DONCASTER ROVERS FOOTBALL CLUB.
The idea of a football team in Doncaster was by a man called Albert Jenkins in 1879 who was a fitter at Doncaster's great northern railway works after hearing about the game in a nearby town called Sheffield. Doncaster became professional in 1885 and joined the league in 1901. After failing to stay in the league on two seperate occasions, it was not until 1923 when they finally started to playe league football again.
When the club turned professional in 1885 they then started playing at the Intake ground until the club went bust in 1914, a takeover was tried but due to the war, play was suspended, and the ground was taken over by the army in 1915. The club did reform in 1920 and a new ground was found called Belle Vue, the first game was played in 1922 at this ground and this was the home game site until 2007, this was the year a new stadium was built called the keepmoat stadium.
Doncaster Rovers hold two notable records - In the 1946/47 season the won a record 33 games which is the most won in a league season. Also they hold the record for the most defeats in a season which is 34 defeats in a league season in 1997/98.
With a turnaround of a new decade also saw Doncaster Rovers start to turnaround, 2002/03 and 2003/04 saw two successive promotions where they returned to the coca cola league. Since a replacement of manager and assistant manager in 2006, Donny Rovers has had better financial prospects due to the money being ploughed into the club and the new stadium at the Keepmoat.
Doncaster Rovers were going from strength to strength, and in 2007/08 season saw them in a play off with Leeds United at wembley and finally move back into football league championship after an absence of over fifty years. Doncaster Rovers were back in the big time.
NOTABLE HONOURS
Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Senior challenge cup winners
1890/1891 – 1911/1912 – 2000/2001 – 2001/2002
Conference League Cup Winners
1998/1999 – 1999/2000
Conference National Play-off Winners
2002/2003
Fourth Division Champions
1965/1966 – 1968/1969
Third Division North Champions
1934/1935 – 1946/1947 – 1949/1950
Division Three Champions
2003/2004
Football League One Play-off Winners
2007/2008
Football League Trophy Winners
2006/2007
