A really interesting season began with a pre-season tour in the Greek Islands, where Roy managed (eventually) to convince Gary Gunn to sign on with Rovers. But the League season didn't start as well as hoped, Rovers were struggling to find the net, with directors and the media insisting that Roy needed to sign another striker to take some of the burden away from him.
North of the border, Scottish international striker, Andy Maclaren was scoring for fun, gaining many admirers including Roy Junior, who nagged his dad to buy the forward. Conveniently Rovers were booked in for a friendly against Maclaren's side, Glenrath Celtic, for Mel Stone's testimonial match. Maclaren scored twice and was dangerous all match, but Roy still did not want him.
Melchester director Charlie Sutton, however did not care, sanctioning the signing for a British record £3million. Roy was puzzled, how could he use Maclaren his style just did not fit with the Rovers way? Roy named Andy sub for the Barndale match, bringing him on after an injury to Dexter. Maclaren scored twice to win the match. Surely Roy would have to pick him now?
And he did, dropping himself to the bench! But things still weren't going to plan. Melchester couldn't adapt to Maclaren and Maclaren seemed unable to fit into the Rovers passing game. But Roy eventually relented, realising that Andy was just too good to marginalise. So against lowly Stockdale in the FA Cup Roy changed tactics, playing a 4-4-2 for the first time; Maclaren and Race in partnership up front.
The switch worked and Rovers embarked on a run to the FA Cup Final, where they faced Weston Villa in a rematch of the 1988 Final. Rovers gained revenge with Andy Maclaren scoring the winner!
League: Top ten
League Cup: 5th Round
F.A. Cup: Winners
Squad:
G - Styles, Carter
D - Wootten, McKay, Johnson, Dexter, Butler
M - M.Gray, B.Gray, Spring, Clark, Richards (injured)
F - Race, Maclaren, Harper, Pak Soon, Ritchie, Gunn
Players In:
Gary Gunn (Portdean), Andy Maclaren (Glenrath Celtic)
Players Out:
Olly Olsen (returned to Denmark), Rob Richards (Retired?)
Notes:
- Really inconsistent numbering during this season, for example Spring wears 5 and 6 against Deans Park and in one scene both Spring and Race are wearing 9
- Unknown scorer vs Selbridge, 2 unknown scorers vs Walford
- Rob Richards was injured on the pre-season tour, he never played for Rovers again.
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