1965/66 Season Review

After an eventful tour to the United States, Roy and pals returned to the shock news that right wingman Ted Carter had been offered a lucrative contract to join a top Italian club. Luckily in Carter's final match against an Army XI his replacement was found.

Storme left the regular Army with his famous father's blessings. But the great General "Blood and Thunder" Storme had plans to make sure his son's football career would be as successful as his own in the services. During Tony's debut match, a hired hand, journalist Harry Scanlon, locked Roy in an equipment cupboard, allowing the debutant to take the glory of victory.

Scanlon's schemes became increasingly complex eventually leading Ben Galloway and Roy to suspect Tony of being crooked. Eventually the truth was revealed and Tony was trusted as the Rovers new right winger.

Tony Storme scores and sets up Roy

With Tony Storme settled in on the right, the Rovers began their League Cup campaign, facing Carsford Athletic in the Third Round. Under a new trainer, Paddy O'Kelly, Carsford surprised the Rovers by employing continental tactics. Taffy Morgan, the Rovers trainer, was not impressed, but on meeting O'Kelly their old rivalry was rekindled. A tactical battle ensued with no man coming out as clear winner.

Carsford employ O'Kelly new tactics

Midbury Town would knock out the Rovers thanks largely to Roy Race playing with an injury. But the Rovers focus would shift to the FA Cup. The Third Round opponents were Second Division leaders Kenton Albion and their star centre forward Jack Devlin. Taffy was so worried about Devlin that he ordered Blackie Gray to drop deep and man mark the striker. The tactic worked as Blackie robbed Devlin and sent a long ball forward. Roy flung himself headlong towards to ball connecting with a spectacular diving header to give Rovers the lead. The 60,000 plus crowd exploded, with some taking their celebrations too far. Nick Snarey, who was a leading member of the supporters club, jumped over the barrier onto the pitch. Earlier he had thrown a bottle at the Kenton goalie. And later he would launch a fire cracker towards Devlin, that ended up costing the Rovers a goal. The hooligan was ejected, and banned from the ground, before Blackie's winner, but it would not the last the Rovers would see of the thug.

Before the Fourth Round tie against Division 4 giant killers Flaxton Town, Snarey dropped a petrol bomb into the Rovers boot room, burning all their precious boots. Turning out in boots borrowed from the Melchester public, the Rovers struggled with the physical approach of the Town. A slip from the giant Ossie Jones let the Flaxton centre through and the number 9 made no mistake, firing in the opening goal. Rovers did get a last gasp equaliser as Roy blasted against the post losing his boot in the process, the rebounding ball crashed into his bootless left foot and into the net for a most fortunate and painful goal.

The replay was just as competitive as Snarey led a fanatical group of Flaxton supporters in some tremendous barracking. The Rovers were intimidated by the din and couldn't break through. After ninety goal less minutes the tired Rovers in their new unbroken in boots were hanging on with a blanket defence. Then Roy had a brainwave, possibly remembering having pulled the same move twice before, and swapped goalie Tubby Morton with winger Tom Dawson. A hopeful long ball forward saw Tubby speeding through to lob in the winning goal.

Fifth Round opponents Portdean were always going to be difficult opponents with their star goalie Ralph Canning having proved somewhat of a jinx in past matches. Roy had worked out Canning's one weakness, but Snarey sneakily leaked the news of their discovery and Canning was ready. The hooligan had also managed to bag himself a pitchside spot as a cameraman. There he fired pellets from his adapted camera causing Blackie to miss a sitter. Roy's detective like intuition rumbled Snarey who was ejected again freeing the Rovers to have an honest battle with Canning. Roy eventually levelled the scores before netting a last minute penalty to send the Rovers through.