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Doncaster fan calls into radio with emotional message to Grant McCann and his team

A Doncaster Rovers fan calls into BBC Radio Sheffield with an emotional message to manager Grant McCann and his team.

Doncaster have stunned many this season, picking up 30 points from the last 30 points available to them, won 13 out of 16 including the last 10 in a row and gone from 22nd in February to an almost guaranteed playoff place, sitting 5th going into the final game of the League Two season.

Fans ran onto the pitch celebrating the late win at home to Barrow on Saturday, boosting their hopes of getting into the playoffs.

Then on Tuesday night, Doncaster came back from 1-0 down at Colchester to win 4-1, leaving fans stunned once again.

A video has emerged of the moment a Doncaster fan called in with a special heartfelt message, and if you’re going to do anything today, listen to this…

Andrew, the Doncaster fan, began to say on radio: “I don’t normally call, but I just wanted to say thank you, really, to Grant McCann and his team. And I figured this is my best odds of saying it meaningfully. I obviously stayed for applause at that game, but, yeah, the context of what games like Saturday can mean is just massive, for me, Saturday were probably my favourite Rovers moments since Wembley.

“I took my old man footy. He’s got dementia. He’s had it for about four years. And like a lot of fathers and son, probably, footy is only thing that really got in common. So after a bit of hiatus in our relationship since his illness, it’s footy that we’ve rebonded and it’s Rovers that we’ve rebonded with. We’ve had season tickets since pandemic.

“And I’m very mindful that this might sound sad, but it’s not sad, its dead happy, because it’s that goal. Like, that 3-2 goal that Harrison Biggins’ header, that moment. You know, we’ve been searching for moments, me and my dad, or I’ve been searching for moments to hang on to, you know, like kind of searching for that moment that I can have for resting. This chapter of our relationship will end up ending when he gets, you know, when his illness progresses. And that 3-2 goal is the first moment that I’ve got a firm grip on that I can, that’s just imprinted in me forever. Both of us jumping up, sort of our voices going to, like, octaves I’ve not been to since we were children, you know, screaming. And it really was just such a, I looked across to him and I think, Derek, yesterday you had on. Said you were in tears. I had a mate I saw after game my way out in gantry said you were in tears and I were in tears as well. I couldn’t actually show my tears to my dad because it confused him, but I were in tears as well. And I’ve never been in tears at 40, ever. I’ve never ever had a moment like that.

“And even in 2008 at playoff final, I was a bit, you know, I were 18 then I was a bit too cool for school. Didn’t really appreciate it. Bit of a wrong’un at that age, but now I’m cherishing it. And that was the first moment that I ye not had to search for. That’s just come to me that my club has given me in terms of just totally lost my scent. My dad lost him scent. He leaps up as well. And even though he’ll forget he’ll have forgot. Now, in terms of the actual game, that’s just the illness. That moment he’s, in that moment he knows, you know, in that moment he knows it’s an important goal. He knows there’s been jeopardy, there’s bums on seats all around him. It’s more important. And it’s just. It was just absolutely mint. And I’ve not had one like that. I’ve not had a moment like that in my adult life that I can cherish with my dad with his illness and I hold on to it forever.

“Don’t matter if we get in playoffs, don’t matter if we go up to me. I mean, it does. Of course it does, but at the same time it doesn’t because, you know, I’ve had my feast. This is it. And so I feel really grateful for that. And I just want to say thank you to the team.”

Radio broadcaster: Andrew. It’s an incredible call. I’m well enough, a little bit, if I’m being honest, listening to you tonight from a variety of perspectives, really. My nanna had dementia, so I went through that with her. And in terms of what you’re saying with your dad, I lost my dad in 2019 to cancer and I managed to get him to a game with me to do the radio stuff about six months before he passed.

“I’ve mentioned it before. We went to Ipswich, and Ipswich were phenomenal on the day and that. That day is priceless. I can’t. I can’t tell you what the memories of that day, and it’s still my photo on Twitter now, is me and my dad in that press box at Portman. So to hear you kind of describe that and the moment at the weekend, that’s what football’s all about, isn’t it? It’s those connections. It’s you and your team and who you go with and the people around it and everything else. And it’d be amazing if Doncaster could finish this story this year. But, I mean, you’ve won already, haven’t you? From what you’re saying, I think that’s just wonderful.

Fan: Definitely Adam. And you don’t know. You don’t know. None of us do do it, but you definitely don’t know. Every time we renew season ticket, I think, one more season, one more season and I’m buzzing, you know, keep thinking, we’ll get another. And I genuinely don’t know if we’ll get next season, certainly not all of it.

“So just to have after our whip Rovers have been for the last few years. Yeah, it were. It was. It were the favourite tears I’ve ever wiped off my own face. You know, the favourite tears I’ve ever had. You know, its just I couldn’t. I can’t really. I can’t really put into words what it means to me very well, but what I mean is, essentially, thank you to the team, because it’s. Yeah, I felt a bit unnatural, natural. Searching for moments when they’ve not come to me. And that one punched me in face. You couldn’t miss that one, so it was brilliant.”

McCann said after the win at Colchester, per SportsMax: “I’m really proud.

“Obviously conceding early wasn’t ideal for us but the response was outstanding.

“We scored two very good goals, the first one from Mols (Molyneux) and the second one was another very good goal and something we knew could help us in the game, Biggo’s (Biggins) runs from the centre circle in between the posts after good play by Mols.

“In the first half, we were a little bit edgy and it was a little bit even Steven in the game.

“But in the second half, we were really comfortable and scored another couple of really good goals.

“We always play for more goals; we never sit tight and take what we’ve got – that’s just the way we like to go about things.

“We came up against a team that’s obviously down the wrong end of the table and we knew it was going to be tough.”

This is how fans reacted on Twitter after a Doncaster fan calls into radio with an emotional message to Grant McCann and his team…

@aroundgroundsss: This is why I love football. Stories like Andrews just spoken about, the emotions and memories created all through football. We shouldn’t cry about football but we do and for me there’s no other sport like it. Football is special. Donny rovers are flying #DRFC

@Liz_Robinson_xx: This gave me goosebumps. When my Dad was taken ill & we were told he probably wouldn’t make it through, one of the things I was most sad about was going to watch #DRFC without him. Saturday reminded me of why. He took me to games from when I was in my pushchair and without him I’d not have met my friends, partner and I’d not be who I am without that decision to drag me all over the country. Getting to celebrate that goal with him, in the best atmosphere I’ve seen I’ll never forget.

@Tom_Whitton_: It’s more than a game really isn’t it #drfc

@donna_ash76: Doesn’t matter who you support, this is an incredibly beautiful call. Life is a serious of moments, hopefully more wonderful ones than sad. It’s what keeps us going. You never know when the last of those moments may come, so live them to the fullest.

@donnyeagle: People who don’t get football complain about how much footballers get paid to kick a ball but this is the reason why it captures so many hearts. There are so many lows in life these wins and memories you make with your families and friends are priceless #DRFC

@SallyHonch_x: This got me, having both my Nanna and Grandad pass from dementia i know how much this will of meant. What a team, what a fanbase #drfc #Roverstilwedie

@GazRobinson1: that’s me gone 😭😭🥲🥲💙💙 Every football fan regardless of who you follow please listen to this… This sums up what we feel and what we are about… life’s precious. Treasure those moments with your loved ones. Life isn’t about money or possessions it’s memories. #swfc

@J_BELLAMY_19: Football is way more than just a game. It’s memories that last a lifetime

@18Dapper: Whoever you follow across the country give this a listen. I’m an absolute mess listening to this. It’s what it’s all about. Moments with those that matter most. The connection and bond to family and strangers all through a shared love. #DRFC

@therealtbailey: Oh my god, this has done me in. Bless you and your Dad, Andrew. A call and story that will undoubtedly resonate with so many football supporters. 😢

@p_franklin5: Wow! What a call. Brilliantly and eloquently put Andrew! Go well in the playoffs, hope you get promoted for your Dad and you!

@Owls1412: This is what it’s all about none of that VAR, PGMOL, super leagues, FFP nonsense….. this…. It matters to people so football give it back to the man in the street….

@BainesOnToast_: Powerful stuff, something that all football fans can relate to. I’m still lucky enough to attend football matches with my dad and it’s always great whether we win, lose or draw. It’s more than just a football match.

@GEGE71073851290: I cherished a memory with my dad at Wembley which sadly was the very last time he went there 🥺🥺🥺

@Scottyh5: Top man Andrew. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼#memories

@shauny_DRFC: What an amazing call. Incredible. ❤️

@berksrover: What a brilliant call, proud of Andrew for giving the background, something that would never have been mentioned a few years ago, and he’s right of course, that Biggins goal will live long in the memory for those of us lucky to be there, best wishes to Andrew and his Dad #rtid

@chriswswfc76: Top stuff 💙

@highamclaire: What a brilliant, beautiful call you get it I hope rovers can get up for you andrew

@msatur1991: Just brilliant. This why we love football.

@doncaster_free: Beautiful memories

@oilleaky2k: Just got something in my eye, that’s all #drfc

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