This list contains players who have appeared in nationally organised first-team competition for Doncaster Rovers from its creation in 1879 until the end of First World War. Players that also represented the club after the war are included.
Explanation of list
Players should be listed in chronological order according to the season in which they first played for the club, and then by alphabetical order of their surname. Initially, the club only played friendlies, their first cup match being in October 1885. Doncaster joined their first league, the Midland Alliance, in 1890. To varying degrees in subsequent years, friendlies still formed a significant part of the fixtures throughout the season. Further information on competitions/seasons which are regarded as eligible for appearance stats are provided below.
League appearances League appearances and goals should include data for the following league spells: Midland Alliance: 1890−91 Midland Football League: 1891−92 to 1900−01; 1903−04; 1905−06 to 1915 Football League: 1901−02 to 1902−03; 1904−05 Midland Combination: 1915−16
Total appearances The figures for total appearances and goals should include the League figures together with the following competitions: FA Cup Sheffield and Hallamshire FA Minor Challenge Cup Sheffield and Hallamshire FA Senior Challenge Cup Gainsborough News Charity Cup Wharncliffe Charity Cup Wharncliffe Charity League Mexborough Montague Charity Cup The Yorkshire League Friendlies (pre 1890−91 when Doncaster weren't in a league)
History First match as Doncaster Rovers The first match was in September 1879 when Albert Jenkins got together a group of young men to play against The Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in which they drew 4−4 after being behind 4−0 at half time. It was after this match that the group of players decided to play further games and call themselves Doncaster Rovers on the walk back into the town. The first match played under this name was a 0−0 draw on 3 October 1879 at Rawmarsh F.C.. The line up in a 2−2−6 formation was: Goalkeeper: William Walker Right back: Albert Jenkins Left back: John Mitchell Right half back: Thomas Clark Left half back: William H. Salmon Outside right: William Chadwick Inside right: William Bedford Centre forward: Arthur Roper Centre forward: John Boyle Gosling Inside left: William Simpson Outside left: William Titterington
First Football League match After already playing their first game of the 1901–02 season in the Midland League on 2 September, Doncaster were voted into the Football League following New Brighton Tower folding as a club. Continuing with the squad they already had, the first match was against Burslem Port Vale on Saturday 7 September 1901. The crowd at the Intake Ground was 2,000. It was 0–0 at half time, then Len Goodson scored two for Rovers. The Vale then scored 3 goals, with Frank Bailey getting the equaliser making the final score 3–3. The line up was a 2–3–5 formation of: Goalkeeper: Jack Eggett Full back: George Simpson Full back: Walter Langton Half back: Billy Longden Half back: Arthur Jones Half back: Ellis Wright Forward: Billy Langham Forward: John Murphy Forward: Jack Price Forward: Len Goodson Forward: Frank Bailey
Players
NamePositionClub careerLeagueappsLeaguegoalsTotalappsTotalgoalsNotes Inside right 1879–85 4During this time, not all scorers in games were recorded Right back 1879–86? Also club founder, captain and secretary Left back 1879–85 Went on to play for Bolton Wanderers on the first day of the inaugural season of the Football League in September 1888 1885?–? Became Mayor of Doncaster in 1914Inside Right / Centre forward 1886–87 1888–89 1891–93 723During this time, not all scorers in games were recordedLeft back / Centre forward 1887−1905 45284848Appearance stats not including seasons 1887−1901 nor 1903−04 which are likely to at least put him well over 200 total appearances Forward 1890–91 712Inside Right / Outside Right 1890–91 1114 Centre forward 1890–91 912Goalkeeper 1890–93 00Full back 1891 2020 Doncaster born, he went on to play for England twice, and won the First Division title once and FA Cup twice with Sheffield United before managing Bristol CityHalf back 1892–93 Outside Forward 1893–96 59 First manager of Doncaster, in 1920Goalkeeper 1893–94 00Goalkeeper 1894–1903 670700 Appearance stats not including 1894−1901Outside Left 1895−19015365Left half 1895−1905803833Appearance stats not including 1895−1901, 1903−04Outside Right / Right half 1896−1902312332Stats only for 1901−02 season, he scored 17 League and 5 other goals in totalInside Right / Outside Right 1897–1900 5156Left half 1900−0101Outside Left 1900–02 1905−06 1909386406Scored Doncaster's first goal in the Football League Stats not including 1899–1901, 1905−06 and 1908−09 seasons where he scored 33 league and 14 other goalsInside Left / Left half 1900−04 628658Stats not including Midland League seasons 1900−01 and 1903−04 when he scored 22 league goalsFull back 1900−03 642652Stats not including 1900−01Centre forward 1900−01 20 26Outside Left 1901–02 226236Right back 1901−04 340340Stats not including 1903−04 seasonRight half 1901−022020Centre half 1901−02 211231Outside Right 1901–03 1906−07 62166516Playing stats for first period, scored 9 League goals in second periodOutside Right 1901–02 1010Right half 1901−022020Left back 1901−03 332353Right half 1901−021010Forward 1901–03 59176118Inside Forward 1902–03 303313Centre half 1902 1010Centre half 1902−03 3030Forward 1902–03 367377Inside Left 1902–03 122122Centre half 1902−05 430460Full back 1902−04 8080Stats not including 1903−04 seasonOutside Right 1902–03 1111 Centre forward 1902−03 2121Right half 1902−031010Inside Right 1902–03 5252Left winger 1902–03 277287Inside Right 1902–03 7070 Centre forward 1902−09 519522 Includes all goals, but only Football League appearancesLeft back 1902−03 3030Goalkeeper 1902–03 1010Outside Left 1902−03 4040Inside Left 1903−05 4040Stats don't include 1903−04 where he scored 3 league goalsForward 1903–04 1111Outside Left 1903–04 1212Wing half / Full back 1903?−04? 00Outside Right 1904−06 1010Stats only for 1904−05 season, he scored 1 league goal in 1905−06Right back 1904–05 190210Left back 1904–06 7070Stats not including September 1905−October 1906Centre forward 1904–05 143153Inside Left 1904–05 0010Left back 1904–05 261281Goalkeeper 1904–05 2020Inside Left 1904−05 3030Inside Left 1904−05 2020Inside Right 1904−05 142162Goalkeeper 1904–05 1010Right back 1904−05 1010Right back 1904−05 1010Inside Right / Outside Right 1904–05 321331Outside Left 1904–05 262272Inside Forward 1904–05 113113Inside Left 1904–05 8080Half back 1904–06 322342Stats for first season, also scored 1 League and 2 FA Cup goals in second seasonLeft half1904−05 213233Inside Left 1904−05 170190Inside Forward 1904–05 2020Inside Right 1904–05 3040Inside Forward 1904–05 123143Goalkeeper 1904–05 310320Forward / Half back 1904–05 151172Outside Right 1904−05 2020Centre forward 1904−05 2020Forward 1905–06 88Centre half / Right half 1907−1056Inside Forward 1907–09 711Goalkeeper 1908–09 00Inside Left 1908−09 1910−11 1913−14654958Appearances not including 1913−14Full back 1909−10 00Winger 1909, 1912–13 1012Centre forward 1909−10 12 14Inside Forward 1909–10 00Outside Left 1910–13 2026Full back 1910−11 00Outside Right 1910–13 1820Inside Left 1911–13 1418Goalkeeper 1911–13 00Forward 1911–13 2224Full back 1911−13 33Outside Left 1912–13 45 Forward 1912 0012Goalkeeper 1912–1914 00Goalkeeper 1913?–? 00Outside Right 1914–15 68Outside Right 1914–15 55Right half back 1914–15 00Goalkeeper 1914–15 00Full back 1915−16 00Outside Left 1915–? 11Right back 1915−? 00
Notes
References General
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