Ahead of the Spireites’ return to the Football League and League Two, we are taking a look at all 23 other teams that make up the division.
We are continuing with Doncaster Rovers:
FACT FILE
Team Name: Doncaster Rovers Football Club
Nickname: Rovers
Year Founded: 1879
Stadium: Eco-Power Stadium
Capacity: 15,231
2023/24 SEASON
Doncaster started the 2023/24 League Two season with seven consecutive games without a win. Between mid-September and the end of October, Grant McCann’s side recorded six victories but couldn’t string a run of successes together. Rovers were knocked out of the second round of the EFL Cup by Everton, the second round of the FA Cup by Peterborough United and the quarter-final of the EFL Trophy by Bradford City. In February, Doncaster were in 22nd place and were at risk of falling into the relegation zone. In their last 18 games, they only lost once, went unbeaten in their last 12 games and also had a ten-game winning streak. This catapulted the Yorkshire side into the League Two play-offs but missed out on a place at Wembley after a penalty defeat to Crewe Alexandra in the semi-finals.
MANAGER
After a 17-year career with over 500 appearances made, Grant McCann made the foray into management. In 2016, he was named as Peterborough United manager. Following his departure from the Posh two years later, he joined Doncaster Rovers. The former midfielder took the club into the League One play-offs but cruelly missed out on the final after a penalties defeat. He left the club after one season. Stints at Hull City and a return to Peterborough followed before McCann re-joined Doncaster in May 2023. He once again took them to into the play-offs but Rovers once again suffered heartbreak on penalties, this time against Crewe Alexandra.
KEY PLAYER
Doncaster Rovers have many dangerous players in each area but there aren’t many that have the experience and quality that Billy Sharp possesses. The striker is in his fourth separate spell with the South Yorkshire club. Despite a disappointing campaign last time out, he will be looking to get back to the form he has shown throughout his career.
Last season in numbers:
Appearances – 13
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Yellow Cards – 0
Red Cards – 0
Minutes Played – 426
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Tom Anderson joined Chesterfield on loan from Premier League side Burnley in February 2016. He made 18 appearances as Danny Wilson’s side secured an 18th place finish in League One. The defender re-joined the club once more on loan for the 2016/17 season. Anderson made 40 appearances during this stint but couldn’t save the Spireites from relegation to League Two.
In January 2018, Anderson joined Doncaster Rovers on loan from Burnley until the end of the season. He played seven times but also suffered a broken cheekbone which kept him sidelined for two months. He re-joined the club at the end of the season on a two-year deal after his contract at Burnley expired. The centre-back has spent six years at the Yorkshire club – becoming first-team captain in January 2023.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
P 95 W 35 D 31 L 29
The wins and draws have been distributed pretty evenly in the almost 100 games played between the two clubs. Chesterfield have failed to pick up a win against their Yorkshire counterparts since 2005 – a 1-0 away victory.
PREVIOUS GAME
Doncaster Rovers produced a quick start in the last fixture between the two clubs, back in April 2016 at the SMH Group Stadium. Former Spireite Gary McSheffrey’s corner was knocked past Tommy Lee from six yards by an unmarked Tommy Rowe. Gboly Ariyibi levelled things up on the 18th minute as he steered home the rebound after Jay O’Shea’s initial effort was parried to the winger. James Coppinger thought he had put the away side back in front in the second half with his low drive but a foul in the build-up ruled the goal out. Both sides fought hard for a winner but had to settle for a point.
