RUFC – Spotlight On . . . .

The next team to visit the Millers new home, Don Valley, will be Bristol Rovers.

Rovers were founded in 1883 as Black Arabs FC, changing their name a year later to Eastville Rovers. Changing for a short time to Bristol Eastville Rovers, in 1898, Bristol Rovers were born.

Rovers have two nicknames – Pirates because of the maritime history in Bristol and The Gas from the gasworks that is next to their former home, Eastville Stadium. Rovers moved to play at the Memorial Stadium in 1996 but the ground and the ground was due for demolition this year but has been put off until 2009, when an 18.500 all seater stadium will be built. During the building of the new stadium the team will probably move to play in Cheltenham at Whaddon Road.

Rovers Records

Record Wins
7-0 (v Brighton & Hove Albion, Division Three (South), 29 November 1952)
7-0 (v Swansea City, Division Two, 2 October 1954)
7-0 (v Shrewsbury Town, Division Three, 21 March 1964)
15-1 (v Weymouth, FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, 17 November 1900)
Biggest League Defeat: 0 – 12 (v Luton Town, Division Three South, 13 April 1936)
Most League Appearances: 546 – Stuart Taylor, 1966 – 1980
Most Goals for club: 242 – Geoff Bradford, 1949 – 1964
Most Goals in a season: 33 – Geoff Bradford, 1952-53
Highest Transfer Fee Paid: £375,000 – Andy Tillson from Queens Park Rangers, November 1992
Highest Transfer Fee Received: £2,100,000 – Barry Hayles to Fulham, November 1998
Record Attendance: 38,472 (v Preston North End, FA Cup, 30 January 1960

The last time Rovers and the Millers met in the League was in the 2000/01 season. The first game at The Memorial Ground was a one all draw with Kevin Watson opening the scoring for the Millers and Michael Evans getting an equaliser in the second half. At Millmoor, the Millers ran out three-nil winners with Richie Barker scoring just before half time and Scott Minto getting two in the second half in front of a crowd of 7,098

Head to Head

Both teams have won eighteen games each in the league with fourteen draws
The only time they played each other in the FA Cup, Rovers won one-nil at Millmoor in January 1999
The only League Cup game was won by the Millers in 1960/61 season, two-nil at Millmoor.
Making a total of nineteen wins each and fourteen draws