[Lord Snooty]

Doncaster Rovers v Huddersfield Town
Sky Bet League One
Tuesday February 17th - 19:45 ko
at the Eco-Power Stadium

Huddersfield Town travel to Doncaster to the Keepmoat Eco Stadium on Tuesday night for a high-stakes League One encounter.

After failing to beat Doncaster in last week's EFL Trophy quarter final and then turning out an absolute stinker of a performance on Saturday at Stevenage, the honeymoon period for new manager Liam Manning is definitely over. The match at Stevenage was crying out for a creative midfielder, especially as the under performing crock Marcus McGuane, got crocked yet again. We do have that kind of player in the squad. Unfortunately, Herbie Kane was instead, turning in a star performance for Plymouth Argyle in a 4-0 win at Blackpool. A perfomance that the Argyle fans were questioning how come Town have let him go.

But that's the way it is. We can't get him back now and we can't get free scoring Joe Taylor back from Wigan either. Personally, I don't see any improvement that Manning has made with the squad since he came. Three lucky wins to start with and then three dire performances against Blackpool, Donny and Stevenage. Here's hoping for a big improvement on Tuesday night.

All images used in this thread are form Wikipedia. Almost all of this has been written using AI.

Tickets:
Adults - £23
Seniors (65 and over) - £19
18-24 - £19
14-17 - £12
13 and Under* - £7

*All juniors 13 and Under must be accompanied by an adult or senior.



A brief history of Doncaster Rovers: Founded in 1879 by Albert Jenkins, a fitter at the local railway works, Doncaster Rovers has a history spanning over 140 years, primarily spent in the third and fourth tiers of English football.

Key Historical Milestones:

• The "Rovers" Name: The team originally formed to play a single match against the Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf. After a 4-4 draw, they decided to continue playing and adopted the name "Doncaster Rovers" while resting at the Hall Cross on their way home.
  
  
• League Entry: The club turned professional in 1885 and was first elected to the Football League in 1901.
  
  
• The Golden Era: The 1950s are considered the club's most successful period, featuring eight seasons in the Second Division (now the Championship). This era was spearheaded by the legendary Alick Jeffrey, widely regarded as one of the club's greatest-ever players.
  
  
• Modern Resurgence: After dropping into non-league football in 1998, the club underwent a dramatic revival under chairman John Ryan. Within a decade, they climbed back to the Championship and moved from their long-time home, Belle Vue, to the Eco-Power Stadium in 2007.
  

Major Honours:
Doncaster Rovers is one of only two clubs (with Chesterfield) to have won the fourth-tier title four times.

• League One (3rd Tier) Champions: 2012–13
  
  
• League Two (4th Tier) Champions: 1965–66, 1968–69, 2003–04, 2024–25
  
  
• Football League Trophy Winners: 2006–07
  
  
• Third Division North Champions: 1934–35, 1946–47, 1949–50
  

Club Records & Legends:

• World Record Match: On 30 March 1946, Rovers played in the longest competitive football match in history—a cup tie against Stockport County that lasted 203 minutes before being stopped due to darkness.
  
  
• Most Appearances: James Coppinger holds the record with 688 total appearances for the club.
  
  
• Top Goalscorer: Tom Keetley, who scored 186 goals in all competitions between 1923 and 1929.
  
  
• Famous Managers: Notable former bosses include Billy Bremner, Lawrie McMenemy, and Peter Doherty.
  

More about that record breaking cup tie:-

The record-breaking match took place on 30 March 1946 and is officially recognized as the longest professional football game in history.
Doncaster Rovers faced Stockport County at Edgeley Park in a Division Three North Cup replay. The first leg had ended 2-2, and the replay remained deadlocked at 2-2 after 90 minutes.

The "Play to a Finish" Rule

• At the time, instead of penalty shootouts, some competitions used a "play to win" rule, where the match continued until one team scored a winning "golden goal".
  
  
• Duration: The game lasted a remarkable 203 minutes (3 hours and 23 minutes), excluding intervals.
  
  
• The Disallowed Goal: Stockport appeared to have won the match in the 173rd minute, but the goal was disallowed for a handball.
  
  
• Exhaustion: By the final minutes, players were reportedly collapsing from cramp and exhaustion, and spectators were urging the referee to end the game.
  
  
• Fan Anecdotes: Legend has it that some fans living near the stadium went home for their tea and returned later to find the match still ongoing.
  
  

The Conclusion
The match was finally halted not by a goal, but by darkness. As night fell and a haze of smoke from the nearby railway settled over the ground, the referee, Mr. Baker, decided it was too dark to continue.

Doncaster won the right to host a second replay via a coin toss. Four days later, they emphatically ended the saga with a 4-0 victory at Belle Vue, featuring a hat-trick by Ralph Maddison. Shortly after this match, the controversial "play to a finish" rule was scrapped by football authorities.

Head to Head


Town lead the head to head with 21 wins to Donny's 14, with 11 draws.

Town 2-0 Rovers on YouTube



Doncaster Rovers manager profile: Grant McCann:

Born 14 April 1980 he has forged a distinguished career in the English Football League as both a goalscoring midfielder and a promotion-winning manager.

Playing Career (1998–2015)

• A product of the West Ham United Academy, the Belfast-born midfielder became a stalwart of the lower leagues, renowned for his set-piece delivery and leadership.
  
  
• Promotions: McCann achieved the rare feat of being promoted via the play-offs with three different clubs at three different major stadiums: Cheltenham Town (Millennium Stadium, 2006), Scunthorpe United (Wembley, 2009), and Peterborough United (Old Trafford, 2011).
  
  
• Key Honours: He captained Peterborough to their first major silverware, the 2013–14 Football League Trophy, at Wembley.
  
  
• International: He earned 39 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring four goals, including strikes against Liechtenstein, San Marino, and Israel.
  

Managerial Career (2015–Present)

• After transitioning into coaching at Peterborough, McCann has managed over 500 competitive matches.
  
  
• Doncaster Rovers: In his first spell (2018–19), he led Rovers to the League One play-offs. Since returning in May 2023, he guided the club to a record-equalling 10-match winning streak to reach the 2024 play-offs and subsequently secured the 2024/25 League Two title.
  
  
• Hull City: He led the Tigers to the 2020/21 League One title, earning an immediate return to the Championship and being named the LMA League One Manager of the Year.
  
  
• Peterborough United: Across two spells as permanent manager, he twice secured play-off or promotion-chasing positions in League One, though he also experienced relegations with both Hull and Posh in the Championship.
  

Managerial Honours:

• EFL League One Champions: 2020/21 (Hull City).
  
  
• EFL League Two Champions: 2024/25 (Doncaster Rovers).
  
  
• LMA Manager of the Year: League One (2021), League Two (2025).
  

Grant McCann’s Record vs Huddersfield Town:

• As a manager, Grant McCann has faced Huddersfield Town on 6 occasions, primarily with Peterborough United, Hull City, and Doncaster Rovers.
  
  
• McCann's Record: 1 Win, 0 Draws, 5 Losses
  
  
• Notable Victory: His sole managerial win against Town came in the Vertu Trophy Group Stages last season, where his Doncaster side secured a 2-1 victory.
  
  
• Player Nemesis: As a player, McCann famously scored against Town in the 2011 League One Play-Off Final at Old Trafford, helping Peterborough to a 3-0 win and promotion.
  

Recent Meetings (2025/26 Season)
Tuesday’s match will be the third clash between these sides this campaign:

• 19 August 2025 (League One): Huddersfield 2-0 Doncaster
  Goals: Ben Wiles, Joe Taylor
  
  
• 10 February 2026 (Vertu Trophy Quarter-Final): Huddersfield 1-1 Doncaster (Doncaster won 2-0 on pens)
  Goals: Cameron Ashia (HT), Billy Sharp (DR)
  

Billy Sharp: Goal History vs Huddersfield Town

Billy Sharp has a prolific record against Huddersfield Town, having scored 8 goals across 15 competitive appearances for four different clubs.
His most recent goal against the Terriers came just days ago on 10 February 2026, where his penalty kick helped Doncaster Rovers secure a 1-1 draw and subsequent penalty shootout win in the Vertu Trophy.

10 Feb 2026 Doncaster, Vertu Trophy, 1-1 (Doncaster win on pens), 1 goal
10 Dec 2022 Sheffield U, Championship, 1-0 (W), 1 goal
21 Aug 2021 Sheffield U, Championship, 1-2 (L), 1 goal
31 Jan 2015 Leeds, Championship, 1-2 (W), 1 goal
15 Mar 2014 Doncaster, Championship, 2-0 (W), 1 goal
14 Dec 2013 Reading, Championship, 0-1 (W) 1 goal
14 Apr 2007 Scunthorpe, League One, 2-0 (W), 2 goals




Club connections: Peter Doherty

Peter Doherty (1913–1990) was a legendary Northern Irish inside-forward who is a central figure in the history of both Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers, serving as a bridge between the two clubs in the immediate post-war era.

Huddersfield Town (1946–1949)
Doherty joined the Terriers in December 1946 from Derby County for a fee of £10,000.

• Performance: Despite being in his mid-30s, he remained a prolific scorer, netting 33 goals in 83 league appearances.
  
  
• Impact: He was the club's top scorer in two of his three seasons at Leeds Road and was credited with almost single-handedly saving the team from relegation to the second tier during that period.
  

Doncaster Rovers (1949–1958)
In April 1949, Doherty moved to Doncaster as player-manager, a role that defined the club's most successful modern era.

• Immediate Success: In his first full season (1949/50), he led Rovers to the Third Division North title, contributing 27 league goals himself as the division's top scorer.
  
  
• Managerial Innovation: He was "ahead of his time," introducing revolutionary training methods like volleyball and basketball to improve players' jumping, timing, and split-second decision-making.
  
  
• Legacy: He managed Rovers until 1958, establishing them as a stable Second Division side and overseeing the development of club legends like Alick Jeffrey and future Northern Ireland star Harry Gregg.
  

Broader Career Highlights

• International Icon: He won 16 caps for Northern Ireland and later managed the national team to the 1958 World Cup quarter-finals, their best-ever major tournament finish.
  
  
• Major Honours: Before his time in Yorkshire, he won the First Division title with Manchester City (1937) and the FA Cup with Derby County (1946), scoring in the final.
  
  
• Endorsements: Bill Shankly famously kept a photograph of Doherty on his office wall as an example of the perfect professional for young players to emulate.
  
  
• Doherty was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002
  

Doncaster in popular culture:

Beyond its storied football history, Doncaster has made its mark on popular culture through legendary sitcoms, chart-topping music, and a surprising list of "A-list" residents.

Television & Film

• Open All Hours: Perhaps the town’s most famous cultural export, this classic BBC sitcom (and its revival, Still Open All Hours) was filmed on location in the Balby suburb. The iconic "Arkwright’s" shop on Lister Avenue is a real building that still attracts fans today.
  
  
• Cinematic Backdrop: Doncaster’s diverse landscapes have featured in major films. Brodsworth Hall was used as a stand-in for wartime London in the Oscar-winning Darkest Hour, while scenes for the gritty cult classic This Is England were filmed in Balby.
  
  
• The Day of the Jackal: The 2024 Sky series starring Eddie Redmayne features notable local landmarks, including the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
  

Music & Entertainment

• Louis Tomlinson: The One Direction star is arguably the town's most famous modern son. A lifelong fan, he even signed a non-contract playing deal with Doncaster Rovers in 2013 and recently invested in a club documentary.
  
  
• Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers: In 1989, this Doncaster-produced novelty act dominated the global charts with three consecutive UK number-one "megamixes," including the multi-platinum Swing the Mood.
  
  
• YUNGBLUD: The genre-defying rock musician is another high-profile export, frequently referencing his Doncaster roots in his music and public persona.
  

Famous "Doncastrians"
The town has produced an eclectic mix of household names:

• Jeremy Clarkson: The Top Gear and Grand Tour host was born in Doncaster and began his career as a journalist for the Doncaster Advertiser.
  
  
• Dame Diana Rigg: The legendary actress, known for The Avengers and her role as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, was born in the Bessacarr area of the town.
  
  
• Brian Blessed: The boisterous actor and adventurer hails from nearby Mexborough and is a vocal ambassador for the region.
  
  
• Thomas Crapper: While often mistakenly credited with inventing the toilet, the famous plumber who popularised the modern "ballcock" system was born in Thorne, Doncaster.
  

Local Traditions & Icons

• Butterscotch: This world-famous sweet was first crafted in Doncaster by confectioner Samuel Parkinson in 1817; it was famously declared a favourite of Queen Victoria.
  
  
• The Flying Scotsman: Doncaster is the birthplace of the world's most famous steam locomotive, which was built at the Doncaster Works in 1923.
  

Recent form - last 6 matches:

Stevenage 1-0 Town
Town 1-1 Donny (EFL Trophy) (lost on pens)
Town 2-2 Blackpool
Peterborough 2-3 Town
Town 1-0 Luton
Town 1-0 Bradford

Town 1-1 Donny (EFL Trophy) (won on pens)
Wycombe 4-0 Donny
Burton 1-2 Donny
Bradford 1-0 Donny
Donny 3-0 L.Orient
Donny 3-3 Wigan

Town are 6th in the League One table with 49 points. Donny Rovers are 20th with 33.


Leading scorers:

Terriers:
Leo Castledine (12)
Bojan Radulović (8)
Joe Taylor (7)
Cameron Ashia (6)

Rovers:
Owen Bailey (13)
Billy Sharp (9)
Luke Molyneux (7)
Jordan Gibson (6)



Match Night Forecast (17 February 2026)
The Met Office predicts a chilly evening with temperatures dropping significantly after sunset.

• Temperature: Expect a high of 6°C during the day, falling to a low of -2°C overnight.
  
  
• Conditions: The evening is forecast to be mostly cloudy but largely dry, following a day of sunny intervals.
  
  
• Real Feel: Due to a moderate northerly breeze of around 14 mph, it will feel closer to -3°C by kick-off.
  
  
• Precipitation: There is a low (10-15%) chance of light snow or sleet, though significant disruption is not currently expected for Tuesday night.