The Bristol Rovers History Group and Keith Brookman look back at the very memorable 1973/74 promotion season.
What a season that was! We went 27 games unbeaten at the start of the season and this run lasted until 2nd February when Rovers lost 1-0 at Wrexham. Incidentally, the last five games of the previous season saw us unbeaten too. This run included the famous record 8-2 away win at Brighton in December, then managed by Brian Clough.
This was the year of ‘Smash & Grab’ – Alan Warboys and Bruce Bannister – who became nationwide star names, scoring 40 league goals between them. This included seven of the eight goals in the win at Brighton.
The match was shown on ‘The Big Match’ on national TV the day after the game. In fact, this was only one of a few games to go ahead that day and Rovers even wore a set of borrowed yellow shirts from Brighton to prevent a clash of colours in front of the TV cameras.
This was also the year that Rovers reverted to the blue-and-white quartered shirts for the first time since the relegation season of 1961/62. Don Megson, previously signed as a player from Sheffield Wednesday, had been appointed manager at the start of the previous season and he encouraged a great spirit among the players. This was greatly helped by being able to field a settled team. Eight players made over 40 league appearances while another three made over 30.
Building a stable defence was Megson’s first aim and Rovers only conceded five goals in their first 16 league games.
The side that took Rovers to promotion included Jim Eadie, Trevor Jacobs, Lindsay Parsons, Mike Green, Stuart Taylor, Frankie Prince, Kenny Stephens, Tom Stanton, Alan Warboys, Bruce Bannister and Colin Dobson. There were also important contributions from John Rudge, Gordon Fearnley and Peter Aitken.
Unsurprisingly, attendances rose as the unbeaten run continued. The early season home games had attracted crowds of less than 10,000, but over 22,000 saw Rovers beat West Country rivals, Plymouth 4-2 on Boxing Day and over 21,000 saw Rovers beat Bournemouth 3-0 in January.
Warboys suffered an injury at the end of January, and he missed the next 11 league games. Although Rovers had built up a seven-point lead at one time, there were some nervous moments as the season came to an end, but promotion was eventually secured on a Friday night at Southend with a 0-0 draw.
Promotion was celebrated at Eastville on the last day of the season when, incidentally, the visitors were Brighton. This time the game was much tighter, with a final score of 1-1 and Bruce Bannister scoring a late penalty. Words by The Bristol Rovers History Group.
Fans can come and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gas’ promotion to Division 2 on Saturday 9 December in The Thatchers’ Bar at The Memorial Stadium.
Supporters can see a display of Rovers memorabilia with a special focus on 1974. Additionally, you can meet promotion heroes Jim Eadie, Frankie Prince and Tom Stanton.
The event will be between 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
Over 1,000 Rovers fans were at that game against Southend on Friday 19th April at Roots Hall. According to the local press at the time, they all enjoyed; ‘A thoroughly workmanlike, professional display by a Rovers side betraying few signs of the nerves which have haunted their recent matches.’
However, it was thanks to goalkeeper Jim Eadie that they gained the point they needed to make sure of promotion; ‘It needed the save of the season from Eadie, in the 74th minute, to keep out the eager Southend side desperately seeking a prestigious win over the Third Division leaders.
‘Winger Billy Coulson sent Terry Johnson through, and his ferocious 20-yard rocket looked a goal all the way. But somehow, Eadie flung himself across his line to conjure the ball over the bar for a corner.’
It was, in all honesty, a game of few chances for either side but Rovers and their supporters were ecstatic at the final whistle as the point gained ensured they would be playing at a higher level in 1974/75.
Those who had travelled to Roots Hall rushed on to the pitch at full time and carried the players, shoulder high, to the dressing-room before celebrating long into the night.
There were no celebrations for the players, though; with one game left to play they were still hopeful of clinching the Third Division title, even though they had played two more games than Oldham Athletic and York City, their two closest rivals.
The journey back to Bristol took rather longer than expected, as the coach carrying the team broke down at Chiswick. The relief coach didn’t materialise until around 8.00am on Saturday and the players eventually arrived back at Eastville at 10.00am that morning having slept very little during an uncomfortable stay in a service station!
The final game of the campaign was against Brighton & Hove Albion, at Eastville, on April 29th, 1974, when a crowd of 19,137 saw Bruce Bannister score his 18th league goal of the season to earn his side a point from a 1-1 draw.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to clinch the title; that accolade went to Oldham Athletic who ended the season as Champions with 62 points.
Rovers’ better goal difference saw them finish as runners up with 61 points, the same number as third placed York City. All three teams were promoted.
Manager Don Megson was, understandably, delighted to have led his side to promotion and, writing in the matchday programme for that final game against Brighton, said; ‘It’s been a wonderful struggle and, particularly since Christmas, a very gruelling one but we have clinched promotion and that’s what we wanted to do.
‘It would not be right for me to single out individual players for praise at this time. Promotion has been achieved by outstanding co-operation within the squad of professionals. You cannot ask more from a player than to give his best and help his team colleagues and that’s what I’ve got from my players throughout the season.’
Of the 46 league games played that season, 22 were won, 17 drawn and seven lost with 65 goals scored and 33 conceded.
Four players, Jim Eadie, Trevor Jacobs, Stuart Taylor and Tom Stanton, were ever present while four more players, Bruce Bannister, Mike Green, Frankie Prince and Lindsay Parsons all appeared in over 40 games.
Rovers used a total of 19 players during the season and three players made their league debuts for the club; Trevor Jacobs, Gerry O’Brien and David Staniforth.
Alan Warboys was leading goalscorer in the league, with 22 goals from his 33 games while 14 different players managed to get on the scoresheet. Words by Keith Brookman
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