All about Roy of the Rovers - Video

Tiger Annual 1957

Scanned by Funk My Soul on the RotR Facebook page. Many thanks!

Simon Mayo, Former Radio 1 DJ, Recalls Time with Roy of the Rovers

Simon Mayo, former BBC DJ, has recalled his time as a comic character in Roy of the Rovers in 1990.

Roy of the Rovers Holiday Special 1993

Roy of the Rovers Annual 1988

Scanned by Manos Kassotakis on the Roy of the Rovers Facebook page. Artwork by David Sque

Roy of the Rovers: 100 Football Postcards

At the end of a season which has seen the retirement of Javier Zanetti and Ryan Giggs take his first steps away from playing and into coaching, it's fitting that it's also the anniversary of a player who could put them both to shame for sheer longevity. Roy Race is 60 this year and in 853 issues did everything from winning the European Cup to getting shot. At least one of the IBWM team remains obsessed with Roy (mentioning no names but his initials may or may not be DH) and several of these 100 football postcards are currently making their way towards frames in Dave's, sorry, that unknown IBWM editor's house.

Exclusive interview: Ian Rimmer and Barrie Mitchell

The latest RotR writer, Ian Rimmer, and artist, Barrie Mitchell honour us by talking exclusively to our blog, answering the questions of the members of The Comic Book Heroes board!  Read Barry talking about his long-time career as one of the top caroonists ever, and Ian about their efforts to bring Roy back to "life"!

Garry Richardson interviews Roy of the Rovers!

Roy of the Rovers appears on Today as part of BBC Radio 4's Character Invasion. Listen to it here

O Roy Race επιστρέφει στα περίπτερα!!!

Σύμφωνα με τις τελευταίες πληροφορίες, που έδωσε ο φίλος Νίκος Νικολαΐδης στο Facebook της ομάδας World Comics, ο "Νέος Μπλεκ" αναμένεται να κυκλοφορήσει εντός του Απριλίου, ως ένθετο στην εφημερίδα "Αξία". 

Συντομότερη ημερομηνία είναι αυτή της Κυριακής 6 Απριλίου και πιο μακρινή εκείνη του Μεγάλου Σαββάτου (19 Απριλίου).  Η έκδοση ξεκινά με τέσσερις βασικούς χαρακτήρες: Μπλεκ, Ζαγκόρ, Ρόυ Ρέης και ΤΟΜ. 

Όπως καταλαβαίνετε, με μεγάλη συγκίνηση και ανυπομονησία περιμένουμε την επιστροφή των ηρώων της παιδικής μας ηλικίας στα περίπτερα της Ελλάδας!

Roy of the Rovers Winter Special 1989

ROY RACE: REVISITED

WORDS: BRYAN DAVIES

As we celebrate the immense durability of Ryan Giggs and Kevin Phillips, and the dash and daring of Gareth Bale, lest we forget it is 20 years since the man who inspired them hung up his boots. We recall the playing career of a man who helped footballers reevaluate what was physically possible…

Roy Race, of Melchester Rovers, may well have been the best player ever produced on British shores

Paul Trevillion - The Master of Movement

Paul is renowned as one of the best Roy of the Rovers artists and drew the story at various stages beginning with the 13th April 1963 edition, where he kicked off a new 'Roy of the Rovers' story in all its glory on the front cover of the Tiger comic.

Paul is known for bringing Roy of the Rovers to life with his 'comic art realism' and has gained a huge reputation across the world for his excellence in this area being dubbed 'The Master of Movement'. He says in an interview with the former official website manager Mark Towers in July 2006.

Roy of the Rovers Holiday Special 1988

7 lessons today’s footballers can learn from Roy of the Rovers

With the notable exception of players like Ryan Giggs and Steven Gerrard, few players show the kind of loyalty exhibited by Roy Race who signed with boyhood club Melchester Rovers in 1954 as a 14-year old and didn’t retire from playing until 1993.

In 1983 he had his one stint away from the club when he played 21 games for Walford Rovers – scoring 45 goals – but couldn’t stay away and returned to Melchester within the year.

1954-2014: 60 years Roy of the Rovers

After being contacted by the Comic Book Heroes forum member and dear friend, Robvanderovers, Egmont confirmed that they indeed have a number of initiatives to celebrate Roy of the Rovers' 60th Anniversary later this year.

They are set to make a number of announcements about this over the next few months, including at least two new titles, further digital releases and marketing activity.

Let's hope 2014 will be the year that our favourite football hero will make his long-awaited comeback!   

Roy of the Rovers Holiday Special 1987

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Barrie Tomlinson remembers Roy of the Rovers Christmas past

Roy of the Rovers editor Barrie Tomlinson talks about his Christmas memories to Mark Towers for the online fanzine "Racey's Rocket" in 2008.

As Editor and Group Editor of children‟s comics, it was always my policy to feature the big celebrities of the day, from both television and sport. I began this policy with TIGER and carried it on when I launched ROY OF THE ROVERS. I figured that television was playing a big part in the lives of young people and the only way we could fight it was to join in ourselves and involve the titles in the world of television. When I later launched the New EAGLE, that policy was heavily criticised and I was accused of being “star-struck”. I had to change my plans to put top celebs in EAGLE. But that‟s another story! Let's get back to TIGER and ROY OF THE ROVERS...