The Arsenal of the North

What has happened to the Arsenal of the North ? poor old Donny lost at home last night 6 v 0 in the EFL trophy despite putting out a fairly strong side , its not do long ago when we were looking at Whiteman that they were taunting us about swopping places with them in the championship & us going down to division 1, thus it was pointless Whiteman looking at coming to us & although it is early days it looks like it could be a long old season for our neighbours .

 

They are always bleating about swapping places with us, even this summer. They could fall back out of the leagues if they're not careful.

 

Looking at the Prem table, they are the Arsenal of the north.

 

Not been the same since John Ryan left. As a Donny lad he knew what was necessary and since he's been no longer part of the club they have declined.

 

Can anyone remember that time that Donny Rovers mattered?

No, me neither.

 

Who is Don Caster? An Italian sugar magnate?

 

He’s why they suffered from their ‘illusions of Grandeur’ belittling other clubs as they climbed their way up from non- league to the Championship. Claiming they were a sleeping giant and that they’re a bigger club than Ipswich and others. Saying the Keepmoat reminded him of Old Trafford. Then reality struck, despite playing at their highest level in well over 50 years, they struggled to get 10,000 home fans on a regular basis. Only by playing big clubs and local Derbies saw them get anything like 13,000. They couldn’t even overshadow li’l old Barnsley despite enjoying a good run of results against us. I got more joy when we beat them than I did when we beat the Sheffield clubs. No time for them and don’t really take much notice of their fortunes or misfortunes

 

I think rovers fans have always been abit envious of us with doncaster been the bigger town but really struggling to attract crowds even when they were a championship club and when they got to the league one play off turn out was shocking. I've witnessed some terrible results and even worse performances from us over the years at the keepmoat infact I've been many times but never seen us win there. That said even last season I wanted them to get promoted and would be good to see them back in the championship along with us. Cant see it anytime soon at the minute though.

 

I never judge other teams on the behaviour of ‘some’ of their fans.

It’s the age old ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, someone has to rise above it. I’d hate to be judged on the behaviour of the worst of our fans, that has us all stood in the Mount car park doing Nazi salutes.

So I judge Donny not by their fans but as another local team, I’d love them to do well, but listening to their fans complain about lack of funds reminds me why it’s great to be a Barnsley fan. They need to smell the coffee, realise that expecting an income stream from the board isn’t a way to run a club.

And likewise, the minority of our fans who still think our ‘rich’ owners aren’t putting their hands in their pockets - massively missing the point.

 

When I used to listen to praise & grumble they had a fan called Dereck who used ring the show regularly & wax lyrical over Rovers drooling over every good result with his favourite theme being to try & encourage fans from other local clubs to get their selves down to the milk float stadium & watch the Arsenal of the north & when we were about to play them he would try & whip up some frenzied rivalry between our clubs which to be truthful has never existed & used to end his radio call by stating " Barnsley , we are coming for you " , total plonker

 

I love Donny and would love them to do well. They have had the worst of times. I went to the last game at Belle Vue when they were relegated out of the FL.

I really hope they turn things round.

 

Good one, Chris..

 

I get that but last time they turned things around, many of their fans and spearheaded by their chairman, were quick to laugh and point to others who were in a ‘predicament’ I used to work with a group of them and you really could not have decent conversation with them, In my case it was to first tell me how **** we were and then tell me how they had left us by in their wake and such. The only regret I suppose I could have now is that I don’t see them nowadays to ask things like whatever happened to the sleeping giant?

 

Didn't the Belle View pitch used to be the widest in the Football League? Was my first away in the 1974/5 season. Think it was a draw. I could look it up but why bother, when have Big Lil?

 

I thought Port Vale had that distinction? All eyes now lead to to Yoda Lil

 

Correct, you could fit 14 berths across it.

 

The Wembley of the North. I think it was more to do with Port Vales' board at the time having massive ambitions for the club and stadium that never materialised.

 

Lol...always baffled me that quote. Can well recall it.
Didnt they also state Odsal was too?

 

Yeah due to the huge terracing and having large gates for Test matches and Challenge Cup.

 

Yup, it was a 1-1 draw, with Rovers equalising in the last minute. It was the game we played in our new 2nd kit for the first time, yellow shirts with a green & red stripe down the front on the left hand side.
Belle Views pitch was indeed the largest in the country at the time. Both Oakwell and Millmoor had much better and longer lasting turf.