With the new season just around the corner let’s have a quick look at some of our opponents
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Ground – Abbey Stadium
Nickname – The U’s, Yellows
Manager – Mark Bonner
Cambridge United were formed in 1912 as Abbey United, taking the name Cambridge United thirty-nine years later. They started the 1958/9 season in the Southern League and were champions in 1968/9 and the following year and saw themselves elected to the Football League in 1970. 1972/3 saw them promoted but they only last a season in the Third Division before they were relegated before eventually getting into the Second Divison where they spent six years before consecutive relegations. 1990 saw the U’s promoted via the play-offs and 1991/2 saw them top of the Third Division and another promoted. Ups and downs saw them back in the Conference in 2005 eventually getting back into the Football League after winning the 2014 play-off final. After having various jobs at the club Mark Bonner was eventually named as Manager in the 2019/20 season.
Last season saw Cambridge win promotion to League One as runners-up to Cheltenham Town with Paul Mullin helping out scoring thirty-two goals.
Rotherham last played the U’s at the New York Stadium in August 2015 in a Capital One Cup game with the only goal of the game coming on half-time from Jordan Bowery to give the Millers the win.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Ground – The Valley
Nickname – The Addicks
Manager – Nigel Adkins
Founded in 1905 when a number of youth clubs came together to form Charlton Athletic becoming a senior side eight years later and became a professional club when they joined the Kent League for the 1919/20 season. Charlton were voted into the Football League in 1921 winning in Division Three 1929. Eight years later they were runners up in the First Division.
Coming more up to date Charlton got into the Premier League for the 1998/9 season after winning a penalty shoot-out against Sunderland in the League One play-off final at the end of the previous season. With just one game to go they were relegated to the Championship for the 2007/8 season, spending two seasons there before being relegated to League One before being promoted again in May 2012. Four years later Charlton were again relegated to League One. In 2020 Thomas Sandgaard bought the club.
Last season saw a change at the realm with Lee Bowyer leaving to join Birmingham City in March and days later Nigel Adkins took over. The Addicks missed out on a play-off spot on goal difference finishing on the same points as Oxford. Sixteen goals saw Chuks Aneke top their scoring list.
The Millers and Addicks last met on Easter Monday in 2018 at The Valley in a game seeing four goals, three of them going to the hosts thanks to Michal Zyro and Joe Aribo, who scored two with Richard Wood getting a consolation for Rotherham.
CHELTENHAM TOWN
Ground – Jonny Rocks Stadium (Whaddon Road)
Nickname – The Robins
Manager – Michael Duff
Cheltenham were founded in 1887 moving into the Birmingham Combination League in 1932 and three years later into the Southern League winning various titles before 1984/5 saw them promoted Alliance Premier League. They were relegated in 1992 and after finishing as runners-up for a few years 1997 saw them promoted into the Conference securing promotion to the Football League at the end of the 1998/9 season. Town won promotion via the the play-offs in 2002 but were relegated at the end of the season before being promoted in 2006 again via the play-offs. Relegations then saw them fall into the National League in 2015 but getting one hundred and one points the next season saw them promoted back into the league as champions.
Last season saw the Robins win the League Two title with eighty-two points, Alfie May top scorer with thirteen goals as well as having seven assists to his name.
Rotherham and Cheltenham last met in a League Two game at Whaddon Road in March 2013 which was a three-nil win for the hosts with Jermaine McGlashan, Marlon Pack and Steve Elliot getting the goals.
CREWE ALEXANDRA
Ground – Alexandra Stadium
Nickname – Railwaymen, The Alex
Manager – David Artell
Formed in 1877, Crewe were then a founding member of the Football League Second Division fifteen years later. In 1921 the club got an invitation to join the newly created Football League Third Division North and stayed there until 1958 when they were placed in the new Fourth Division. 1962/3 saw Crewe get their first promotion but came straight back down being promoted again five seasons later but again were relegated straight after one season. Dario Gradi took over as manager in 1983 and finally got them promoted to the Championship, Crewe dropped down the leagues returning to League One in 2020 under former Rotherham player David Artell who took over in 2017.
Last season saw the Alex finish in mid-table with sixty-six points and with twelve goals Mikael Mandron was top scorer.
The Millers and Railwaymen last met in an FA Cup game at Gresty Road in November 2017 which saw the visitors go ahead with a Will Vaulks goal. But two second-half goals from Brad Walker and Callum Ainley saw Crewe into the next round.
DONCASTER ROVERS
Ground – The Keepmoat Stadium
Nickname – Rovers
Manager – Richie Wellens
Rovers were formed in 1879 turning professional six years later and have won the Division Four, Division Three and Division Two title three times and in 1946/7 set a record for the most games won in a league season – which was thirty-three.
May 2008 saw them beat West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at Wembley in the League One Play-Off to move into the Championship. After a struggle in the 2011/12 season Rovers were relegated but went straight back up the following season but again were relegated. It went from bad to worse as at the end of the 2014/15 season they found themselves relegated to League Two while they were back in League One after promotion two years later.
In March this year Manager Darren Moore left, leaving Rovers in a play-off position, and joined neighbours Sheffield Wednesday with defender Andy Butler put in temporary charge. Rovers finished the season in fourteenth place in League One with Fejiri Okenabirhie ending as top scorer with thirteen goals with long serving Jamie Coppinger hanging up his boots after six hundred and ninety five games which equates to seventeen seasons in a Doncaster shirt. Richie Wellens took over the managers spot in May.
Rotherham and Rovers have played in eighty-eight games together over the years the last one being in a Football League Trophy game in October 2019. There were five goals the first being an own goal for the Millers with Kieran Sadlier equalising for the visitors and Joe Wright putting them two-one up. But goals from Carlton Morris and Trevor Clarke gave the hosts the win.
