At the start of season 1995-96 we sold 20,000 season tickets and there were say four or five thousand others who, fairly regularly, paid on the day. When we played Crystal Palace the season we won the title there were 28,000 Rovers fans on that night. For the play off final against Leicester we sold 31,000 tickets. For the 2002 Worthington Cup final we sold our allocation of 30,000. The latter two examples stretch us to the limit and around 30,000 can be seen as our potential fan base and who will attend for certain games. But not always at the same time. We do therefore have the necessary fan base to keep us in the top flight for any length of time. However, as everyone realises, the deserters have deserted, the bandwagon boys jumped ship when we stopped winning on a regular basis, and we have done to death the many other reasons for non attendance, but despite what many think, our fan base is out there. The problem is getting the bulk of them back.....

Next season if Stanley get promoted, it'll be interesting to see if the authorities make Rovers and Burnley play at home on the same Saturday, with Accy away and then at home on their own the following week.

Mark Lawrenson the second.

I know this has been more or less answered, but the allocation was :- Upper Tier Scoreboard 6,000 Scoreboard Lower Tier Corner (If Required) 3,000 We took the Upper Tier only and sold out, ie 6,000

Agreed. In just over 10 years we've gone from having the best around to just about the worst. At least the old club shop (smaller than a corner shop) on Nuttall Street sold 100% Rovers merchandise even though the choice was limited. Surely Mr Williams and Co have noticed its demise?

Two massive car parks right by the ground, one behind the East Stand and the other up beyond the North Stand where the Rovers fans will be. As long as you turn up say 20 minutes or more before kickoff you should get a spot without any problems.

Think I might treat my daughter to her first away match at the JJB. I've been there many, many times watching the Warriors and I've got to say the accoustics in the ends behind the goals are fantastic. It should be very loud and a superb atmosphere. This is going to be one of those games like Carlisle in 1982 or thereabouts when, surprisingly, thousands of away fans turned up. Get your tickets quickly or be disappointed.

Reading through various observations the main incident was :- Hand to ball and deliberate Ball to open palm/hand and not deliberate Ball to arm and not deliberate Others have said a red card but not stated why More others have said not a red card but not stated why If this had happened in Rugby League the ref (after not having clearly seen the incident as in Halsey's case) would have stopped the game and asked the video ref for his view. After probably three or four playbacks and say 2 or 3 minutes the correct decision of not being sent off would have been reached. Rovers would possibly have got something from the game and folk would not have been cheated of their hard earned money. The game was effectively over after half an hour. It's all well and good the red card being rescinded if Rovers decide to appeal but they don't rescind the result do they? It's on the day when the correct decision should be made. What price technology and progress eh?

Oh and another thing, my son who is a student, paid over £32 to have the game ruined by the inept officials. In fact, due to the lack of video technology, around 16,500 had the game ruined.

No way was that a red card, and whilst Halsey had a stinker getting in the way of three Rovers attacks amongst other things, it was effectively the linesman who got Todd the card. If only football adopted ideas from forward thinking Rugby League, by bringing in much needed technology, we might have finished with 11 men and three points. But there again the Iraqis might start morning prayers at the White House..........

Went out for a couple last night, flicked teletext on, latest score Charlton 2 Rovers 0. Got round to my mate's and it's now 2-1. About half ten, asked at the bar what final score was and I was told got beaten 2-0. I said, no it must have been 2-1 because I know Rovers pulled one back. Came down this morning thinking we'd been beaten, teletext showing 2-3. Dear me, they've put wrong score up, thinks I. Not until I go to main headlines and double check does it finally register!

Good post Revidge - and my sentiments exactly. As has been pointed out by some, alcoholism is an illness and, as such, George didn't choose to waste a liver. He chose to accept the organ and with it the gift of life (who wouldn't?). Unfortunately, the rest happened because of his illness and there was nothing he could do about it. My wife's cousin started drinking at a more serious level when he was around 17 or 18. Very respectable family, both his parents are teachers, sound upbringing etc. Over the last 10 years or so they have tried everything to get him on the straight and narrow but he had already progressed to being an alcoholic and it's all been to no avail. He's presently in a bedsit in Manchester, spends his giro on booze and in all honesty doesn't have too long to live. He wasn't caught in time. Like George it wasn't a question of choices and like George there's very little anyone can do, though not for the want of trying.

One of the true greats, if not the greatest ever. RIP George.

1-0 to the Lancastrians 44,998

So tell us then, who are the ones who haven´t noticed the loss of the budget?

He can do the half time draw if Beamo isn't sick. Does anyone know just what Beamo does other than appearing at half time?

Forgot the main one :- When the letter R is in the middle of a word, always pronounce it as H. Thus car park becomes cah pahk.

Say you're from Manchestagh Never pronounce the letter T when it's at the end of a word (ahhlrighh) Linger on your vowels (Iii'm oooohhhh kayyyyy) Let them know you know 'nowt about football Wear an Oasis badge (they're sh!te I know but just do it)

Probably be getting one for my daughter now that, at 15, she's belatedly joined the fold.

Jansen known as Bambi? The only player referred to as Bambi was Martin Taylor as far as I recall.

Watched the game on Sky's Football First programme last night. After yet another Rovers attack starting with extremely fast, accurate, passing football, the commentator drooled...."oh, this is fantastic....!" After being a critic of Emerton for some time, I want to hold my hand up. Bentley's presence has given him a kick up the backside and yesterday was a superb performance by Brett - long may it continue.

It's great being an optimist!

Spot on! Birch them to within an inch of their lives to start with, then hang them.

Rovers 3 Charlton 0 in front of 17,890

Yorkshire Derby this season - Leeds, population 500k v Sheffield, population 500k. Leeds 1 Sheff Utd 1 Crowd 23,000 Lancashire Derby last season - Blackburn, population 105k v Burnley, pop. 90k Rovers 2 Burnley 1 Crowd 29,000 ENOUGH SAID!!