When will he hand it to me?

[Colin C No.3]

Have you ever been witness to that occasion when a Rovers player walks over to the fans after the game has finished, clapping as he approaches ever nearer those who have 'stayed back' long enough to show their admiration or consolation for the teams efforts over the preceding 90 minutes or more. He's suddenly within touching distance of a handful of fans at the front. They're beckoning him now to come even closer, stretching out with pleading arms, faces distorted with painful adoration. Neither the Pope nor Elvis (walking together hand in hand) could be the recipients of such an outpouring of adulation at that moment in time.

And then it happens. The player takes off his shirt, or boot, sock, armband, wrist band, whatever... & hands it to one of them.

One of them. One of them because their hand is closest, their voice loudest, their pleading face more pleading. Then with one last clap of his raised hands, he turns his back & heads for the tunnel, job done. Job done in his mind because he perhaps naturally feels that in his 'giving up' of that piece of his kit, worn throughout that game, he was actually giving it up to us all 'in spirit'. But he wasn't though was he. I didn't receive it. Was the person who was now clutching that precious piece of kit, still wet with the players sweat & muddied on that field of play, more deserving of it than me?

Had they ridden the 'Rovers Rollercoaster' for more years than me, travelled more miles, missed more 'family do's', disected more performances, eulogised to more people about winning performances, or achingly explained to more people the reasons for defeat?

Down the years I've bought Rovers shirts as gifts, had a players name & number put on them, handed them to some 'commercial person' who kindly got the 'said player' to sign it. Some I even had framed. I have a signed photo of Copps 'tap in' against Brentford & one of Macca scoring the penalty against Villa on our Carling Cup run in 2005. But it's not the same is it. Put 'up against' that piece of kit handed to you personally by that player, mine are mere 'cold momento's'.

So who has Marqius' shirt from the Rotherham game last Saturday? I'd like to think it went to someone more deserving than some p****d up, burberry wearing lout who just happened to be at the game for 'a jolly' with his mates & had pushed & shoved his way to the front in order to taunt the stewards, police, opposing fans when whadayouknow, there's a shirt suddenly being dangled in front of him & boy oh boy....he's 'avin it!

I remember me & my brother returning back to our hotel bar in Cardiff after watching us lift the Johnstone Paint Trophy at the Millenium Stadium in 2007. There was a family of four from Doncaster sat close by as we sat down with our drinks, with a warm glow still in our hearts. Our 'companoins' at the table for four we learned were a mum, dad & their two teenage daughters. "It's the first football match we've ever been to", the mother said, pointing to herself & her daughters. "Hey, show them what you two got". She motioned to the daughters & from underneath the table each one held up a one football boot & one sock. "Heffingham gave them to them. We were right at the front & he just came over". "It's Heffernan", said the father. "Heffernan not Heffingham". "Well...whatever", replied the mother. Whatever indeed. There were 20,000+ Rovers fans there that day. "Whatever". What ever & why ever Paul?

So who has Lewis Guy's boots that he handed into the crowd at the final away game of the season against Tranmere in 2006? Who has Copps shirt from that final game at Brentford as his last ditch goal saw us gain automatic promotion back to The Championship?

There are some of us (who haven't been 'at the front' since we leaned against the wall at Belle Vue sucking Sherbert-Dip-Dabs), that would give our eye teeth for what you have. So whoever you are, look after those 'battle worn treasures'. Me?. I'd settle for a sock tie. Brought to me by the player who after stepping over the pitch surround, walks up the terracing, stops at my seat, shakes me by the hand & with a knowing look in his eye, hands it to me. Now is that too much to ask? 

[DMnumber4]

Back in the days when it was normal procedure to walk on to the pitch at the end of the season at Belle Vue and not be threatened with a banning order for doing so, I got a fingertip on Colin Cramb's sweaty vest only for a bigger (and probably harder) kid to poach it.

I've not tried for anything since!!

[tommy toes]

My lad got one of Sean Thorntons boots at Tranmere in 2006

[idler]

I think that Copps got his shirt back after an appeal and then gave the fan another signed shirt. I seem to remember that being the story reported at the time.

[BillyStubbsTears]

From the mosh pit at a 1987 Chicago Jackmasters House Tour gig I once touched Darryl “Farley Jackmaster Funk” Pandy’s clammy hand shortly after he’d been rubbing it up and down his tumnescence through his jogging pants.

Not really relevant, I know, but I’ve suffered in silence for 31 years and I thought it time to share my pain. 

[tommy toes]

Also on a musical theme me and me daughter met Ian Anderson after a Tull gig in Copenhagen. She got some nice photos with him.

[wilts rover]

Ponty Ricky's brother (who was doing the navigating and support for us on the bike ride) got one of Copp's boots at Brentford. I can't remember if it was the one that scored 'the goal', but it would have been involved in it!

I can't imagine Copps would have known who he was or his involvement with the ride (or surely he would have given it to Ricky), he just happened to be in the right place at the right time. However of all the fans who were there that day he had done something special to get there so maybe the karma got it for him.

[elmsallrover]

I once got one of Andy Rhodes gloves don't have clue who got the other

[RoversDave]

I was hit by somebody's boot at Brentford, before I realised what had happened some little scrote in front of me had picked it up.

[RoversDave]

My lad got one of Sean Thorntons boots at Tranmere in 2006

I have a photo of him about to pass/throw a boot into the crowd at Tranmere.

[Branton Rover]

Remember being in Seventh Heaven nightclub on Duke Street circa 1991 - I was stood at the bar & saw Mark Samways walk in - my first instinct was to up to him & make a fuss but he saw me first & because Rovers fans were so few in numbers at the time - the tables were turned and he came over to me & made a fuss of a supporter

[Mike_F]

I've got the match ball that Gary O'Connor gave me at the last game of the 1996-97 season in my garage. Not a particularly great bit of memorabilia but still nice to have.

[RedJ]

A younger relative of mine has a few of the lads' pre-match training tops (the kick it out etc type thing) and James Coppinger gave him his training top after he had to get pulled onto the pitch at Accrington last year.

[IDM]

I've got my memories, plenty of 'em..  that's good enough for me!

[balbyrover]

A young lass no older than 8 or so got Marquis shirt on Saturday she was over the moon and wearing it walking out the stadium.
I must admit he was top notch. Lots at the front hurling abuse at him to which he threw is arms out and came over and spoke with the fans.. I was right at the from and he apologised and said I’m trying my hardest out there it’s hurting me too! He then shook a few of our hands and walked off.

Gone up in my estimations really it’s nice for a player to have a connection with the fans rather than just straight down the tunnel.

[Pancho Regan]

Marquis was amazing at the end of the game at Rotherham.

Massive respect for him, he is becoming a Rovers legend.

[RedJ]

Legend is probably a bit strong this early. Cult hero, no doubt.

[idler]

My granddaughter has had two shirts with Copps name on the back and two years on the trot she went to the front to beg for his shirt.
Both times he gave it to the same girl stood near her. She was gutted, we'll still is really and she's 24 this year.

[KiwiRover]

I'll just leave this here.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmqMjONi9-Q&t=339s

[Silkscarf]

After a drubbing at Belle Vue my mate ran on the pitch to retrieve Graham Biggins' tie-ups from a muddy cowshed goalmouth. As he only played about 4 games these are now priceless.

[donnyspadge]

I was at Cardiff for the jpt final. Brian stock handed me one of the big winners flags they hold up. Still have it to this day and what a win that was. I admit i don't got to many games because i have other commitments. But that doesn't make me any less of a supporter than anyone else. I wish i could have every sat off work but i cant. 

[KiwiRover]

Nice!
How much would I pay for that?!