BRFPA Annual Dinner May 2025
BRISTOL ROVERS FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL DINNER 22nd May 2025
Billy Clark, Andy Tillson, Ian Alexander and Paul Hardyman
For this, the eighth Annual Dinner of the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association, we travelled out deep into the Gloucestershire countryside, which did little to ease the symptoms of us hay fever sufferers!
You see, the Mercure The Grange Winterbourne is surrounded by trees and grass and it was with tears streaming down my face and a nose that was running faster than some of the former players who were in attendance that I coughed and wheezed my way through a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining evening.
No wonder Keith’s hay fever kicked in.
The reason for the change of venue and the late substitution of the man who was to be our guest speaker, one Gary Mabbutt, were never fully explained to our loyal audience, so here goes.
We have been trying to get Gary back to Bristol to speak to us for at least two years, but his role as a Tottenham Hotspur ambassador always got in the way as he’s on duty throughout the football season.
The answer to that was simple; instead of hosting a dinner in March we would, after perusing the Premier League fixture list, host it in May instead in a week free of any Spurs commitments for Gary.
And then Spurs, who were having a domestic season almost as bad as our own, only go and reach a European Final and so our man was required in Bilbao where they took on, and beat, Manchester United to win an unexpected piece of silverware. Surely the powers that be could have switched the final to Wembley given that two English clubs were involved, allowing our man to travel down to Bristol in good time for a chat and a few beers! They obviously don’t realise how important Bristol Rovers are!
So, stranded in Spain, Gary was unavailable, as was our usual venue, The County Ground, because they couldn’t book us in until they knew the cricket fixtures for the current season when the booking was made.
It should all become much easier when the redevelopment of The Mem takes place and we can host our events at the Home of Football!
Che Wilson, Keith Brookman and Roger Brinsford
Anyway, after that long winded explanation of events, and if you’ve reached this far without falling asleep, it’s a pleasure to be able to report on another successful evening with supporters and former players meeting and mingling.
True, there were some invited guests who pulled out at the last minute, but in spite of that it was good to see some heroes of the past join us for the evening.
It never ceases to amaze me how players from a number of years ago, who have all gone their separate ways and not seen each other for a considerable amount of time, can roll the years back and go over old times. It’s great to see, and a pleasure to be able to attend events such as this.
To be fair, one or two looked as though they could still pull on a blue and white quartered shirt and d the business on a matchday, Frankie Prince, Andy Tillson, Billy Clark and Che Wilson to name a few.
Director of Commercial and Finance Ritchie Bates.
Director of Football Ricky Martin
Gary Mabbutt’s absence meant, of course, that we were without a guest speaker, but we managed to obtain not one, but two value for money substitutes from our club, namely Director of Commercial and Revenue Ritchie Bates and Director of Football Ricky Martin. We were also fortunate to have former Rovers defender and Radio Bristol supremo Geoff Twentyman as our guest auctioneer.
Their audience were fed and watered before they took centre stage, though. Unfortunately, the trays of welcoming sparkly alcohol weren’t handed out to guests on arrival, as the hotel seemed to be a little short staffed. And so, most of the drinks remained in situ for the while evening, though I did notice one or two of our more enterprising guests ferry a few glasses back to their table.
The three course meal that followed was excellent in quality and appreciated by all, but no coffee at the end of it…unforgivable in my book! Nevertheless, thanks to the Mercure for the excellent fare on offer.
A short interlude, while we were urged to open our wallets to purchase a strip or three of raffle tickets preceded our speakers.
First up was Ritchie Bates who is no stranger to most of us, having previously been a speaker at one of our Blue Diamond lunches and who has made himself available to speak to supporters and actually listens to what they have to say. It was good to hear some positivity from a member of the club’s hierarchy and we all look forward to seeing what develops over the coming months.
Next up was Ricky the Essex boy, not the Puerto Rican singer! Who explained that he had a number of Rovers connections in his past.
As a schoolboy footballer, he came to the attention of Norwich City who sent along a certain Gordon Bennett to persuade him to sign for The Canaries. One of his contemporaries at Carrow Road was Che Wilson, a future Rovers player of course, and one of our Dinner guests.
And, a little bit later in his career, his mentor was former Rovers player/manager David Williams who Ricky will be inviting back to watch his former team at a future date.
Like Ritchie before him, Ricky confirmed how important events such as this were important to the club and how he planned to embrace the concept of maintaining contact with former players and, in particular, support the caps initiative as well as accommodating all of the support groups that exist to help and assist our Football Club.
How refreshing to hear some positive noises being made by two esteemed club representatives after all of the negativity that accompanied one or two of the former custodians of a club so close to our hearts.
Ricky Martin discusses his plans for next season in support of our Association
Following the awarding of the raffle prizes (once again I don’t think my tickets were entered into the draw!) we moved swiftly on to the auction where Geoff excelled as he solicited large amounts of money for the items on offer, including over £300 for a 1966 World Cup poster signed by Sir Geoff Hurst.
Geoff Twentyman does his usually excellent auctioneers job!
Top prize was a table for six in hospitality for our first home game of the season and, following a bidding war (friendly of course!) Ricky agreed that both bidders could have a table and that they would be for eight people and not six.
And that wound up proceedings, though it’s good to report that Tony Mills was back in fine form as MC for the evening, following his recent brush with major surgery. Disappointingly, his colleague Mo Bell, who undertook much of the preparations for the evening, was attending a family event and couldn’t be with us but she will be back!
Chair Tony Mills ably supported by Roger Brinsford.
Good wishes were sent to Harold, via members of the Jarman family present, as the Rovers legend is back home recovering from hip surgery and we hope he will be fit enough to attend a home match early next season.
Continued good wishes were also extended to Ian Alexander and his wife Janet, as they cope with his illness. Jock was on fine form on this particular occasion, though, and enjoyed meeting up with some of his former team mates.
Ian and Janet Alexander with Geoff Smith and guest.
To all who came along to the Dinner, to those former players who attended and to our guests, a heartfelt thank you for your positivity.
We look forward to seeing you all again very soon.
The Bristol Rovers Former Players Association would like to extend our grateful thanks to Keith Brookman for providing this excellent report and to Neil Brookman for the photos more of which can be found in the photo gallery.