BLUE DIAMOND LUNCH

March 2026

Once more the faithful gathered at the home of Gloucestershire Cricket Club for the next instalment of the cycle of lunches under the Blue Diamond Club banner. 

Let’s clear one thing up before moving on; you don’t have to be a member of anything to attend these lunches just pay and attend, if you feel so inclined, and spend a pleasant few hours in the company of like minded Bristol Rovers supporters.

Some regulars opted not to attend this one, as skipper Tony Mills had arranged it on the day that Steve Evans and his side were in action in a crucial game at Barrow and several Blue Diamond regulars were already on their way to Holker Street by the time our opening batsmen strolled out to the crease, otherwise known as their dining table.

Prior to piling on a few excess pounds, we were able to cast an eye over a sea of green from our elevated position overlooking the outfield where groundstaff were working feverishly on the outfield under the watchful eye of my mate WG Grace who was situated, as always, just outside the entrance to the pavilion. 

When I say working feverishly, I’m stretching the truth just a little, as they were actually enjoying a tea break with the radio on full blast and admiring the work already carried out which, given the amount of rain we’ve had, was pretty amazing. The last time we were in residence, the outfield was flooded and they were planting a rice crop! 

That’s now been harvested and things are gradually getting back to normal and that morning the men with the mowers and pitchforks were concentrating on the bit in the middle, where the games aficionados lob a ball to a bloke with a lump of wood and wait for him to hit it as hard as he can (probably called the square, or the wicket). Anyway, the work being carried out there was simply covering it over with canvas sheeting. Presumably to keep any more rain off as the new cricket season is fast approaching.

And so, as the sticky wickets were fast becoming a thing of the past, our attention was drawn to the fact that dinner was about to be served.

The skipper once again neglected to say WG (Grace) though he did manage to redeem himself when he announced that our guest speaker, namely one Francis Prince, formerly of the parish of Eastville and a legendary Rovers midfielder from way back when and also a veteran of 362 league games, 22 league goals and the holder of four Welsh U-23 caps.

Proceedings began with the skipper, who had remembered his microphone on this occasion, set out the order of play for the day. The opener would be meat and two veg with a miniature steak pie thrown in and a generous helping of gravy. 

That would be followed by the selling of raffle tickets before the second course of lemon posset arrived and then it was time to relax and listen to our guest speaker. 

It was both interesting and informative to hear the brief recap of his career in his own words and now the skipper will have to work hard to ensure that he brings in speakers of the same calibre for future events. 

As always, the raffle took place before close of play and while the skipper failed to win a prize, our guest speaker did; a Mother’s Day Apron, since you ask. Yours truly managed to win a bottle of red which went down well whilst savouring the three points our lads picked up at Barrow later that evening. 

To all those who came along to our latest dinner, thank you for your continued support. We hope to see you all again, along with any newcomers you can persuade to join us, very soon. 

With acknowledgement and thanks to Keith Brookman for the report and the photos more of which can be found in the Gallery https://www.bristolroversfpa.org/gallery0320