ROVERS DONE BY STAGS SO CHARITY MATCH GONE TO GROUND

It seems unthinkable that Bristol Rovers are no longer members of the Football League. In front of over 10,000 spectators, (only Fratton Park had more for Pompey's game) you would hope that Rovers could have rallied to beat Mansfield. As it was a 36^th minute goal saw the Stags win. Two teams in one city should be sustainable but sadly Rovers have sunk to the bottom of Division Two, whilst City maintain a mid- table position in Division One.
Rovers, founded in 1883 and originally known as the Black Arabs, wore colours of black with a yellow sash. They became Eastville Rovers but during the 1897-8 season they were placed in the Western league as Bristol Eastville Rovers. In the following year they dropped "Eastville". Turning professional in 1897, the club eventually moved into the Southern League in 1904-5 and were founder members of Division Three in 1920. In the early 1930s the club adopted blue and white quarters as their colours, the manager apparently believing this combination made the team look bigger.
Sadly they were forced to moved from the old Eastville Stadium, shared Bath City’s Twerton park for 10 years and then moved to the Memorial Stadium at Horfield.

So after 94 years in the Football league, yesterday fans ran riot at the stadium, a police horse was “punched”! and six people were arrested. Meanwhile at Torquay, where the home club was already relegated, Wycombe’s manager Gareth Ainsworth said before the game that he hoped to tell his children a fairy story about the day his team survived-he can write the tale now having won 3-0. The bottom of the league looks like this:

22^nd Wycombe Wanderers           P46 W12 D14 L20 GD -8

23^rd Bristol Rovers                         P46 W12 D14 L20 GD-11
To add insult to injury this was posted after the game:-

It is with deep regret that tomorrow's charity match at the Memorial Stadium between Bristol Rovers Legends and Bristol City Legends has been postponed.

After the result and relegation of Bristol Rovers on Saturday the organisers do not think it would be in the interest of the charities to hold the event so soon after the disappointment.

The club hopes to arrange a new date later this month, details of which will be posted on their website www.kickingoutforkids.org.uk

SAD!