Wales

My Life as Wales’ International Jinx

“You were born in Doncaster so you should support England” they’d say. Perhaps. But in the trophy cupboard in the front room there was this cap. Nestling between Station FC Players’ Player of the Year and Anglesey League Champions 1973-74, a dark red cap. It was velvety to touch, with an odd metallic tassel, was too small even for my head and it had a dragon on the front. I couldn’t just ignore that. The fact that the man it belonged too was reluctant to speak of it made it even more alluring. Continue reading →

Viva Video XCVII

As some readers, and certainly those who follow us on Twitter, will know here at Viva Rovers we take an interest not just in the fortunes of Doncaster Rovers, but also in those of Wales. It is to the latter of those interests that we dedicate today’s episode of Viva Video, but don’t click the red cross in the corner just yet Rovers fans, as there is also a Doncaster connection. That’s because tonight a former Rovers player takes charge of the national side for the first time. Its time for Bryan Flynn to take centre stage. Continue reading →

The Full Montenegro

Brian Stock may not have ventured to Eastern Europe with Wales at the weekend, but Viva Rovers did. Here’s how our two and a half days in Montenegro panned out.

As a supersticious man, I probably should have sensed all was not going to go according to plan as we walked through Podgorica’s main square on the afternoon of the match and passed a man carrying a scythe. Up until we crossed paths with the casually dressed reaper I was feeling quite confident – the trip was going well. On the stunningly scenic train from Belgrade we’d enjoyed a six-hour Serbian language lesson from Montenegrin student Marijana and earlier that morning we had found the stadium unlocked, enabling us to casually stroll in. All this good will and good fortune had gone to my head, and as we left the hotel for the game in the afternoon I said words I have never before said as a Wales fan; “I reckon we can win today”. That all changed after the scythe. Continue reading →

Viva Video XC

Before you say anything we’re not jumping on the Craig Bellamy bandwagon… its just that his appearance suddenly offers us much more potential footage to choose from. And besides, his bandwagon is patrolled by golf club wielding henchmen anyway. But we have repented somewhat, and so as not to give George Friend nightmares, rather than showing Bellamy running at terrified full-backs we’ve instead used his arrival in the Welsh capital to relive a glorious international moment. Continue reading →

International Stock

Congratulations to Doncaster Rovers’ club captain Brian Stock who received his second full international cap for Wales in today’s friendly against Croatia. Stock was named in the starting XI as a deleted Welsh side took to the field to face Slavan Bilic’s side in Gradski vrt. And though Wales ultimately lost out 2-0 there was much encouragement in Stock’s performance as he looks to secure a place in the side ahead of the Autumn’s European Championship qualifying games. Continue reading →

Stock Selection

Regular readers will know that Viva Rovers has something of a distinct bias when it comes to championing the call-up of Doncaster Rovers players to the Wales squad. As such you won’t be surprised at all to read that we are delighted that Brian Stock has been named in the national side by John Toshack for Wales’ friendly with Croatia next weekend. Stock is included in a twenty-one man squad to travel to Croatia for the game on Sunday 23rd May. Continue reading →

Tick Stock; Wales 1-3 Russia

As a Doncaster Rovers fan I’m beginning to get used to the phrase, “well I never thought I’d see this day”. Seeing 10,000 Doncaster fans at Stoke, Rovers winning the Division 3 title, the move to the new Stadium, trips to the Millennium Stadium and Wembley, or Elland Road and Hillsborough for that matter, and ultimately Championship football. Tonight I added another to that list as I ticked off what for me is one of the most significant “never thought I’d see it” moments. I saw a Doncaster Rovers player play for my country as Brian Stock made his long overdue debut for Wales. Continue reading →

Stock Selected for Wales

Well, the rumours were true after all it seems, and as forecast on here yesterday Brian Stock has been selected for John Toshack’s latest Wales squad. Rovers’ captain has been recalled for the national side for the first time since he pulled out of the squad last October with back problems. Stock is yet to appear for the full national side having been an unused substitute in both Luxembourg and Russian in the past eighteen months. Should Stock feature against Russia at the Millennium Stadium he will become Rovers’ first Welsh international in over 70 years. Continue reading →

Welsh Stock Risen Again

If you open up the dictionary and look up the word stubborn you will find no description, nor explanation, just a picture of John Toshack in a Wales tracksuit with his chin resting on his right hand. Belive me, as a Wales fan its a picture I’ve seen far too many times. Still it seems the Iron Manager may well be for turning after all with suggestions in the Welsh press that Rovers’ Brian Stock could be set for a recall to Tochack’s latest Wales squad, to be announced on Friday. Continue reading →

International Round-up

Apart from Mark McCammon’s impressive feats for Barbados, and Alan Blayney’s (remember him?) solitary Northern Ireland cap Viva Rovers has not had to trouble itself with the reporting of international matches. Until now that is; with not one, but, count them, an unprecedented three Rovers players on international duty this week. Continue reading →