote his biography, my Mum went and queued for him to sign it with a personal message to me. Much later, I gave it to a friend who then moved, we lost contact and I never got the book back.
While Mabbs got the first goal I ever saw, my Mum's last goal was Sammy Igoe's worm burner at Wembley (and a big two fingers to the Big C!). She did saw Gary play at Eastville (for Spurs!!) to keep up her average of 3 games a decade since the 50's - yeah, she was a bit of a glory hunter - generally promotion clinchers, big Cup games, or Wembley!
Quite a few months ago, me and my Mrs was discussing heroes (well the often debated which three quests would you like to have dinner with). My very youthful self would have said Gary Mabbutt, Archie Stephens and Ian Botham. The task to name just three famous people would be more difficult now, but would probably be Mohammed Ali, Nelson Mandela and either Strummer/Lydon or Henry Rollins. Stephen Fry would be butler to add his numerous anecdotes between courses. Rollins is not so famous in Punk circles, but if you ever want to hear a man "hold a room" for several hours, you will find it difficult to meet someone so thought provoking, humorous and intelligent.) I have not ever seen him (only a few interviews on TV), but a friend said when he saw him at a spoken tour, he captivated the whole of the venue, which is some mean task. ( My Mrs wanted Jon Bon Jovi, Patrick Swayze and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys - has anyone heard him say more than ten words since 1986!). Anyway I digress.
For my recent birthday my Mrs surprised me by remembering our conversation and by getting hold of a Gary Mabbutt second hand autobiography. Although I haven't seen the cover of the book for more than ten years, as soon as I ripped the front of the wrapping paper, I recognised it in an instant. In a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment, I held my breath and had to wait for a few seconds before looking at the inside cover, to see if fate how somehow delivered my Mum's and Gary's personalised messages back to me. Alas it was not to be, but it brought back many happy memories.
It got me thinking, what autobiographies would people like to see? Personally, I can't wait for Geoff Dunford's worts and all book of his time on the Board. That promises to be a real eye opener and will surely divide opinion.
My Rovers collection includes autobiographies by Larry Lloyd, Lenny Lawrence, Ollie and Harold and also the Geoff Bradford book, but I am sure that there would be demand for Gerry Francis, or Nigel Martyn (who would have believed his story - found by a tea lady, a £5 a week pay rise to become a pro footballer, his career almost ending after falling through a glass door, living in a flat above a shop in Staple Hill? and then a few years later, the first £1 million keeper, Man of the Match performances in Europe and an England international! I don't think Hollywood would dream of such a far fetched story!
Maybe Rickie Lambert has missed the boat, as after his debut goal v Scotland he could have done the Vardy, Rags to Riches book thing but which other ex players would we like to see put their stories in print?
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Post by scdave on Oct 11, 2016 12:55:42 GMT
Just a reminder draw tickets need to be sent in ASAP
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Post by scdave on Sept 23, 2016 12:56:26 GMT
Not sure if already mentioned on here, but I believe the Tokyo World festival is being held in Eastville Park on Saturday. I heard that the top of Muller road (Stapleton Road end) will be closed after 7pm.
I suspect that with a large crowd expected to watch the festival, there will be extra traffic in the area all day, so best give 30-45mins extra time to get to and from the Stadium if coming that way.
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Post by scdave on Sept 18, 2016 15:40:10 GMT
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Post by scdave on Sept 18, 2016 15:22:28 GMT
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Post by scdave on Sept 18, 2016 15:22:00 GMT
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Post by scdave on Sept 17, 2016 13:36:08 GMT
This weeks Bid on the Side are: i) Alfie Kilgour's signed match worn blue Macron training top. ie as worn in the pre season games against v Swansea and Villa. - Definately a star of the future imo and a those all blue training tops with players numbers and league logo's on will be a rariety in a few years time. ii) An Andy Rammell signed yellow Sharescheme tee shirt Where would we be without his goals and the sharescheme? If we fell through the trap door in 2003, we may have possibly also been forced into administration and we could be like Stockport now. see lia.weebly.com/ ps, The Balvinsson and Pirate Jake tops are still up for grabs!!
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Post by scdave on Sept 12, 2016 13:16:26 GMT
Only get a few mins at lunch to plug anything, but for future info, the next SC quiz is on Thursday 29th September. £1 per person, max 5 in a team.
Also the SC raffle tickets should be handed in soon for the draw early next month.
cheers
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Post by scdave on Sept 12, 2016 13:13:03 GMT
In the second installment this week, the Walsall BOTS item is a childs Disney Pirate Jake hoodie.
I am note sure about the rumour that Disney wanted to create another hero after our own (Cambridges!) international record goalscorer Jake Gosling but who knows! On the same link on Ebay as above.
Again another donated item. Thank you for that. (apologies that it is red) but it does state 100% Pirate on it, so would be a good pressie for any young Gas fan!
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Post by scdave on Sept 9, 2016 13:19:38 GMT
The Rochdale BOTS features a shirt worn by Rogvi Balvinsson, the Faroe Islands international signed by Mark Mcghee, who never played a league game after going home for personal reasons. I checked with Mike Jay and off the top of his head, Rogvi is believed to have the shortest Rovers "career" (sic) of any international at the club!!!. Now played over 25 games at international level and has scored two goals including in the Euro qualifers against Zlatan's Sweden. see bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com/
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Post by scdave on Aug 24, 2016 13:15:45 GMT
Just a mention that the bidding for the lastest Bid on the Side feature ends in the next day or so.
All profits go to the 50/50 fund.
Many thanks to those who have donated items in the last year, and during the pre-season. Amongst teh donated items are : match worn shirts of an ex Gas International, Matt Macey's old squad shirt, a Complete Record book circa 1987 and many many more.
Please see the SC pages in the future Saturday league programmes for the latest items.
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Post by scdave on Aug 18, 2016 13:24:36 GMT
The Stadium catering dept are doing a meal deal for the fans going to Chelsea.
£6 for baguette, packet of crisps, bar of chocolate and either a hot or cold drink.
According to reports, the food and drink on offer at Stamford Bridge is very pricey, so you could stock up at the Mem on the way. This could earn the club a bit of money, while still saving fans some dosh as well.
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Post by scdave on Aug 17, 2016 12:48:17 GMT
This raised over £350 for the 50/50 fund last season and returns today with: i) The first ever league programme at Twerton v Bolton August 1986. Trevor Morgan scored the winner to put rag bag Rovers top of the league after an amazing 3-0 win at Fellows Park over Walsall on the first day of the season. The SC usually have 5 copies of all home programmes, but due to the demand from a Rovers point of view they only have two left. ii) An XL 93/94 away shirt, the green, black and white stripey shirt - John Wards side featuring Tillson, Stewy, Worrell, John Taylor era. All details will be on www.ebay.co.uk/usr/jfhgas?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
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Post by scdave on Aug 4, 2016 13:23:10 GMT
As someone who was on the SC committee when Ellington HAD to be sold and the when the Sharescheme started and HAD to work, I have to turn up. (If we couldn't afford Rammell et al, we wouldn't be having this discussion now, as we would probably be in the same position as Stockport or Kiddy or even worse if club went into Administration).
I find it interesting that the EFL spokesman said it was only a trial AFTER the big prem clubs pulled out. I would guess the negative publicity even before a game has been played has been registered by the EFL and they are now (or should be) looking for a new sponsor for a compeition, only for the bottom two tiers next season. If leagues 1 and 2 voted now, I would be surprised if it was lower than 95% against the proposal.
Personally, I don't think the EFL Trophy will have any impact on a B Side league - at the end of the day money talks. If someone like Bury were £5 milion in debt and about to go bust, they are likely to vote for a B side league if they were guaranteed a lot of compensation, whoich coudl keep their club alive.
I will still be trying to sale programmes and 50/50's at all games, but can understand if people don't want to watch the Reading game. Maybe the powers that be might take notice if we have 1000 v reading and 7000 v Yeovil?
It would be interesting to see how many u-23 years olds play for the acadamies and are English. I don't think this will have any impact on the national team as if they were over 19 and good enough they would be playing for their first team anyway, so I can't see any good reasons for acadamies inclusion and hopefully the EFL wil agree.
As per a previous post if the wonderkids get kicked off the pitch, then maybe the acadamies might pull out anyway.
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Post by scdave on Jul 31, 2016 8:51:37 GMT
There are quite a few volunteer 50/50 & programme sellers unavailable today.
If you don't manage to see anyone selling on the way to the stadium, there should still be a chance to buy at the Mem gates, clubhouse bar and the SC shop.
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Post by scdave on Jul 12, 2016 13:19:10 GMT
During several threads during the summer several fans said they had the skills and some time to help out the SC /FC.
As a complete PC novice I would not have a clue, but does anyone on the forum have the skills to design a poster advertising the £1 admission for under 16's for the terraces and south stand at the Cardiff cup game and attach it as a PDF so other fans could print it off.
I know lots of people will say it is the clubs responsibility, but several staff are probably on their holidays and I am sure they have plenty of otehr work to do ready for the new season.
If kids could take posters to school before they break up or youth club etc and put it on any available noticeboards this might make other non-Rovers fans aware of the game. If one kid comes along and loves it, you never know they might get a season ticket in the future.
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Post by scdave on Apr 28, 2016 13:01:08 GMT
Bring your spare pound coins for the 50/50!!
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Post by scdave on Apr 18, 2016 18:12:04 GMT
Just a quick reminder that you can watch the excellent Mr Bloggs and Band on Saturday after the Screen soccer highlights.
The band have been paid for by the excess "SC Bar Regulars Sponsorship fund" but the stadium management want as many people there to cover the additional staffing costs of keep the bar open longer. Hope to see many of you there. Cheers!
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Post by scdave on Apr 18, 2016 18:03:53 GMT
Just a quick reminder that the next quiz is on Thursday 28 April in the Clubhouse bars, 7.45 start.
Maximum 5 in a team, £1 per person.
Cash prizes for the winners and runners up.
Cheers
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Post by scdave on Apr 17, 2016 14:46:56 GMT
At the beamback I was asked several questions and had several FC / Stadium related complaints. Some were legitimate, some were just very strange rants. The best was "why was the beamback so poorly advertised" (without going into detail, a mate got him a ticket, but he knew nothing about it). The gentleman doesn't go on the FC or SC websites, get a programme, listen to tannoy announcements, go in the bars so he couldn't see the posters, doesn't go to the club shops, get an Evening Post, listen to local radio, go on forums etc etc, but ......the clubs communication is rubbish! We sold out in just over a week so it must have been very badly advertised indeed! Then again what did the Romans ever do for us! Yesterday I was complained to about litter, food wastage, lack of cheap food after the end of the game, bad language by fans,the club not disclosing the length of Lockyers contract, not hearing the 50/50 result, lack of action by the SC reps on the Board and so on. I don't mind getting asked questions but as a simple volunteer, I don't have any inside info and am not in a position to explain or change club procedures or decisions.If valid, I will try to pass on any worthy comments, however if you have any suggestions or complaints I think they should be referred to the correct person, such as Ian Holtby or fans liaison officer Clare at PL (she will thank me for that as she is pretty swamped anyway.) We all want things to improve off the pitch but if you keep moaning to your mates and not telling anyone at the club, how is anyone at the club going to effect any changes? If you can think of improvements you can be empowered to raise the suggestions yourself. You might have suggested something in the past and heard nothing more, but you get the feeling that the new owners are not afraid of ringing the changes. Maybe someone can collate any feedback like the recent thread about the FC website and pass it on to Steve Hamer and the powers that be. Thanks
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