Drum them out of the Keepmoat, I say.



When you look at the list of banned articles at entrances you have got to wonder how drums can get in.

Doncaster RLFC will entertain Sheffield Eagles in the semi-final of the Northern Rail Cup on Friday 28th June at the Doncaster Athletics Stadium, which is adjacent to the Keepmoat Stadium (7:30pm kick-off).

Dons officials have worked hard to find a suitable venue since the draw was made and every avenue has been explored.

The Keepmoat Stadium pitch will not be available to play on until the Dons play Leigh on Sunday 7th July and Castle Park is also unavailable due to the maintenance of their pitch.

The athletics stadium is a great facility and the main stand can seat around 500 spectators. The stadium's capacity is approximately 2,500 with standing room available around the pitch.

Admission to the game will be as follows:

£12 for Adults

£8 for concessions

£3 for children (under 16's), under 5's go free

Tickets will have to be purchased via the Keepmoat Stadium ticket office as usual and refreshments will be available throughout the evening.

Dons' commercial manager, Ray Green, who has secured the use of the venue said: "We've done everything possible to keep this fixture in Doncaster and as close to the Keepmoat Stadium as possible.

"We appreciate that our fans have had to travel away to watch all of our cup games in 2013 and we certainly did not want to give up home advantage in a game as big as this.

"The athletics pitch is in great condition and is looked after by the Keepmoat staff, who have stressed that the pitch at the Keepmoat may look like a bowling green but the seeds need longer to become more deep rooted which will prolong the life of the surface.

"It should be a cracking South Yorkshire derby and I believe the athletics stadium will prove to be more than a suitable venue."

The club would like to thank Kev Lincoln for allowing the stadium to be used and for his assistance thus far.

More details regarding sponsorship opportunities, corporate hospitality and refreshment outlets will be announced in due course.

Please contact the Dons on 01302 765888 if you need any further information about the game.

Well that's a blow , haven't missed a home game for a few seasons .

Playing at athletics stadiums is abhorrent!

At least it'll be at ours rather than theirs though

Technically, it's a neutral venue

Thanks , I feel much better now .

I just hope we can win. The Eagles are going into this game with usual arrogance (despite what the press might say). Lets wipe Aston's & co's smirk of derision over the venue off their face.

it stinks
get a home draw and still cant play on the pitch

dont think i will be going now, friday night as well

the pitch would have been ready if it was the rovers
they get on my ****

Disappointed in the extreme!

Disappointing yes, but it sounds like it was that or switch, either way a good way from the pitch, rather it be here.

we shouldn't be having to switch!!!!!!!!!
we have gone 8 wks without a home game now, its a disgrace.

NO, we cant have the rovers playing away for too long can we, it's got to be alright for them.
I thought this was a doncaster community stadium not a one club stadium

Don't disagree , but the club say they have explored all avenues and this is the best option. We are stuck with it. Wrong yes, can we do anything about it?, sadly no

Remember the Rovers are now responsible for the running of he stadium after being handed he lease last year

The one good thing about this is, I can now get to the game.
You could just as easily stand outside and watch the game though.
I'd have Adrian Welch shutter the perimeter fence.
lol

They had that women's final on the Keepmoat pitch.
It looked pretty good.
Too good for us obviously.
Should imagine the Eagles will be crapping themselves, just as soon as they stop ing themselves.

i think they played in carpet slippers though!!

This is bad news for the club and the fans, except Stand Offish who can now attend

.

I really feel for the Dons because I'm sure they've done their best to avoid this situation.

What would have happened if we'd had a "normal" season of fixtures, or even the reverse of what's happened this season, and we'd had a long run of home games during the "pitch repair" period. Would we have been playing home games in Featherstone again, like we did a few years back?

I'm disappointed at the news but probably more concerned as to what future seasons could have in store for us.

I'm not blaming anyone connected with Donny Rovers. The pitch was a mess and needed sorting but there have to be lessons learnt from this and reassurances given to the fans (Dons) that this won't happen again in the future, even if we do have another bad winter.

Without such reassurances, will fans really be prepared to pay for season tickets if there's a strong chance that some of our home games could be played away from Doncaster?

Here's an interesting question for Dons News: As we all have to pay to get into the Cup match, will season ticket holders be guaranteed seats at the athletics stadium? Would it be possible for the Dons to keep sufficient seating tickets back for season ticket holders until, say, 7.15 on the match day?

Given the circumstances, I think that this is something the club could do to help us out. One of the guys I normally sit next to wouldn't be able to stand for the whole game. If he's not able to get down to purchase a ticket early, it could cause him problems, and to be honest, none of us want the inconvenience of having to make another trip down to the ground before match day. Due to work commitments we might not be able to get there at 6.30 to be first in and get a seat.

On a more positive note, everyone at the club needs heaps of praise for the performances of late. Reaching the cup final would be a great reward for the team. Let's hope we get our fair share of good fortune on the day and equip ourselves well in what's bound to be a tough semi-final.

This whole escapade to me highlights the folly of tieing ourselves up to the Keepmoat/Rovers for the next God knows how many years. Why we couldn't come to some agreement with the Knights is beyond me.

Do we know it's anything to do with the pitch or are we assuming?

Baring in mind it was supposed to be a blank weekend it could very easily be being used for something else.

we couldn't come to an agreement with the Knights because their pitch is being relaid/repaired...shock horror!

I'm not feeling so militant about it as the rest of you, I'd much rather it be here than most other places. It's the day that disappoints me most, but that's just because, personally, Friday's aren't as good for me

Remember this is only for one game. We will have 3 home games at the Keepmoat during July, which the new pitch will allow for some fantastic flowing rugby. In the form that we are in we might see some of the spectacular tries witnessed last season.

In terms of the spectator experience at the Athletics ground, this is a one off. Of all the games to be played here this is perhaps the most appropriate. We know that the Eagles do not bring a lot of support. On their forum page they are moaning about the low home attendances. The smaller arena might make for a better atmosphere (although the running track might hamper that).

In the future this might make a good venue for the under 18s games, as a precursor for the main game?

On a personal note I would have liked to see the game played at Castle Park (if it was available). Perhaps the Knights could be approached to host some games next season whilst pitch works take place (through our new link Paul Cooke), this might prevent having to play 6 weeks of away games?

Lets not over react its 1 game and as stated we didn't have a game planned. Anyway , just checked if Ryanair get me back into the Uk on time 2 more will be able to attend.

Mmmm?
The Athletics ground, a pitch with a running track around it and one stand.
That reminds me of somewhere ... can't think of where offhand.



Like a home from home game for the Shitehawks ... spooky!

I cant say im not disapointed but like jemmo sed its the day thats the most annoying plus there playing tonite so get over a weeks rest compared to our 5 days. It wont stop me goin tho hopefully we can pull off a shock n get to the final where its played at a proper ground ; )

Just when I thought id be able to get to a game for the first time in a few weeks they change it to a Friday and im on nights!

Was really looking forward it as well. Then Jemmo texts me and tells me the match is on the athletics track!

Now ive been looking at this both ways what does eveyone else think. Number 1, The pitch isnt ready and we have to move. Well the pitch seemed fine at our last home game which we played after the work had been done.The grass was just coming through and then a womens cup final was played on it.Its had a few weeks since then so there is no way that the pitch isnt up to it.Theres also some UFC stuff going on it in July which wont help the state of it.

Number 2 , is it tactical. Do the coaching staff think we will have a better chance on the running track if the pitch is tighter? (Iknow Eagles play at similar but it could be done to suit)

Also on the Eagles site it says the stadium is unavailable.Is there something going off there that weekend? Maybe we will be disrupting the Sunday car booters!!

I may well be in the minority with this view, but I do have to take onboard whats been said on the official side of this, and that is the Eagles game appears to be a week too early for the newly re-set pitch/grass to be settled at the root. The Leigh home game is not in doubt but it appears that the Eagles game was not factored in and I can understand that. There are emotive feelings regarding this from Dons and Rovers fans alike. My view is that the playing surface was hammered with the winter weather and didn't have a hope of being in a fit state without the extensive work that has been carried out. Something had to give and for the Dons fans this is what it amounts too. On a personal basis I would have prefered it to be in the main stadium but the alternative venue is fine by me, and is better than playing 'away'. Sorry if this hurts as well but if the improved playing surface helps the Rovers stay in the Championship then that that suits me as well. The people running the Stadium now, need the extra revenue that Championship football brings IMO.