While Rovers were a really strong outfit, a great mystery surrounding Andy was hindering their progress. Ever the detective, or nosey git, Roy was determined to find out what was disturbing his captain.
It all started in the local derby match with Hamville on the opening day of the season. Andy received a parcel and immediately turned a bit off. He gifted Hamville an early goal and struggled during the first half. Rovers' mascot Billy the goat managed to steal the parcel from Andy's kit bag and dashed onto the field. Ignoring his defensive duties McDonald chased the goat and Hamville scored again to regain their lead (Roy had earlier made it 1-1).
Roy set up Blackie for an equaliser, but at full-time with the score at 2 each, Andy ran off in search of Billy and his parcel. New reserve player Fred Branston had the goat, but not the parcel, at least that was what he said. For it turned out that Branston had hidden the package in a bin. Roy of course caught him and tackled the reserve as he opened the parcel to reveal an alarm clock!
The face of this clock had a message for Andy to meet urgently at nearby Ashbridge, which as it stood he would miss. Roy and Blackie made the appointment, throwing off the tail from Branston, who crashed his car. Andy's brother Jock was revealed and he needed help!
Jock had witnessed a big robbery, but had lost his memory. It appeared that Branston was one of the crooks and they were determined to get to Jock before the police. A strange story was played out involving a mystery statuette that was a fairground prize.
But back to the football and Rovers were up against Salthampton, who were on a winning streak. Buck Taylor and Jeff Tomlins were Salthampton's famous pair of forwards and had scored 17 goals between them already this season. Taylor netted an early goal and only some terrific saves from Len Dolland prevented the Salts from grabbing a quick second. But Tomlins would score before half-time and Andy was worried about his performance, as the twin forwards were giving him the run around.
Roy and Blackie drew up a plan to keep the ball away from the pair and it worked. McDonald himself scored a 25 yard piledriver. Andy twice dispossessed Salthampton attackers and laid on two more goals for the Rovers, who ran out 3-2 winners!
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| Blackie scores against Salthampton |
At full-time, Jock exchanged messages with Roy and a secret meeting arranged at a windmill. However, Branston got wind of the plans and the crooks were waiting and a gunmen demanded the statuette. Roy and Blackie arrived just in time and used their superior footballer athleticism to fight of the crooks allowing Jock to escape.
At training the next morning, Roy discovered Jock hiding in the store shed. Inside the statuette, Jock had found a secret note that he had written himself, but couldn't remember what it meant. So for now, Roy and Blackie could concentrate on their football and the Rovers made their way north to Buxgate, where there was thick snow.
Branston trashed the pals' hotel room in search of clues. Knowing Roy would seek him out, Fred led Roy and Blackie on a high speed ski chase, a la James Bond and straight into a trap. The coded message was lost, but ever suspicious Roy had altered the code! But the pals were tied up and left in a cottage in the frozen moors. As usual they manufactured an escape and arrived at the Buxgate ground in the nick of time!
The pitch was covered in patchy snow and the players struggled to keep their feet. The Buxgate right winger slipped and Roy launched a counter attack. Breaking through, he nudged the ball to an unmarked Blackie, who promptly tumbled on icy ground. Luckily for the Rovers his momentum carried himself and the ball into the net, for a fluke of a goal!
Unfortunately for the Rovers, in his fall Blackie had aggravated an ankle that he had hurt in his mad dash to the stadium. He was struggling, but one man who wasn't was flying French winger Pierre Dupont, who shot along the touchline to centre. Roy slammed the cross straight into the net.
At half-time the score was 2-0. Trainer Taff Morgan ordered Blackie to sit out the second half, but he refused and got the reward of a brilliant headed goal. But his leap was ill-advised and he landed in a heap and was carried off. The ten men folded in the treacherous conditions and Buxgate fired in three quick goals, including a Roy Race own goal!
At training the next morning, Roy discovered Jock hiding in the store shed. Inside the statuette, Jock had found a secret note that he had written himself, but couldn't remember what it meant. So for now, Roy and Blackie could concentrate on their football and the Rovers made their way north to Buxgate, where there was thick snow.
Branston trashed the pals' hotel room in search of clues. Knowing Roy would seek him out, Fred led Roy and Blackie on a high speed ski chase, a la James Bond and straight into a trap. The coded message was lost, but ever suspicious Roy had altered the code! But the pals were tied up and left in a cottage in the frozen moors. As usual they manufactured an escape and arrived at the Buxgate ground in the nick of time!
The pitch was covered in patchy snow and the players struggled to keep their feet. The Buxgate right winger slipped and Roy launched a counter attack. Breaking through, he nudged the ball to an unmarked Blackie, who promptly tumbled on icy ground. Luckily for the Rovers his momentum carried himself and the ball into the net, for a fluke of a goal!
Unfortunately for the Rovers, in his fall Blackie had aggravated an ankle that he had hurt in his mad dash to the stadium. He was struggling, but one man who wasn't was flying French winger Pierre Dupont, who shot along the touchline to centre. Roy slammed the cross straight into the net.
At half-time the score was 2-0. Trainer Taff Morgan ordered Blackie to sit out the second half, but he refused and got the reward of a brilliant headed goal. But his leap was ill-advised and he landed in a heap and was carried off. The ten men folded in the treacherous conditions and Buxgate fired in three quick goals, including a Roy Race own goal!
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| Blackie leaps to score a tremendous header |
Blackie insisted on returning and was ordered to the right wing by his skipper. With just a few minutes left, Roy fed the ball wide to Blackie, who despite the pain, crossed for Roy to whip in the winning goal!
Next up Rovers were away to Brookleigh Wanderers and Roy was soon one step closer to solving the mystery of Jock's coded message; one of the symbols, the heraldic eagle, was featured on the Brookleigh badge. Jock joined the Rovers on their trip to Brookleigh in the hope of jogging his memory. The pals took a taxi around the town to explore. Outside a large school, Jock something came back to Jock. He was once sports master there and there it was, the eagle crest above a door! From the eagle the pals followed the instructions, but it was too late to start digging for treasure, the crowd was gathering for the big match.
Brookleigh were top of the league and unbeaten since November, so the Rovers expected a tough match. Worried about Jock, Roy started the game poorly, letting two good situations pass him by and Rovers were soon two goals down. Roy tried his best to recover some form, but after putting in a good defensive tackle, the ball bounced kindly for the Wanderers forward and they were three up!
At half-time, Roy and Blackie glumly made their way under the grandstand. Hearing a yell of "Help!" from Jock. He had the jewels, but the crooks were tackling him. The footballers again used their superior strength, speed and agility to down the crooks and the police arrived!
With their worries behind them and the full story told, Roy and Blackie were ready to launch a typical Melchester Rovers comeback. Roy soon scored from a perfect McDonald throughball. Blackie rose to head home from a corner kick. And Dupont skinned his marker before centering for Roy to bag the equaliser. With seconds to go, Roy was fouled within shooting range. Choosing not to shoot himself, Roy laid off for McDonald who crashed in an amazing long range piledriver. Rovers had won!
Next up Rovers were away to Brookleigh Wanderers and Roy was soon one step closer to solving the mystery of Jock's coded message; one of the symbols, the heraldic eagle, was featured on the Brookleigh badge. Jock joined the Rovers on their trip to Brookleigh in the hope of jogging his memory. The pals took a taxi around the town to explore. Outside a large school, Jock something came back to Jock. He was once sports master there and there it was, the eagle crest above a door! From the eagle the pals followed the instructions, but it was too late to start digging for treasure, the crowd was gathering for the big match.
Brookleigh were top of the league and unbeaten since November, so the Rovers expected a tough match. Worried about Jock, Roy started the game poorly, letting two good situations pass him by and Rovers were soon two goals down. Roy tried his best to recover some form, but after putting in a good defensive tackle, the ball bounced kindly for the Wanderers forward and they were three up!
At half-time, Roy and Blackie glumly made their way under the grandstand. Hearing a yell of "Help!" from Jock. He had the jewels, but the crooks were tackling him. The footballers again used their superior strength, speed and agility to down the crooks and the police arrived!
With their worries behind them and the full story told, Roy and Blackie were ready to launch a typical Melchester Rovers comeback. Roy soon scored from a perfect McDonald throughball. Blackie rose to head home from a corner kick. And Dupont skinned his marker before centering for Roy to bag the equaliser. With seconds to go, Roy was fouled within shooting range. Choosing not to shoot himself, Roy laid off for McDonald who crashed in an amazing long range piledriver. Rovers had won!
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| Roy nets the first of Rovers' comeback at Brookleigh |
And weeks later, Andy McDonald could celebrate his retirement in style as Rovers waltzed to the League Championship!
Squad:
G - Dolland, Morton
FB - Williams, Roberts
HB - Griffiths, McDonald, Brown
FW - Dupont, Gray, Race, Hallett, Dawson, Wilson, Branston, Kemp, Hall, Stokes, Tim
Notes:
In 1976/77 it is said that Rovers went 19 games unbeaten at the start of this season. There is nothing in the original stories about this run.
It can be assumed that Fred Branston was released once his involvement with the crooks was revealed.
Squad:
G - Dolland, Morton
FB - Williams, Roberts
HB - Griffiths, McDonald, Brown
FW - Dupont, Gray, Race, Hallett, Dawson, Wilson, Branston, Kemp, Hall, Stokes, Tim
Notes:
In 1976/77 it is said that Rovers went 19 games unbeaten at the start of this season. There is nothing in the original stories about this run.
It can be assumed that Fred Branston was released once his involvement with the crooks was revealed.
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