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Post by herbertblake on May 3, 2023 6:59:23 GMT
On this day 3 May 2014 Bristol Rovers' 94-year stay in the Football League came to an end after they lost against Mansfield.
The Pirates needed a draw at home to the Stags but found themselves behind after Colin Daniel volleyed in off the post in the 36th minute.
The home side knew they needed a goal, but saw three efforts hit the crossbar.And their relegation to the Conference Premier on goal difference was confirmed after Northampton and Wycombe won their final-day games.
The match concluded to chorus of boos and a section of fans entered the pitch to express their anger at Rovers' drop to non-league football.
The Pirates' fate was in their own hands after their 2-1 win last Saturday against fellow strugglers Wycombe, who occupied the final relegation spot at the start of the afternoon.Eleventh-placed Mansfield, who were promoted from non-league last year, defended resolutely throughout to stop Rovers finding that important goal.Initially there was silence around the Memorial Stadium as the whistle blew, before some disgruntled Rovers supporters jeered the players and manager Darrell Clarke off the field.
A section of fans then broke out of the stands - some running towards the away supporters and some aiming their anger towards the boardroom - before mounted police ushered them back.
League Two final standings
21 Northampton -15 53
22 Wycombe -8 50
----------------------
23 Bristol Rovers -11 50
24 Torquay -24 45
Rovers started brightly enough, but the 10,000 home fans were stunned into silence in the 36th minute when Daniel placed a low volley past Steve Mildenhall, which bounced in off the woodwork.
Eleventh-placed Mansfield, who were promoted from non-league last year, defended resolutely throughout to stop Rovers finding that important goal.
Fortunately DC managed to get is promoted via the Play offs just over 12 months later.
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Post by herbertblake on May 3, 2023 7:29:13 GMT
11 years ago, Luton Town finished 11th in the National League.
They’re now guaranteed to finish 3rd in the Championship and are potentially three playoff games away from the Premier League. Talk about progression.
Tom Lockyer a member if that relegation side in the verge of the Premier league?
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Post by clockendgas on May 3, 2023 7:30:32 GMT
Bloody hell,I'm pizzed off enough after last night's game without being reminded about the worst ever day watching rovers,cheers 😂
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Post by Gastafari on May 3, 2023 8:02:01 GMT
11 years ago, Luton Town finished 11th in the National League. They’re now guaranteed to finish 3rd in the Championship and are potentially three playoff games away from the Premier League. Talk about progression. Tom Lockyer a member if that relegation side in the verge of the Premier league? Luton were also down in the National League for 5 seasons. They finally came back up, the same season we went down. They also spent another 4 years in League 2, we went a league above them again with our back to back promotions under DC. This is the 2nd straight year they've made the Championship Play Offs. Kenilworth Rd is pretty much the same size as The Mem too, granted it's all seater though. Just goes to show, you don't necessarily have to spend loads of money, have bigger facilities or brand new stadiums to succeed and progress as Luton have proved. |
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Post by Qatar Gas on May 3, 2023 8:06:45 GMT
Whilst that was by far the worst day in our history, you could argue that things got even worse for a short time after that. Braintree away was probably the lowest we have fallen.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 8:08:33 GMT
Halcyon days….
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2023 8:24:35 GMT
11 years ago, Luton Town finished 11th in the National League. They’re now guaranteed to finish 3rd in the Championship and are potentially three playoff games away from the Premier League. Talk about progression. Tom Lockyer a member if that relegation side in the verge of the Premier league? Luton were also down in the National League for 5 seasons. They finally came back up, the same season we went down. They also spent another 4 years in League 2, we went a league above them again with our back to back promotions under DC. This is the 2nd straight year they've made the Championship Play Offs. Kenilworth Rd is pretty much the same size as The Mem too, granted it's all seater though. Just goes to show, you don't necessarily have to spend loads of money, have bigger facilities or brand new stadiums to succeed and progress as Luton have proved. They are running with similar financial losses as us. What’s the secret for their success? |
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Post by Gastafari on May 3, 2023 8:26:02 GMT
Whilst that was by far the worst day in our history, you could argue that things got even worse for a short time after that. Braintree away was probably the lowest we have fallen. Didn't we lose to Altrincham and Braintree back to back? Dark days. |
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Post by Gastafari on May 3, 2023 8:29:43 GMT
Luton were also down in the National League for 5 seasons. They finally came back up, the same season we went down. They also spent another 4 years in League 2, we went a league above them again with our back to back promotions under DC. This is the 2nd straight year they've made the Championship Play Offs. Kenilworth Rd is pretty much the same size as The Mem too, granted it's all seater though. Just goes to show, you don't necessarily have to spend loads of money, have bigger facilities or brand new stadiums to succeed and progress as Luton have proved. They are running with similar financial losses as us. What’s the secret for their success? Good recruitment. I think they've still got players who played in the National League. Pelly Mpanzu for one. |
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Post by gasandelectricity on May 3, 2023 9:30:43 GMT
Let’s do a Luton
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Post by Qatar Gas on May 3, 2023 10:35:06 GMT
Whilst that was by far the worst day in our history, you could argue that things got even worse for a short time after that. Braintree away was probably the lowest we have fallen. Didn't we lose to Altrincham and Braintree back to back? Dark days. There were two wins and a draw in between. Braintree was our third loss of the season (it was 6th September). We only lost three more games during the rest of the season. I always cite Braintree as our lowest point as that was when some of our 'fans' tried to attack the Braintree players through the goal net. |
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Post by aghast on May 3, 2023 11:15:47 GMT
Nine years ago. Unbelievable. Let's hope we never see anything like that again. I'm not sure it's realistic any more to expect us to avoid League 2 altogether l, but NO MORE non league please. Even though it turned out to be an enjoyable season.
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Post by The Equaliser on May 3, 2023 14:53:25 GMT
As one of the clubs so called historians, it would be nice to read some balance.
You are concentrating your thread on a very negative 3rd May, but no thread yesterday for May 2nd?
Half empty Herbert eh?
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Post by Gas-Ed on May 3, 2023 15:20:34 GMT
Best thing that ever happened to the club in my opinion. Short term pain.
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Post by gasandelectricity on May 3, 2023 15:33:41 GMT
As one of the clubs so called historians, it would be nice to read some balance. You are concentrating your thread on a very negative 3rd May, but no thread yesterday for May 2nd? Half empty Herbert eh? Certainly a strange thing to be counting down the anniversaries of. |
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Post by clockendgas on May 3, 2023 17:14:35 GMT
Best thing that ever happened to the club in my opinion. Short term pain. Yes with hindsight,but at 5pm that day I was totally stunned,we most certainly could have done a stockport or york or scunthorpe,thank goodness we made it first time. |
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Post by dudelebowski on May 3, 2023 17:22:13 GMT
Altrincham was a low point for sure.
2 down against a side that were playing Conference North the season before, 11 Rovers players who looked like strangers & below park football standard. Gasheads scrapping on the terraces after some arguments, also trying to board the team coach post match etc…
A dark day for sure. Was a long trip back on the RATS mini bus. Did not think we’d only lose 3 more games that season, craziness.
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Post by Gastafari on May 3, 2023 17:48:22 GMT
Looking back that squad that DC put together in the end was pretty bloody good.
We started the season with Jamie White and Ryan Broom up front wasn't it?
And we brought in Adam Cunnington, Bradley Goldberg, Alex Wall and the great Nathan Blisset to plug gaps early on in the season.
But Mchrystal, Lockyer, Lee Brown, Leadbitter,Mansell, The Beard, Monkhouse, Ellis and The Snake was a great side. Then bringing Chris Lines back and signing Jermain Easter were masterstrokes.
Back to back promotions and a decent chance of making the League 1 Play Offs if the shenanigans with The Snake didn't happen, proves what a good side that was.
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Post by herbertblake on May 3, 2023 17:51:51 GMT
As one of the clubs so called historians, it would be nice to read some balance. You are concentrating your thread on a very negative 3rd May, but no thread yesterday for May 2nd? Half empty Herbert eh? "So called" let's just say its perspective. That low point makes us fans and dare I say it historians appreciate the good times. If you check our the Bristol Rovers History Group on Facebook you will see plenty of 2 May 1990 coverage. Looking back the Bath City 2 nil home defeat in the Fa trophy during that Conference season was to me more embarrassing than that Braintree defeat. I'm personally looking forward to our 50th anniversary of what was my first Rovers promotion ..to the second tier in 1973-74 the fabulous Smash & Grab era. |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on May 3, 2023 19:27:27 GMT
As above has been mentioned, it gave Lee Brown a loyalty reward card for sticking with us on relegation, that was cashed in a year later by promotion courtesy of that famous finish.
But...as a phoenix from the flames, in our darkest season rose the catalyst career launching (and onto higher things) of The Beard, Snake and Bodin gifting them monies they would rarely have earned if languishing in non league.
We should never forget the lesson that no one is too big for a fall from grace and no one has a right to expect anything.
We had to earn our league status all again.
...and all the while, local suppliers and volunteers helped out, fans helped fund in a dysfunctional way.
This was a club I recognised...
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