Manchester Rovers on the Web

History

Welcome to Manchester Rovers

In 1998 Trevor Voyce resigned from Secretary of The Grove and Dave Lavelle took up the reigns. Appointing Steve Lavelle as his manager the team struggled in the first year of rebuilding, not only in the league but to have enough players to play. Just surviving in the first division of the Manchester Publicity Sunday League a new manager was appointed which started the building of a good team. Graham Kenny brought in new players to the club and the team started to have substitutes and played a good style of football. Finishing the season on a good note, reaching the semi-final of the Paul Myers Cup, a vote was cast by the club to make a fresh start under a new name and new colours.

2000 - 01
In 2000 Manchester Rovers was born and entered into the Manchester Amateur Sunday League. The season started slow with good first half performances, but struggling for fitness in the second half of games, but there was an air of expectancy from the club. The club was attracting players because of the good football and relaxed atmosphere, and soon the results came. From being bottom of the league in February 2001, an unbeaten run of 10 games placed the club in 6^th position which earned promotion due to the restructuring of the League. At the end of this season we had built the squad from 11/12 players to 26 which turned up on the Sunday. Having a double header game against Stretford CC on the last game of the season, Rovers played 2 completely different teams for each game, winning 6-0 and 2-0.

2001 - 02
Having such a big squad the management decided to expand the club and have a second team and enter the team back into the Manchester Publicity Sunday League. The first team in the Amateur Sunday League having a good start with an unbeaten run which included beating the eventual league winners but due to the first season for the second team being difficult sacrifices of having no subs had to be made making it difficult for the first team to keep up performances. So Graham Kenny decided to employ a new manager for the second team so that he could concentrate more on the first team. Chris O’Mara was appointed as the second team manager in November 2001. The second team’s fortunes changed in the second half of the season reaching the semi final of the cup only being beaten by the eventual winners and league winners. The first team started getting better results also due to Graham Kenny returning as the dedicated manager, with the first team reaching the semi-final of their cup. With good results at the end of the season, both teams having high hopes for the coming season. Chris O’Mara had to resign his post due to work responsibilities. After Chris O’Mara resigned his post Dave O’Neill was appointed the new second team manager. Hopefully both teams can improve this season and bring silverware to the club.

2002 - 03
Both teams had good start despite losing their respective first games of the season. The first team went unbeaten in 11 of 14 games which saw them in the top 3 in the league. But the first teams good fortunes did not rub off onto the second team. Having won 2 of the first 3 games of the season they went on to lose 11 straight games. From this point of the season though the first teams fortunes turned for the worst. Lack of referees caused frustration and losing games caused the team to lose pace with the league leaders. Then the second team decided they wanted to break away and be their own team being unhappy about players being taken from them. At this point the management decided that the team that was left should play in the league which had the referees, so the first team moved leagues and went into the MPSL and the second team moved to the MASFL. Both teams had mixed fortunes with the second team reaching a semi final.

2003 - 04
Rovers were back to one team in the MPSL and with only a small squad in the pre-season and a lot of serious injuries the season didn't look bright. But a week before the season started an influx of quality players. Winning the first game of the season (a first for Rovers) and there was an air of expectancy around the players. But a string of draws and losses sent Rovers sliding down the table despite playing well. Most of the games Rovers were on top and leading. Rovers were leading the eventual league winners 3-2 with seconds to go but ended with a draw. Also Rovers never lost to any team twice. Playing better towards the end of the season Rovers won their last game of the season with a convincing 7-4 win and were also entered into the Paul Myers Cup. With a thrilling cup run involving a dramatic penalty shoot out and a semi final in which Rovers were 2-0 up, then 4-2 down and going on to win it 5-4, Rovers were in a Cup Final and it seemed Rovers name was on the Cup. Rovers played well in the Cup Final and spectators said we should have won but on the day Dukes won 2-0. A good end to Rovers season and now with a cup final behind us, let's hope there is the determination and commitment to go on and finally have the silverware the club deserves.

Rovers profile must be high because a team from Iceland came and played against us while they were over watching England vs Iceland at the City of Manchester Stadium. It was a good and friendly affair with the Icelandic team, Syn Sport Channel covering the International match, winning 2-1.

2004 - 05
Rovers pre-season went well with an opening win against Galaxy, followed by an impressive display against Arches, the MPSL Division 1 winners. Good performances continued with a draw against Mid-Cheshire Reserve side Poynton and a win on the road in Southport. It looked like there could be silverware at the end of the season. In the first few league games of the campaign Rovers played well but didn't appear to have the killer touch and although being unbeaten in September, 4 draws in our opening 4 games didn't seem to be enough to challenge for the title. Rovers then were hoping for a good cup run to help the season along, but it was a daunting task having been drawn 2 division 1 teams in the opening rounds of both cups. A good performance in the first division 1 clash gave Rovers a chance, and with the score being 2-2 in the last couple of minutes Rovers had a glorious opportunity to win it in normal time, but the chance went off target. Aswone took to opportunity to win the match in extra time. The second division one clash went Rovers way, although they made hard work of it. 2-0 down at half time but went on to win it 3-2 in extra time. The cup run began. Rovers went on to reach the quarter finals but fell to a very well organised team 4-1. A disappointing season after a promising start but there were a lot of very good displays. KooVee from Finland came over to play us in a friendly and again another good performance again at a floodlit Flixton F.C. gave a boost to the players. I believe the team is capable of winning silverware next season so let's get our spirits up for bigger and better times.

2005 - 06
Towards the end of last season Rovers squad size increased to just over 22 players so once again the management decided to expand the club and enter a reserve team into the Manchester Amateur Sunday Football League. Building both squads up during the pre-season players struggled to get time on the pitch, but the first team looked very settled but the Reserves looked like they need time and games to improve but were progressing steadily. Once the season started the First team got off to a great start winning their first XX matches and didn't concede a goal for XX matches after the first two matches.

Season 2005/06

Season 2004/05

Season 2003/04