Doncaster Rovers Heading In One Direction

((HT: BBC))

The HQ will be the first one to say that we have no earthly idea what the attraction is with the pop group One Direction.

Don't like the music. Don't get the music. Not gonna like it. Not gonna get it. Not gonna convert us in any way.

When we think about directions and music, we go here


But, we digress...

Whatever it is that makes the young girls swoon over One Direction has made them millionaires and one of them loves him some futbol. Louis Tomlinson loves him some futbol enough to take some of his discretionary income and be a co-owner in the League 1 side Doncaster Rovers.

The quote released by the team website:

“I want to be involved with things as much as I can.

“One aspect I would like to look into is the Youth side of the club. Doncaster is a very family orientated club and I hope to carry this on.

“I want people to recognise that Doncaster is a great football club, and this starts with the young supporters who come to the games with their mums or dads.

“It would be great to see more kids at the games with their families enjoying a day out at the football. It’s what it’s all about.”

Tomlinson grew up a Doncaster fan and even played in a Rovers Reserves match a while back. Most reserves matches only get a few hundred people to attend, but that night pulled in almost 5,000 fans for the fundraiser.


Will Tomlinson let the football people run the recently-relegated franchise or will the 22-year-old poke his nose in...? That's the 2014-15 season's first question...

Rotherham Up To Championship After PK Win

((HT: Football League))

But the best response comes from Rotherham Manager Steve Evans after a golazo in the second half that squared their League One playoff game at two.

First look at the strike by Alex Revell, his second, to tie the game after being down 2-0 on a strike of Leyton Orient from 25 yards out that was pretty strong on its own. Then, look at Evans and his celebration.


All on the same play...

Our Occasional Hooligan Storming Of The Pitch...

The HQ admits that we see this around Europe and it happens more than we care to admit...

Hooliganism...

And today, we had another storming of the pitch and an assault of a soccer player...

In a League One match-up between Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, some jagoff decided he was going to storm the pitch and take a swing at Leyton Orient goalkeeper Jamie Jones...


Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade is demanding the fan be banned for life from County Ground, but the HQ won't hold its breath on that one. Slade talked to SkySports after the match:

"It was a great win but it was clouded by the fan coming on to the pitch and throwing three punches at my goalkeeper," said Slade.

"It was totally unbelievable - the worst scene I have seen since I have been a manager.

"Jamie is okay but it doesn't make it right, it is outrageous. He needs a ban for life and should never go to another football match.

"He had a long time in the six-yard box before the stewards did anything."

Here's post-match reaction from fans as Leyton Orient won 3-1...
((HT: SwindonTV))


Swindon Town issued an-almost immediate apology to Leyton Orient...

"We will be speaking to the police with reference to their report next week," chairman Jed McCrory told the Swindon Advertiser.

"We don't condone any actions where supporters come on to the pitch and, if found guilty, he will receive a ban.

"We apologise to Jamie Jones, the Leyton Orient board members and their supporters and will review the stewarding around the ground to make sure this doesn't happen again.

"I would also like to mention that overall the Swindon Town fans during my time at the club have been impeccable. We don't want one incident to ruin the club's supporters' reputation for being a fun and well-behaved crowd both home and away."

And here's post-match reaction from Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper
((HT: Swindon Advertiser))

Is Coventry City In Rebellion...???

((HT: ITVNews))

From all reports, the Coventry City/Bristol City match was a good one if you like offense (5-4) in League One (think "double-a baseball" for your comparisons). But, at the same time, up to 7,000 home supporters stayed at home for a charity match benefiting the franchise that is playing its home matches this season 45 miles away because of ownership issues that are keeping the CCFC off the pitch at Ricoh Arena...

Here's your primer for the beginning of the season...


City's owners (Sisu) have decided to play their home games outside Coventry for the first time in the club's history after failing to reach a new rental agreement with the stadium's owners Arena Coventry Limited.

Only 2,204 - including 500 opposition fans - watched the match in Northampton at Sixfields...

Here's the Sky Sports report on the point deduction...


130 years of history aren't sitting well as Sisu seems to be screwing things up royally...
Here's the thoughts from the fans on the protest...
((HT: BBC1))