Backed by Willie McKay, a new team’s in town – with Scottish Cup ambitions…
NON-LEAGUE NEWS
Since Doncaster Rovers formed in 1879, their supremacy has proved unrivalled in the South Yorkshire town. Now, 143 years later, they finally have a rival.
This summer came the foundation of Doncaster City FC, albeit the name jumped the gun slightly – Doncaster doesn’t officially become a city until November 1, having been granted the upgrade as part of the Platinum Jubilee. They plan to be Rovers’ noisy neighbours. “We’re new, we’re blue and we’re coming for you, Doncaster Rovers,” their first ever social media post confidently declared.
They’re being backed by agent Willie McKay (below, centre), who teamed up with Rovers a decade ago in what was described as ‘The Experiment’. In a change from the club’s usual modus operandi, the Scot introduced them to a plethora of high-profile Francophone players coming to the end of their careers – among them El Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, Habib Beye and Frederic Piquionne. It didn’t work: they finished rock bottom of the Championship in 2011-12.
“We understand Doncaster City will divide opinion,” club spokesman Luke Van Dome tells FFT (surely making them the only team in Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Football League Division Two with an official spokesman). “Willie is a household name in Doncaster, and he’s aware of what people might think after his involvement at Rovers, but he wants to help make us a family-orientated football club.
“He’s very happy to contribute financially, but it won’t be a case of simply throwing money around. We want to build a fanbase – we aren’t charging people to watch matches and want the club to be something Doncaster can be proud of.”
When the club was formed, McKay’s wife Janis was registered as the only director – they’re sponsored by Sports Direct and play home matches at the modest Marra Falcons Stadium, base of fellow non-league side Armthorpe Welfare. In time, they want to move to a 45-acre site owned by the agent in the nearby town of Bawtry.
City are managed
