I have very happy memories of watching East Lancs in the fifties with my Dad. as you say, big crowds. First pro I remember was the Aussie leg-spinner Bruce Dooland. he was a class act and only available because he couldn't get in the Australian team with Ritchie Benaud around. Re the collection, for some spectators it was against their principles to chuck in for the pro on the basis that he was paid to play! Must have seen the entire 1960's West Indies team in the Lancs League. Great days, all gone now of course.

If true I’d say it’s feasible could be hamstring issue in the runs

Re read and come back to me…I said it was a more positive season than the one before

they don`t seem to schedule local derbies at christmas or easter anymore,i remember playing pne on a boxing day once (in a snowstorm!!!) and we always used to play bolton or burnley on the 28th

im`e not buying this sidnei injury,2 days into preseason you ar`nt going to be doing much hard work or intense match preparation,got to be somone creating mischief🙂

Ah OK-thanks. Without checking I would say it's very much the norm to get one home game on the 26th/27th or 29th/30th though.

Terrifying.. we may drop from 12th to 15th

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/june/26/ball-number-confirmed-for-today-s-carabao-cup-draw/ The First Round draw is at 4.30 today live on Sky Sports. Rovers are ball number 4 in the Northern Group.

The injuries today are different. When did we last lose a player with a broken leg ? It was a regular occurrence back in the day. You’d normally get one a season.

Two years ago, we played Huddersfield and Hull away 26th and 29th and played Rotherham at Ewood on 1st Jan.

if you think last season was a "huge success' your standards are too low, like Venkys. Fnished 7th, made a profit----job done! not to me.

Playing Brum at home, second game in, is a real banana skin - they'll be raring to go and have a big following. Edit: blimey that run-in is the thing of nightmares.

It is more or less non contact nowadays and a lot of prima Donna's playing it too..

I was thinking how much faster the game is today as I watched the latest bout of walking football with the ball being passed between the keeper, centre backs, fullbacks, into midfield, back to the keeper etc etc. Zzzzzzzz.

The first 4 fixtures look pretty rough to me. Don't fancy us against WBA/Birmingham/Norwich. Hull, it depends how well they take to their new manager I suppose. Edit: Dire fixtures over Christmas. Middlesbrough and Sheff Wed away. Have to wait until Jan 1st for a home game. I'm not sure if I can ever remember that happening before.

We are going to need snookers this season. The end is nigh! Venkys Out!

All games up to the end of September by 3rd July. All games selected up to FA Cup 4rd round weekend by 31st July.

That was my initial reaction too. It looks a rough ending.

The new Adam Armstrong. He’d be ok playing off a “target “ man but nobody plays like that anymore.

Thinks it common all over we just obviously care more for rovers than anybody else but most teams are getting increased injuries as you have alluded to though most other teams cover that we seem to struggle so we will def need to look at that

When does this list get butchered by the TV companies?

I'm aware of all that. However notwithstanding the advent of sports science etc I wouldn't say our record in recent years of keeping players fit is particularly good. Not sure what the perception is elsewhere or in general. Better get a few more in if they're going to be dropping like flies before we've played a competitive game..

My first ever match mid 80's! Both now in pretty much the same position!

Naturally lol

It will be if we win them.