Rovers' FA Cup Story 1946-47 to 2016-17 Part 3: Minnows
May 27, 2017 6:24:00 GMT
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Post by GasMacc1 on May 27, 2017 6:24:00 GMT
Rovers Seldom Suffered Cup Upsets before the 1970’s
Rovers played clubs from lower levels in eighteen ties between 1946-47 and 1968-69. We came a cropper on only three occasions.
In 1946, Merthyr Tydfil, of the Southern League, became the first non-League side to knock Rovers out of the Cup since Rovers joined the Football League. (Forty years later, we got our revenge, at Twerton!).
Oldham were in Division 4 when they beat Rovers in the 1961-62 season, shortly before we ended our nine-year residence in the second tier. Stockport then terminated our interest in the third round of the 1965 competition. “Bristol Rovers: The Official Definitive History” remembers: “The Cheshire club was …languishing in the bottom position of Division Four, where they were destined to end the season and, though outplayed, left Eastville with a goalless draw. By the time of the replay, both sides knew that an away tie at First Division leaders Liverpool awaited the winners”.
The clubs from lower-levels to go out to Rovers were Leytonstone, Llanelli, Weymouth (twice), Kettering (twice), Doncaster, Mansfield, Hull, Oxford City, Arnold, Wimbledon, Luton and Peterborough (twice).
Fifteen wins out of eighteen games equates to a win ratio of 83%. Since 1969-70, our overall win ratio against clubs from lower levels is 63% (26 wins from 41 games). But that statistic hides the embarrassing fact that we’ve won only 7 out of the 16 ties (44%) against teams from one division below us.
In contrast, our record against clubs from the same division improved considerably after 1968-69.
Rovers beat 10 clubs out of 19 ties (a win-ratio of 53%) in the 23 post-war seasons. The tables (below) show the winners and losers. That ratio went up to 64% (18 wins out of 28 ties) from 1969-70 to 2016-17.
In the 1958 competition, Rovers beat City at Ashton Gate in Round 5 to set up a Quarter Final at Fulham’s Craven Cottage. Pathé News recorded both games.
Bristol Rovers’ FA Cup Record 1946-47 to 1968-69: Opponents from the Same Division.
Bristol Rovers’ FA Cup Record 1969-70 to 2015-16: Opponents from the Same Division.
Rovers played clubs from lower levels in eighteen ties between 1946-47 and 1968-69. We came a cropper on only three occasions.
In 1946, Merthyr Tydfil, of the Southern League, became the first non-League side to knock Rovers out of the Cup since Rovers joined the Football League. (Forty years later, we got our revenge, at Twerton!).
Oldham were in Division 4 when they beat Rovers in the 1961-62 season, shortly before we ended our nine-year residence in the second tier. Stockport then terminated our interest in the third round of the 1965 competition. “Bristol Rovers: The Official Definitive History” remembers: “The Cheshire club was …languishing in the bottom position of Division Four, where they were destined to end the season and, though outplayed, left Eastville with a goalless draw. By the time of the replay, both sides knew that an away tie at First Division leaders Liverpool awaited the winners”.
The clubs from lower-levels to go out to Rovers were Leytonstone, Llanelli, Weymouth (twice), Kettering (twice), Doncaster, Mansfield, Hull, Oxford City, Arnold, Wimbledon, Luton and Peterborough (twice).
Fifteen wins out of eighteen games equates to a win ratio of 83%. Since 1969-70, our overall win ratio against clubs from lower levels is 63% (26 wins from 41 games). But that statistic hides the embarrassing fact that we’ve won only 7 out of the 16 ties (44%) against teams from one division below us.
In contrast, our record against clubs from the same division improved considerably after 1968-69.
Rovers beat 10 clubs out of 19 ties (a win-ratio of 53%) in the 23 post-war seasons. The tables (below) show the winners and losers. That ratio went up to 64% (18 wins out of 28 ties) from 1969-70 to 2016-17.
In the 1958 competition, Rovers beat City at Ashton Gate in Round 5 to set up a Quarter Final at Fulham’s Craven Cottage. Pathé News recorded both games.
Bristol Rovers’ FA Cup Record 1946-47 to 1968-69: Opponents from the Same Division.
| Rovers Wins | New Brighton, Swansea, Gillingham, Aldershot, Leyton Orient, Bristol City (1958), Bournemouth (1964), Coventry, Walsall (1965), Bournemouth (again, 1969). | 10 |
| Rovers Defeats | Walsall, Swindon, Southend, Blackburn, Doncaster, Fulham (1958), Charlton (1959), Port Vale, Reading. | 9 |
Bristol Rovers’ FA Cup Record 1969-70 to 2015-16: Opponents from the Same Division.
| Rovers Wins | Fulham (1971), Sunderland, Southampton (1978), Charlton, Preston (1981), Bristol C&$y ’82 (1985), Brentford (1986), Swansea (1979), Plymouth (1992), Orient (1995), Gillingham (1998), Exeter (1999), Rotherham, Plymouth (2002), Grimsby, Hereford, Orient (2008), York | 18 |
| Rovers Defeats | Chelsea, Forest (1977), Fulham (1982), Plymouth (1983), Brentford (1987), Reading, Preston (2000), Rochdale, Bournemouth (2004), Southampton (2010). | 10 |
