Rovers in The Herald, again...

**TonyD** · 22/11/2006, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by sniffa

Just a thought.
If rovers really believe the conspiracy theory then could it be to do with Tallaght?
The whole thing seems mad. A Herald reporter going down to Cobh and standing beside a handful of "fans" singing that crap. No one, but a very small handful hear it, and it ends up big news in the Herald rag??
I would be looking for a connection between a South Dublin GAA club and the Herald.

Funnily enough the same thought occured to me. I certainly took this report with a very large grain of salt. If the Herald does have an agenda against Rovers, and as a neutral it kind of looks that way to me, could it have anything to do with keeping them out of Tallaght ?

**Peadar** · 22/11/2006, 1:34 PM

Weren't Rovers fans involved in an incident in Longford where they sang something about Abbeylara? It's all well and good going on about the Herald having an agenda but there's always some controversy surrounding Rovers, which gives stories like this more credence.

**Schumi** · 22/11/2006, 1:35 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Weren't Rovers fans involved in an incident in Longford where they sang something about Abbeylara? It's all well and good going on about the Herald having an agenda but there's always some controversy surrounding Rovers, which gives stories like this more credence.

That was Shels I thought.

**Peadar** · 22/11/2006, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

That was Shels I thought.

Apologies, if I'm wrong.

**Billy Lord** · 22/11/2006, 1:46 PM

See how this insidious stuff works? Make allegation a), back it up with rumour b), add in exaggerations c), d) and f) and it all becomes part of a perceived reality.

**rebs23** · 22/11/2006, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by Billy Lord

a perceived reality.

I know this is going off topic here but isn't that part of the problem with Rovers, for as long as I can remember Rovers have been the "Millwall" of the Eircom League. The perception out there based on years of incidents involving Rovers fans is that there is a substantial minority willing to engage in trouble, sometimes with provocation, sometimes without and Rovers have not really done an awful lot about it over the years due to in fairness the circumstances the club has been in, financial ruin, no ground, etc, etc.

While I accept that this paticular story may not be true, there were incidents in Cobh before, during and after the game. Some seem serious enough. All the incidents over the last season(last few years) involving Rovers fans always seem to be a blatant exaggeration or someone elses fault, according to Rovers. While sometimes this may be true there is always that minority amongst Rovers fans willing to get involved or instigate trouble.

It would really be refreshing for a change for Rovers fans to come along and say yes we have problems and are doing x, y and z to eradicate it. If Rovers cannot break the cycle themselves then the Herald and other papers will always have a story to print. Blaming minor provocations of opposiong fans, blaming the media, boycotting the media, conspiracy theories, etc is not the answer when there are clearly problems with the behaviour of Rovers fans on a consistant basis.

**jebus** · 22/11/2006, 2:28 PM

Honestly I think the main problem that a lot of people have with Rovers (me included) is that if you make any sort of accusation/remark/etc. regarding the club their fans jump on the offensive and start insulting you straight away. I don't believe a word the Herald ever says, and I'm sure that even if there were a few Rovers fans singing an offensive song it was probably just two or three mindless idiots, every club has them so no big deal.

If that was the only incident involving Rovers at that game than that would be that, but according to reports from Cobh there was a pitch invasion during the game by some Rovers fans, threats shouted at a group of Ramblers supporters and a few fights in town afterwards. If thats true (I wasn't there, I don't know) than Rovers really need to stop pretending that they don't attract a certain variety of knobs and start weeding this element out of their club. We held our hands up at the last Limerick-Rovers game and admitted when some non-Limerick FC fans came into the ground with the specific intent of starting trouble with the travelling Rovers supporters, but they didn't do the same when a lot of non-Rovers supporting scum came down from Dublin for the first Limerick-Rovers match with the intention of starting fights in and around the ground.

I'm sure I'll probably get attacked for saying that, but in my eyes thats the way it is, and the proper Rovers supporters should stand up, stop denying that there is an element that 'follows' Rovers and put a stop to it if at all possible

**Passive** · 22/11/2006, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

In the last few years they've claimed that we are Nazis, we orchestrated the Orange riots in Dublin, we've attacked Dundalk fans and now we've sung this song at the Cobh game. I've forgotten the full list because it's too depressing.

You forgot my personal favourite - claiming a Rovers player had been done over glassing a barman in Bray, neglecting to mention that the bloke (now 19 years old) had only played for us for one season...on our Under 15s team.

Also, the story in Dundalk gets worse every time they mention it. First we rioted, then they claimed we broke through barriers, now they are claiming that we broke through barriers and smashed local shop windows.

The mind boggles over these fu*kwits. I don't know what they are, but they certainly aren't journalists.

In any case, we're all in agreement that the Herald are a bunch of c*nts who make up lies about Rovers. End of thread, I would have though.

**WeAreRovers** · 22/11/2006, 2:33 PM

rebs23 - That's the point, Millwall have done loads in recent years to rid themselves of the problem. They only had 10,000 at the cup semi the other year because of all the banning orders and membership scheme. They've also done more than most clubs in fighting racism. But no matter what they do they'll always be Millwall.

Similarly, I know from first hand experience that 99% of the rubbish written about Cardiff is just that, rubbish. Again, give a dog a bad name. The same applies to Rovers. No matter what we do, we'll always be Rovers and the tiniest incident will be news whereas the ongoing trouble between Shels and Bohs doesn't get a mention.

So yes, the perceived reality becomes reality and to be honest that perception has followed Rovers around for years. Hence the Herald's obsession and the hysteria on sites like this about a couple of drunken gobsh�tes acting the maggot.

Bohs fans are on their MB slating Rovers over this Herald story. Most of them seem to have forgotten that they taunted Tony O'Dowd about his dead brother. A far worse incident which didn't excite the Herald or the moral majority on here. Go figure..........

KOH

**Peadar** · 22/11/2006, 2:39 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

That was Shels I thought.

I found the thread here...
It was Shels alright.
I guess the precedent has been set and if Shels fans sing distasteful songs, then the rest of the league must accept that it's the way we should all behave.

**rebs23** · 22/11/2006, 2:53 PM

Unfortunately WAR it is a catch 22 you are in and I am not going to be part of the hysterical mob and I don't mean to be (especially not considering the amount of trouble city fans have been involved in at times over the years) but there does seem to be far more incidents and serious ones at that involving Rovers than other clubs and it really is up to the club to take active measures maybe similar to the ones Milwall and others have taken in order to show the club is doing something about it.

My own club has banned people from the ground and I think at the start of the 98/99 had cameras permanently positioned in front of the shed by the club to identify known trouble makers and ban them. It rears its ugly head at City at certain times against some clubs but it is never consistant or organised. With Rovers it is consistant, involving substantial numbers and on occasion seems to be organised.

Other clubs have their problems definitely but I don't think on the same scale or same consistancy and it is really up to yourselves to do something about it and stop some of the media hysteria.

**Jaime** · 22/11/2006, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

they taunted Tony O'Dowd about his dead brother.

Hardly an isolated incident, but I suppose one that's perfectly suited to this thread as few or no people reading your post know the history, so they will throw us in the same bracket as Rovers (thought we were already

), and you will feel better having got a Bohs dig in right in front of the high horse brigade. You could also add in the bit about Bohs' very own high horse crew, who paid fines for O'Dowd, but that wouldn't be much use to you...

**rebs23** · 22/11/2006, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Bohs fans are on their MB slating Rovers over this Herald story. Most of them seem to have forgotten that they taunted Tony O'Dowd about his dead brother. A far worse incident which didn't excite the Herald or the moral majority on here. Go figure..........

KOH

And also forgetting the trouble during a game between Bohs and Cobh at Cobh involving broken bottles, fighting, etc holding up the start of the second half of their cup match a few years ago.
I think everyone accepts its not just Rovers but .......

**WeAreRovers** · 22/11/2006, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Jaime

Hardly an isolated incident, but I suppose one that's perfectly suited to this thread as few or no people reading your post know the history, so they will throw us in the same bracket as Rovers (thought we were already

), and you will feel better having got a Bohs dig in right in front of the high horse brigade. You could also add in the bit about Bohs' very own high horse crew, who paid fines for O'Dowd, but that wouldn't be much use to you...

Trust me Jaime, that wasn't a pop at Bohs it was merely to illustrate the double standards in the media and among certain fans.

KOH

**Louth4sam** · 22/11/2006, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by rebs23

I know this is going off topic here but isn't that part of the problem with Rovers, for as long as I can remember Rovers have been the "Millwall" of the Eircom League. The perception out there based on years of incidents involving Rovers fans is that there is a substantial minority willing to engage in trouble, sometimes with provocation, sometimes without and Rovers have not really done an awful lot about it over the years due to in fairness the circumstances the club has been in, financial ruin, no ground, etc, etc.

While I accept that this paticular story may not be true, there were incidents in Cobh before, during and after the game. Some seem serious enough. All the incidents over the last season(last few years) involving Rovers fans always seem to be a blatant exaggeration or someone elses fault, according to Rovers. While sometimes this may be true there is always that minority amongst Rovers fans willing to get involved or instigate trouble.

It would really be refreshing for a change for Rovers fans to come along and say yes we have problems and are doing x, y and z to eradicate it. If Rovers cannot break the cycle themselves then the Herald and other papers will always have a story to print. Blaming minor provocations of opposiong fans, blaming the media, boycotting the media, conspiracy theories, etc is not the answer when there are clearly problems with the behaviour of Rovers fans on a consistant basis.

Originally Posted by jebus

Honestly I think the main problem that a lot of people have with Rovers (me included) is that if you make any sort of accusation/remark/etc. regarding the club their fans jump on the offensive and start insulting you straight away. I don't believe a word the Herald ever says, and I'm sure that even if there were a few Rovers fans singing an offensive song it was probably just two or three mindless idiots, every club has them so no big deal.

If that was the only incident involving Rovers at that game than that would be that, but according to reports from Cobh there was a pitch invasion during the game by some Rovers fans, threats shouted at a group of Ramblers supporters and a few fights in town afterwards. If thats true (I wasn't there, I don't know) than Rovers really need to stop pretending that they don't attract a certain variety of knobs and start weeding this element out of their club. We held our hands up at the last Limerick-Rovers game and admitted when some non-Limerick FC fans came into the ground with the specific intent of starting trouble with the travelling Rovers supporters, but they didn't do the same when a lot of non-Rovers supporting scum came down from Dublin for the first Limerick-Rovers match with the intention of starting fights in and around the ground.

I'm sure I'll probably get attacked for saying that, but in my eyes thats the way it is, and the proper Rovers supporters should stand up, stop denying that there is an element that 'follows' Rovers and put a stop to it if at all possible

Two excelent posts and how most fans of other clubs feel. Rovers fans dont do themselves any favours at all. If you point out anything at all they just go on the attack. Most clubs that have problems or had problems will admit to it. Rovers never do.

**Jaime** · 22/11/2006, 3:36 PM

Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Trust me Jaime, that wasn't a pop at Bohs it was merely to illustrate the double standards in the media and among certain fans.

KOH

I believe you, but it's just part of the "No-one likes, we care" vibe that doing the rounds lately.

**Passive** · 22/11/2006, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jaime

I believe you, but it's just part of the "No-one likes, we care" vibe that doing the rounds lately.

That's because all this rubbish written about Rovers becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - people go into 'us against them' mode when all we ever hear from media and other supporters is that we're the scum of the earth and we should all be locked up in Guantanamo Bay for crimes against the Eircom League.

**NY Hoop** · 22/11/2006, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by BohsFans

So why didn't they give the guy money as they were going through the gate?

Your club really is unbelievable and your head in the sand attitude is $hels like to say the least.

The irony of that coming from a club that condones a hooligan group. Herag hates us and this story is timely given our High Court appearance friday.

Anyone who believes that we had a Crocodile Dundee figure with a 6 inch blade in his pocket in Cobh should go back to drinking glue.

In fairness most decent EL fans here know what they print is fiction. A prime example is that we started the love ulster riots.

From todays star: "Reports that Shamrock Rovers fans chanted about child killer Wayne O'Donoghue were branded "outrageous rubbish" by club officials last night. A downmarket evening paper reported that the club's supporters chanted that "Wayne O'Donoghue is a Hoop" because he killed "Corkies" during a game against Cobh Ramblers. It was alleged that "a small group of supporters" used the death of Robert Holohan to taunt home fans at a game".

Anyone who thinks the herag is a responsible paper only needs to take a look at todays front cover.

KOH