Roy of the Rovers (monthly) Calendar.

 

Art by Barrie Mitchell
All RotR images are now copyrighted
by Rebellion Co. 

(By Nikos Nikolaidis)

January

1975, 18^th: Rovers are knock-out in 3^rd round of F.A. Cup losing an away match (2:1) against Sleeford Town non-league amateurs. The debut of Circus crew member Sammy Spangler was a real tragedy for Rovers.

1975, 26^th: Roy Race is appointed as Melchester Rovers’ manager, after leaving of Tony Storme.

1982, 1^st: Sir Alf Ramsey becomes Melchester Rover’s manager, replacing Roy Race who has been shot and remains in a coma.

February

1960, 13^th: Bobby Charlton is in writing charge for Roy of the Rovers series in Tiger comic.

1962, 3th: Tubby Morton appears as a guest star in a T.V. show, thanks to his glorious presence in F.A. Cup Final against Corstone City of past season.

1974, 9^th: Geoff Giles is charged for unfair play, been accused of a hard tackle against an opponent player.

March

1975, 8^th: A new look for MR player-manager Roy Race! New suit and a new haircut.

1979, 24^th: Rumors concerning MR interest for Spanish striker of Zaragoza Paco Diaz are released just before first match between the two clubs for UEFA Cup’s quarter finals.

1993, 20^th: Last copy of RotR magazine, as Roy is heavily injured after the fall of his helicopter. His left leg is amputated.

April

1970, 25^th: Melchester Rovers beat (4:1) Seaford Athletic in F.A. Cup Final.

1974, 6^th: Melchester Rovers win (3:1) against Bridgewall  sends them in F.A. Cup Final.

1976, 18^th: Roy Race and Penny Laine become husband and wife, just after their marriage in Melchester’s Catholic Church.

1988, 30^th: Johnny “The Hard-Man” Dexter appears for the first time as a MR player.

May

1969, 17^th: Rovers are new European Champions, beating (3:1) Santova Rapid of Portugal.

1971, 15^th: Rovers’ win against Belgian Standard Wasserdam (2:1) in ECWC Final sent them to the top of European football.

1972, 20^th: Melchester Rovers 3:2 Cranville United in the F.A. Cup Final.

1974, 5^th: After gaining same season’s League Cup, Rovers beat Burndean (2:1) at Wembley  Stadium in the F.A. Cup Final. Those two Cups were the first trophies for new MR manager, Tony Storme.

1977, 15^th: Penny gives birth to her and Roy’s son, Roy Race Junior, along with his twin sister.

1997, 1^st: Roy of the Rovers comic series appear in Match  of the Day monthly magazine. The stories (written by Ian Rimmer and illustrated by Barrie Mitchell) will last for the next four years.

June

1970, 6^th: Roy Race, Tubby Morton and Geoff Giles play with England National Team against Brazil, for the Mexico World Cup finals.

1973, 19^th: Melchester Rovers win the European Cup, beating (2:0) Corados of Portugal.

1973, 23th: During a charity match between Rovers and a local Melchester’s amateur club youngster Jimmy Slade breaks Andy Croydon’s leg.

1975, 7^th: Melchester Rovers win the ECWC, beating (2:0) Greek team of Achilleas Niarcos. The Greeks were an outsider of that competition.

2018, 18^th: After 18 years of absence RotR story is back, via new MotD (weekly) mag. Script is made by Rob Power & Weith Richardson and the artwork by Lisa Henke. Rebellion Publications is the new copyright holders.

July

1971, 24^th: MR manager Ben Galloway announces that Stanport’s left winger Vernon Elliot signed for Rovers.

1986, 19^th: Eight MR players are dead after a terrorist attack against British team, while they took part in a tournament in Basran, Persian Gulf, invited by Rovers’ ex player Lofty Peak.

August

1975, 16^th: Melchester Rovers lost the first (home) League game against Weston (2:1), plus their left-back Rulph Derry is out for the whole season.

1985, 24^th: Veterans Bob Wilson and Emlyn Houghes signed for Melchester Rovers.

1995: Roy’s wife Penny is tragically killed after her engagement in a car accident at Monza, Italy.

September

1954, 11^th: Tiger Comic’s #1 features Roy of the Rovers story in its cover page. Artwork by Joe Colquhoun.

1957, 21th: MR captain Andy MacDonald plays his last match for Rovers.

1975, 20^th: Scottish left-back Duncan McKay’s first official appearance with Rovers in a League match against Selbridge (1:0).

1976, 25^th: #1 of Roy of the Rovers weekly magazine is released as David Sque is the main illustrator. Yvonne Hutton continues the (parallel) RotR story in Tiger.

1981, 5^th: Rovers give their first League match in Second Division. New kits for the club.

1993, 1^st: #1 of Roy of the Rovers (Monthly) magazine is released.

1994, 24^th: The Playing Years by authors Colin M. Jarman & Peter Acton is published by Queen Anne Press.

October

1973, 6^th: Charlie “The Cat” Carter debuts in a League match between Portdean and Rovers.

1975, 4^th: Roy Race’s 21th anniversary in British football.

1985, 19^th:  Spandau Ballet’s rock group members Steve Norman and Martin Kemp play football for Melchester Rovers.

November

1972, 9^th: Mervin Wallace of Cranville United debuts for Rovers during a League match against Kingsbay (2:0, Wallace scores 2). Rovers have paid for him a totally cost of 250.000 GBP.

1975, 8^th: Roy scores his first –ever- goal against Eastgate in an away League match (5:0 for Rovers).

1988: An earthquake caused due to geological reasons under Mel Park send Rovers to find another home-ground.

December

1963, 28^th: First European Cup’s match for Rovers against Schonved of Hungary.

1968, Christmas Eve: Ben Galloway presents to the MR fans as a new year gift the two new Rovers’ players: Geoff Giles & Lofty Peak.

1973, 8^th: Roy prepares himself hardly to play against his greatest opponent, Thornton Villa’s centre-back Len Farmer.

1981, 12^th: Roy Race is shot by Elton Blake, an ex-actor.