The Rovers Return

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Some things transcend football. Some things make people forget their petty rivalries.

Today’s news that John Steven Taylor, a 30-year-old Rovers fan, died in the concourse at the Britannia Stadium is one such thing.

Football fans have been in mourning, so I thought, as a tribute to John, who lived in Avallon Way, Darwen, I would post a few of the tributes left by fans across the world on Facebook at John Steven Taylor – 27/10/79 – 06/02/10:

*Just to point out there are hundreds more tributes on the Facebook page. This is just a small sample…*

Geoff Wrighty Wright – A True Rovers Fan…….R.I.P.John Steven Taylor……..

Ben Hoyland R.I.P from a Sheff utd fan

Andrew Huxley Rest in peace from a Doncaster Rovers fan.

John Guilfoyle Rest in peace, from an Accy Stanley supporter

Wayne Blundred Rest in Peace from a stoke fan. Read more »

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The Rovers Return is devastated to hear the news that the man found unconscious in the concourse during the game at Stoke yesterday has died.

He is as yet unnamed, but I pass my condolences on to his family.

I’d also like to thank the stewards of Stoke City. I hear they were fantastic in dealing with the incident.

*EDIT You can pay your respects to John Steven Taylor by joining this Facebook group*

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Brief chat with Sam Haseltine, of Football United and The West Ham Process, before the game at Upton Park.

Our predictions would turn out to be way off the mark…

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In recent weeks, a new group of Rovers supporters has emerged.

With the introduction of the cheap, unreserved seats in the Darwen End lower tier, as well as the ‘Big Three for £30′ offers gaining popularity, a new breed of fan has started to make its mark.

Of course, I’m referring to the newly-established Darwen End Singing Section, which is gaining in popularity.

It’s great to see some people trying to improve the atmosphere at Ewood. The introduction of the unreserved seats in the Darwen End was a great initiative by the club, not only in terms of improving the amount of fans in the ground and making football more affordable for the community, but in terms of banishing the away fans to the top tier.

This small touch improves atmosphere and, when the players can only see Rovers fans from every angle, it is sure to give them a boost.

I’ve missed a couple of home games recently, but had heard about the new singing corner, but upon seeing it for the first time at the Fulham game I was very impressed and it seems to be growing in size, which in turn makes it noisier!

It’s something that’s needed at Rovers as the Blackburn End (which is where I sit) is getting more and more on the team’s back and is very quiet if things aren’t going in Rovers’ favour.

The group, which labels itself  ’Supporters, not spectators’, now has its own website at http://blueandwhitearmy.weebly.com/ where the group makes this statement:

If you miss the songs and great atmospheres at Ewood, Why not relocate to the Darwen End to sit with like minded fans and help create a better atmosphere!

In recent seasons, with the notable exception of local derby games and the visits of the so called ‘Big 4′, the atmosphere at Ewood Park has often been missing from the ordinary domestic fixtures. When criticism of individual players and the sound of small bands of away fans can be heard instead of our songs and chants, we’re in danger of becoming spectators rather than supporters.

Dont forget to tell your friends and workmates and add to the increasing number of people singing in the Darwen End.

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With no Rovers action this weekend, I was struggling for content. That was until a work colleague forwarded me a hilarious email.

Nothing to do with Rovers. Just a disillusioned supporter of a club that has fallen from grace having a good old pop at the Premier League. Enjoy:

I take more pleasure in seeing Chelsea lose than I do in seeing QPR win at the moment.

I sat through so many matches when we were absolute dogs**t under the likes of Ray Harford and with people like Paul Bruce, Matthew Brazier and Mark Perry in the squad and I never felt like this.

The club isn’t ours anymore but moreso than that – football is just properly gash these days.

I mean really gash.

football generally.

I hate nearly everything about it these days….

I hate the Prem and the myth that it is exciting this year. ManCity breaking into the top four isn’t exciting. They spent loads of money. It’s no more exciting that Nameless C*** getting to number 1 in the charts after winning the X-Factor.

I hate the myth of Arsene’s kids. Buying some French kid when he’s 17, playing him in the League Cup and then selling him when he’s 20 after about 3 appearances in the league is NOTHING SPECIAL. Read more »

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A few pictures of Ewood Park and Brockhall in the snow have been posted on Rovers’ official site. See the whole collection here

Here are a few that I’ve nicked, hope the club doesn’t mind…
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Wishing all the readers of the Rovers Return a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year.

I did go to the Spurs game and have been keeping up-to-date with Rovers news throughout the week but have been busy.

I’ll be at Wigan on Boxing Day and hope to post something soon after that!

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Thirty were arrested at The Station in Cherry Tree.

Football hooligans involved in an organised fight between Rovers and Burnley fans were arrested in the aftermath of October’s East Lancashire derby.

That’s what the police would have you believe anyway.

Someone I know was able to tell me all about what happened.

Yes, there was a fight organised. The police got wind of it and turned up, mob handed and ready for battle at The Station pub in Cherry Tree.

These were young lads, pumped up and hoping for trouble, just so they could put the boot in.

When they arrived, the pub was just full of Rovers fans, but that didn’t stop them.

For the purpose of this story, the man who told me this story will be called Rover.

Rover was in the pub, his mate was outside having a fag. Rover went outside to see if his mate wanted a pint, only to see a police officer shoving his mate around. Read more »

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