Who would you consider

[Sammy Chung was King]

The hardest player you’ve seen in a rovers shirt?, some of the answers might age some of us.
Plus the hardest opposition player we’ve faced?

[Bessie Red]

The hardest player you’ve seen in a rovers shirt?, some of the answers might age some of us.
Plus the hardest opposition player we’ve faced?

Only one answer... Billy Whitehurst

[Sammy Chung was King]

Did anybody ever stand up to him? Been waiting for his book to come out for years, bet it would be a good read.

[Chris Black come back]

Dougie. Mick Norbury. Kevin Hulme. Colin Sutherland.

[Bessie Red]

Dougie. Mick Norbury. Kevin Hulme. Colin Sutherland.

All secondary to big Billy Whitehurst!

[Sammy Chung was King]

Sutherland was a bit of a nutter. Holme was a decent player as well. Remember all those. Always thought Duggie didn’t have the haircut for a hard man.

[watto-drfc]

Alan Little  the animal

[Chris Black come back]

Dougie. Mick Norbury. Kevin Hulme. Colin Sutherland.

All secondary to big Billy Whitehurst!

Quite possibly. Question was who you have seen.

[Goole Rover]

The hardest player you’ve seen in a rovers shirt?, some of the answers might age some of us.
Plus the hardest opposition player we’ve faced?

Only one answer... Billy Whitehurst

My mate big Den., always says that. 
He did take a battering from Keith Welwyn one night at York his chest was red raw from Welwyn’s elbows.

[Bezza]

Alan Warboys, tough as old boots without the Dublin on.

[Bezza]

Should read Dubin on

[Draytonian III]

Alan Little

[vaya]

Nick Fenton. Attempted to run off a broken leg.

[ctay]

Yeah I agree Billy Whitehurst but mentions to for Kevin Hulme and Colin Sutherland. Norbury always appeared to be mad, but I dont actually remember him losing it with anyone.

[selby]

  Yeomans was a cube of a man, and to be remembered by me and others fifty years later says it all.
  Our players we have had our share every generation three from one team who old adversaries recognised as some of the hardest in a hard team, Harry Gregg, Morgan Hunt, and Brian Makepeace, the last two local miners, and big lads, Morgan once said to me I was on a face at 15/16 years old Brian, nobody knocked me about when I was 18.
  I can also remember Italian fans throwing seats from the stands at Eddie McMorran after he left a trail of bodies on the floor in a game that was on TV unusually in those days.

[ravenrover]

Morgan got softer as he got older, had some good battles with him at Askern Welfare

[BobG]

Alan Little for me. A proper player who could proper bite too.

BobG

[Park Rover]

Definitely Animal, Alan Little. I remember watching him when Ian Snodin started playing in the same team at 16. Players used to try and rough Snodin up, which was a massive mistake. The next time they were anywhere near the ball they were taken out by animal who was his midfield minder.Hilarious to watch as you knew exactly what was coming if Snodin was fouled.

[Scooter]

I remember  a lad at school played for scunny reserves against rovers at belle vue. Micky Norbury was on his way back from injury so played and this lad had to mark him. Micky bullied him all over that night and kicked him up in the air a few times. Great to watch

[rich1471]

Billy whitehurst ,never forget that sending off at Hartlepool ,could have been sent off that night twice, Sutherland took no prisoners as well

[GRS1]

What about Archie Irvine?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Did anybody ever stand up to him? Been waiting for his book to come out for years, bet it would be a good read.

Jack Ashurt "stood up" to him one night when Whitehurst had left us and gone to Crewe. Whitehurst was back pedalling and Ashurst knelt down behind him. Whitehurst went arse over tit, stood up and threw a punch at Brendan Ormsby.

Uncle Jack was pissing himself. But then he was always a proper mester. Whitehurst was just a thug.

Just don't tell Whitehurst I said that...

Anyway, nobody comes remotely close to Animal. He didn't rely on punches or elbows. Just man-dismembering tackles.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Definitely Animal, Alan Little. I remember watching him when Ian Snodin started playing in the same team at 16. Players used to try and rough Snodin up, which was a massive mistake. The next time they were anywhere near the ball they were taken out by animal who was his midfield minder.Hilarious to watch as you knew exactly what was coming if Snodin was fouled.

Snod didn't need much minding, for an 8 stone 17 year old.

He once said that in the 80/81 promotion season, when the players came out of the tunnels at OBV, him and Animal used to size up the opposition midfielders across the halfway line. Animal would shout, loud enough for them to hear "You reckon this lot are up for a fight Snod?" And Ian would reply "Nope". And they'd half won the battle before kick off.

[Bessie Red]

The Sarge was another tough one!!

[Campsall rover]

Alan Little ( animal ) not called that for nothing was he.

Been a few others. Whitehurst, Sutherland ( he was a nutter )
Albrighton, Tim Ryan., Doolan.

One I can’t remember name gone blank. Early 1990’s signed from Bury I think or did he go to Bury?  Hard as nails midfielder.

[ncRover]

Rob Jones not yet been mentioned

[Jimmydee]

Billy Bremner could handle himself even though he didn’t move out of the centre circle at the end of his playing days in a rovers shirt.

[Campsall rover]

Kevin Hulme is the player I was referring to in my previous post.

He took no prisoners that’s for sure.

[Draytonian III]

Kevin Hulme aka Reggie the Roofer, I think he was put on pub watch in his home town for a while

[bradford exile]

Alan little closely followed by the Sarge  Mark Albrighton. Certainly put Barton in his place. Regards Ray