Recently, Bristol Rovers Football Club and the Supporters Club received information regarding two pre-war Bristol Rovers players that has led to collaboration on a project to trace the closest relatives of players from that era.
From the club’s first season in the Football League, in 1920/21, through to the 1938/39 campaign - which was the last completed season prior to the outbreak of the Second World War - a total of 259 players made their Bristol Rovers league debut.
The SC caps initiative, based on an idea by West Bromwich Albion, aims to present caps to all of the players who have made at least one Football League appearance, and whilst it was intended to concentrate, initially, on post-war players, contact from the relatives of pre-war players Alexander Smeaton and Frederick ‘Jerry’ Morgan has prompted us to also look at players from the pre-war years.
The club and the SC would like to be able to trace the closest relatives of any pre-war Bristol Rovers players in order that their caps can be presented to them.
Initially, we are asking for contact to be made by 31st January 2023 as we can then arrange for the appropriate numbers to be embroidered on the caps. Presentations will be made as soon as possible after that date.
We feel that this joint project is one that supporters will appreciate and hope that those who come forward to tell us about their footballing relatives can help us add to our library of photos/contracts/memorabilia.
Caps are available for sponsorship at a cost of £50 for Supporters Club members and £60 for non-members and Larry and the Morgan family have already agreed to sponsor the caps for Jerry and Jimmy.
We also hope that some of the club’s other support groups, most notably the Bristol Rovers History Group and the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association, will be involved along the way in providing help to trace both pre- and post-war players.
While we attempt to trace pre-war players, we are aware that we have yet to present caps to members of the current squad, but the aim is to rectify that matter in the New Year and so the club and the SC invite you, if you so wish, to sponsor caps for any of the current squad.
Presentations will take place before the end of the season, but certificates will be available from the beginning of December if you wish to give the Gashead in your family an original Christmas present.
Caps for all members of the current squad are available for sponsorship and there is no limit to how many people can sponsor the same player’s cap. Sponsorship costs £50 for Supporters Club members and £60 for non-members.
As well as the current squad, there are many post-war players who have yet to receive their cap and sponsorship is also available for their caps although we don’t yet have a date for any presentations. It is hoped that, in the future, three or four ex-players will be invited to every home match and be presented with their caps at the game.
Contact secretary@bristolroverssc.co.uk if you are interested.
We will be making one very special cap presentation on 29th December when Exeter City visit The Memorial Stadium.
Marcus Stewart played for both clubs, of course, and we would like to present him with his cap that day. As we are sure you are aware, Marcus has recently been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and any sponsorship monies raised for his cap will be donated to his charity, the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.
As we did for Nick Anderton, we will waive the usual sponsorship fees and ask supporters to give what they can afford, either by direct debit or by cash at the Supporters Club matchday cabin at our next two home games.
Supporters generously gave in excess of £2,000 for Nick and he will be presented with his cap and the money when he is next able to visit The Memorial Stadium.
We would like to be able to raise a similar sum for Marcus, though we are aware that many of you will have contributed directly to his charity.
Bank Details for any contributions for the sponsorship of Marcus’ cap are as follows:
Bristol Rovers Supporters Club
Account Number: 40207551
Sort Code: 20-94-74
Reference: Caps 563