Players come to the Mem to celebrate 40 years
A number of former Bristol Rovers stars will be at the Memorial Stadium for the Oxford United match on Saturday 18th August to celebrate 40 years since Bristol Rovers won the Watney Cup after beating Sheffield United 7-6 on penalties at a packed Eastville Stadium in the 1972 Final.
The players have been invited back to the Mem by the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club for what is part of the Bristol Rovers exciting supporters matchday experience.
The former Rovers favourites who were part of that winning squad and are expected to attend include:
Bruce Bannister
Harold Jarman
Wayne Jones
Lindsey Parsons
Frankie Prince
Tom Stanton
Kenny Stephens
Stuart Taylor
Another former player and current Football in the Community Officer, Pete Aitken, will host the afternoon and the programme for those stars of 40 years ago will include:
12.30 Players and guests arrive and taken to the Dribuild Suite for a meal and refreshments
2.15 Introduction and Q and A with Stadium Manager Ian Holtby ( 20 mins)
2.50 Taken to seats in the designated boxes the Oxford game
3.35 Half Time taken on to the pitch with the Watney Cup for a half time Q and A on the pitch with Nick Day and also invited to make the 50/50 draw
5.0 At the end of the game taken by Peter into the Bristol Room for a Q and A and to sign autographs with Rovers supporters.
Jim Chappell, Chairman, Bristol Rovers Supporters Club, said: "We are delighted that so many of the players who appeared in the Watney Cup have agreed to come back to the club to share in this anniversary celebration.
"Our thoughts will also be for the skipper and goalkeeper of the Watney Cup side, Brian Godfrey and Dick Sheppard, who are no longer with us. All these former players have become legends of our football club and will always be so."
Pictured: Bristol Rover skipper Brian Godfrey collecting the Watney Cup from Roger Bannister at a packed Eastville Stadium after Bristol Rovers beat Sheffield United 7-6 on penalties in the 1972 Watney Cup Final.