This was from Friday.

The reason for the security is following what happened in 2012 when Rovers had a pre season tour here. The NEC game was planned as their family day with bouncy castles and various attractions. However, the NEC ”Ultras” had other ideas, and the day before the game attacked Rovers fans at the station and anyone with a Rovers shirt or scarf in the town, even people sitting at the al fresco cafes and pubs. It was so bad that NEC cancelled the game along with their family day. In the end they rescheduled a behind closed doors game which was held at one of the Dutch national team’s training complexes in a wooded location near Honderloo. This got out and we made our way there together with a few other Rovers supporters. We were met by armed police. The playing area was completely obscured behind high fences, we could just about hear the eerie sounds of the players calling to each other, although one enterprising Rovers fan climbed a tree to see what was going on. In the end the police moved us all away as they had intelligence that the nutters from Nijmegen were on their way to cause trouble. So that’s the story of the second battle of Nijmegen, we could have done with the guard’s armoured and the 82nd airborne to help us out but it wasn’t to be.

As of an hour ago they had 120 tickets left, they are not available from the ticket office only via the online link and still only for season ticket holders and registered members.

That’s just general information for local supporters about ticket availability and advising anyone attending the game to come on their bikes or by foot as parking is limited. NEC have a channel on YouTube but there’s nothing about live streaming the Rovers game. https://youtube.com/@nec-nijmegen-1900?feature=shared

Even here in the Netherlands, tickets are only being made available to NEC season ticket holders and registered club members. They are only opening one stand for the game. The reason for the security is following what happened in 2012 when Rovers had a pre season tour here. The NEC game was planned as their family day with bouncy castles and various attractions. However, the NEC ”Ultras” had other ideas, and the day before the game attacked Rovers fans at the station and anyone with a Rovers shirt or scarf in the town, even people sitting at the al fresco cafes and pubs. It was so bad that NEC cancelled the game along with their family day. In the end they rescheduled a behind closed doors game which was held at one of the Dutch national team’s training complexes in a wooded location near Honderloo. This got out and we made our way there together with a few other Rovers supporters. We were met by armed police. The playing area was completely obscured behind high fences, we could just about hear the eerie sounds of the players calling to each other, although one enterprising Rovers fan climbed a tree to see what was going on. In the end the police moved us all away as they had intelligence that the nutters from Nijmegen were on their way to cause trouble. So that’s the story of the second battle of Nijmegen, we could have done with the guard’s armoured and the 82nd airborne to help us out but it wasn’t to be. Here I am a lifelong Rovers fan who grew up watching Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton, having lived in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region for the last 38 years and I can’t even watch my favourite team in a pre season friendly. don’t suppose anyone knows someone with a spare ticket ?

You make some good points, I wouldn’t object to Lee Carsley although it’s a big jump from coaching a group of young, mainly up and coming Premier League hopefuls, once every few months, to managing in the Championship week in week out. It’s the old question if he could do it “on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke” sort of thing. Carsley would be better than a few who’ve been mentioned but there are others available with more experience.

I noticed there was a player for Newcastle last night called Vurnon ? We used to have a player in the 50's early 60's Roy Vernon, A half back if I remember? Welsh international perhaps? I think we sold him to Everton, where most of our best players went in those days! I wonder what happened to him ?

His posts were always worth reading, always sensible and well reasoned. You got the impression he was someone who knew what he was talking about and who had the gift of expressing himself concisely and too the point. I will miss reading his contributions. My thoughts and sympathy are with his family, I offer my condolences. RIP Kelbo (Kelvin)

Aye, poor old Ronnie, a sad day. He was a good un, thinking about him it brings back a few memories. Part of the half back line Clayton, Woods, McGrath - Later Clayton, England, McGrath. Also of curse the last Rover to captain England ? He used to have a newsagent's shop in Darwen at one time. A Rover through and through, I'll spend a few moments paying my respects to him tonight.