Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Lincoln City

Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Lincoln City

Carabao Cup First Round

Tuesday 9th August 2022

If I needed yet another reason to back up a decision I've already made to not attend many games involving the first team at Doncaster Rovers this season, then events here handed it to me on a silver plateau.

And it was nothing to do with the quality of the football on show.

Lincoln were the better team by a country mile. They controlled the tempo and set the intensity from an early stage, created the openings, moved the ball with great quality, and were fine value for their win. Charley Kendall, who scored the opener, looked a class act with his movement and anticipation - and what a display he put in for someone who is yet to make his Football League debut.

Had the Imps bagged a second goal soon after their actual opener then it’s quite plausible they might have racked up a far bigger scoreline than what they eventually did.

The only consolation to Rovers’ limp first half performance was they went in only a goal behind and still ‘in the game’ but a dazzling run and finish by Teddy Bishop quickly after half-time followed by an Anthony Scully tap-in on the back of some sharp and incisive play, meant it was 3-0 and ‘Goodnight Vienna’ by the hour mark.

And that's when other problems began!

After an anything but motivational chant of ‘YOU’RE F**KING SHIT’ to try and gee up the players, a stupid lad from the Jeremy Kyle Stand (and there’s a very good reason why I call it the Jeremy Kyle Stand) chose to invade the pitch because... he wanted a selfie with Lee Tomlin! Yep, roll your eyes in amazement at that one, but who was to know that was his intention considering the infamous Billy Sharp headbutt not very long ago?

He was soon joined by what appeared to be Mr Blobby’s offspring who ducked and dived a few attempted grabs from stewards as he puffed and panted his way around before realising pretty quickly he didn't have the stamina to escape from the stewards.

Both were caught (apparently there was a third invader although I didn't see him) and they were escorted away, cue punches being thrown towards stewards by other idiots who'd egged them on and thought it was funny, and then more ridiculous scenes for the remainder of the game - including one FULLY GROWN ADULT running up and down the front of the stand, screaming obscenities in stewards’ faces from just feet away (even to the females) and trying to provoke a reaction.

On top of all that, there was also ‘bra throwing’ (weirdos) and sporadic disorder outside the ground afterwards involving many of the same idiots who were just an utter embarrassment.

Lets not forget, the Jeremy Kyle Stand has previous for anti-social behaviour as it’s only a few months since a little lad of primary school age was hit with a flying coke bottle thrown during a game - so there’s a definite, significant and serious issue which the club needs to get to grips with fast. The lawlessness and conduct shown on multiple occasions just isn't acceptable.

Some people have been quick to criticise the stewarding but, earning £30-£40 apiece for their night’s work, they shouldn’t be subjected to high-level intimidation, goading, threats of violence and actual assault in one or two instances. They ought to be shown respect, courtesy and vice-versa; they aren't there to be a target for abuse or to endanger themselves in trying to stop idiots who seem to think they can ‘rule the roost’.

When you add these latest problems to other current issues such as:

- Disgusting but frequent abuse that players have received on social media.

- Personal threats (online and in the stands) and intimidation towards fans by other fans.

- Major division within the fanbase over how the club is being run.

- Problems behind-the-scenes with a very high staff turnover.

- The FACT the club is going backwards on the pitch and hasn’t been a ‘winning team’ for the best part of two seasons.

Pool all that together and it’s hardly conducive to a nice environment. It’s certainly not warm and welcoming. It’s certainly not going to attract potential new fans and it whiffs of massive problems and somewhere to avoid. 

When football clubs are successful, everyone involved with a club (whether it be fans, employees, players or the owners) is usually on the same page. There has to be unity and a common goal and a togetherness. All of that just hasn't been present at Doncaster Rovers in a very long time.

Abusing players is also stupid. They’ll have good and bad games, etc, but singing ‘YOU’RE F**KING SHIT’ might seem harmless enough and whilst a lot of pro's will be able to handle it like water off a ducks back, every squad has a couple of lads who'll go under because of it as well. A recent case in point being none other than Jordy Hiwula.

It baffles me how some people can even form opinions about players/teams/managers anyway because, clearly, they're not watching it when they're either banging a drum, trying to pick fights with stewards or throwing bra's around a stand during a game.

I'm fortunate in the respect that there's multiple other ways I can spend matchdays; whether it be watching various players I know at other clubs across the country, going to new and random grounds, spending it infront of a TV watching Soccer Saturday, or just by taking a break from football altogether. 

I don't need to put myself in a toxic environment and it's why I decided many months ago I was reigning in my visits to the Eco-Power Stadium until something has changed.

Clearly nothing has changed right now, and whilst I'd love to watch the lads I've seen come through the youth ranks (i.e. Bobby Faulkner, Liam Ravenhill, Louis Jones, Tavonga Kuleya, etc), I feel sympathy for them in having to go out and play in such horrible surroundings.

You just don’t get the same poison, politics or utter bullshit elsewhere at other clubs right now.

The Jeremy Kyle Stand should be ashamed of themselves but it’s still only one part of a wider problem. There’s still the social media abuse which happens regularly; there’s still the division in the fanbase which isn't ever going to be healed under this ownership and there's still the chronic lack of direction/ambition from the same owners who've sleepwalked their way into League Two through their own 'self-suffiency' ethos. It's been regression and not progression for far too long.

Experience tells me that if the team starts struggling in League Two then it’s only going to get a whole lot more vicious and who would want to be around that - especially after everything that unfolded last season (which, by the way, was the most toxic season I've personally witnessed)?

I sincerely hope things do change for the better but, apart from one fixture later this season which I'm already committed to, I won't be rushing back in a hurry anytime soon.

Things have passed the point of no return in more ways than one.