I do not have any complaints about the St John Ellis mularky, although personally I think his contribution to the Dons was a little over rated.

I just think the club would do better remembering ex-players like Mark Roache and Kevin Parkhouse who gave years of stiring service and both died tragically.

Parky I'd agree with 100%, but Mark 'Gas meter' (among other stuff) Roache?
No thanks

Cant agree with you there Gargoyle, i know Mark had a tendency to, shall we say acquire things that werent his,but the guy was Doncaster through and through ,and yes he could get into a gas metre quicker than the gas board ,but with Mark you knew what you were going to get.The guy always gave his all playing for the Dons, as did Kev Parkhouse and i think a rememberance game for both would be a fitting tribute too two of the clubs greatest servants.

I couldn't agree more.......
.....when I first started watching the Dons, Mark Roache was one of my absolute favourites.....a great player.
His off-field activities have no bearing on what he did on the pitch.

We were on opposite sides of the fence Mark and I and we both knew the score. Did'nt stop us getting on and he would always have a chat (Ladbrokes in Rosso usually) Happy days.



I think if you delved into a few RL backgrounds you may find something you could disagree with but for my money he was a top bloke and was a damn fine player and good servant to this club, despite the bloody hard background that he came from.

I knew Mark and Kevin through my Dads association with the club, both top blokes and real gentlemen away from the pitch. Marks background was the stuff of legend in our house and forever he will be referred to as scoring a "Gas Meter Special". I pretty sure my dad has many a tale to tell about Marks time with the club.

The circumstances of both their deaths were tragic, Marks in some ways more-so than Kevins.

Both sadly missed.

Maybe I shouldn't have spoke ill of the dead, but the only time I ever spoke to him was at Batleys Mount Pleasant ground, when I and a mate shouted to him to tell our kicker (cant recall who it was) to kick towards where we were standing rather than to the other wing as we couldn't see a feckin' thing due to the setting sun, and were sure the Batley players were having the same problem. He turned round , gestured and told us to 'Feck off'.
That is my lasting impression of the bloke I'm afraid.

Don't believe you----Mark would never have used the word [uFeck[/u

Perhaps he mistook you for CID and thought that you were saying nick ya (not kicker).



Never had any problems with Mark myself. I remember one event at the Yarborough where I'd managed to convince my mum and dad to attend. He came over chatting and didn't leave until all the ladies round the table (including mum) had been kissed.

Yup Mark did have a rogue side to him, but he was always a decent bloke to talk to.

I can imagine some interesting times we here had when our wings were Mark and a Neil Turner

I will never forget getting changed before a match next to Ian Fletcher and cock (as he was affectionately known to the lads). Fletch's brother in law was a pro footballer playing in Hong Kong ,and had played in a Hong Kong presidents 11 against the England national side as a warm up to the world cup (at the time of the dentist chair drinking game),he had given Ian a tie which had only been given to the 16 players from the Hong Kong team and Ian wore it to our game.After the game the tie had vanised.The following week Cock Roache turns up for the match wearing the exact same tie as had gone missing.Fletch says to Mark " AYE COCK THATS MY TIE FROM LAST WEEK" to which Mark replied "no its not mate i swear i bought it from Rossington car boot last year. Ian just shook his head laughing. Yes Mark was a rogue but you couldnt help liking the kid. RIP COCK

.

Yes Chunkster I will verify that you story about Fletch's tie is true did you hear the story about the lawnmower?

As previously stated on here Mark Roache was very proud to play for the Dons I can remember when the Dons agreed a deal with Castleford to swap Dave Pflange for Roachey John Sheridan was worried that Mark would want a signing on fee that the club couldn't afford.
John explained the situation to Mark who replied I've got a couple of outstanding fines to settle if the Dons agree to pay them I will sign for you

My lasting memory of Raochey was the last game at Tattersfield. After the game my Dad asked him he flelt about the ground going, and he burst into tears.

Just been sat here with Amanda reading your comments about Parky and Mark.

It's so nice to hear you all still speak so highly of Kev after 4 years of losing him.

We would love to see a memorial game played in honour of 2 dedicated and passionate Dons players, I will always remember 'Passion' was one of Kev's favourite words!! His other favourites were 'Rugby is Life' and 'Rugby is in the Blood'.

I've never met a man more devoted to a sport in my life!!

Thank you all for your kind words.

John + Amanda Parkhouse.

I remember Mark Roache giving us many a problem during the 80's. Isn't he your all-time record scorer? What were the circumstances of his death? He can't have been very old.

He was I believe the "tries in a season" record holder with a couple of other players until a few seasons ago, when the record was broken by Luke Gale.

I can remember the day Mark set that record, Kevin Rayne got across the line and unselfishly passed the ball to Mark so he put the ball down and get the record.

I don't have the full details of Marks passing to hand sadly, I am only aware of some of the facts.

Mark Roache..... Record Try Scorer 111-tries 1985…1996
Died destitute IIRC aged about 41/42.

I believe if we do plan to have anymore memorial games it should be for Parky & Roachey (Am I the only one who remembers him with the nickname Dancer, could have imagined it though, a few beers have gone under the bridge).
Any game could raise funds for the Parky Foundation & possibly M25 as I believe Mark died homeless.

This gets my vote!! whether the Parky Fund benefits or not.

It would be a fitting tribute. I don't remember Mark, but I know Kev held fond memories of him and was very upset when he died.
He said he couldn't help but like the guy, even though you were to scared to leave anything in the changing room when he was about.

Kev told some shocking stories of what Mark got up to, but he always told em with a smile on his face.