THE NEWLY-formed Bromsgrove Rovers AFC played their first competitive home game in the town at South Bromsgrove High School on Saturday, writes Neil Gordon.
Rovers AFC was formed in 2021 by a group of Bromsgrove Rovers supporters who wanted to keep that club’s name alive after it folded in 2010.
The new Rovers AFC has made huge progress already and boasts a men’s first team, ten grassroots boys sides for ages eight to U15s, a Little Rovers for children aged five to seven, and a Wildcat Football Centre for girls aged five to 11.
Young children with disabilities can also play football and develop their skills with the club’s Comets Football Group.
The men’s 1st team played their inaugural season last year at Hopwood, near Alvechurch. However, they have now switched to playing home games in Bromsgrove with South Bromsgrove High School’s Charford Road site becoming their new venue.
Rovers AFC’s first outing
On Saturday Rovers kicked off their 2023/24 Birmingham and District Football League Division 3 campaign with a home 2 -2 draw against Kawala FC.
A first half Reiss Robinson header put Rovers in front on 40 minutes, before he nearly doubled the lead shortly after when he hit the post following a throw-in.
Rovers could have opened the scoring 11 minutes earlier when Adam Reeves cracked a free kick against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
The second half started brightly for Rovers with Jack Hooper hitting the underside of the crossbar with a header following a Tom Hill cross. However, the ball failed to cross the line and the chance was gone.
The visitors equalised on 70 minutes with an Amaar Sulleman strike before Abtullahi Yusuf’s quality finish put Kawala 2 -1 up five minutes later. Yusuf composed himself at the edge of the box on the left, before unleashing a sublime curling right-foot shot beyond the diving Rovers’ keeper George Harris.
The Greens went in search of an equaliser but were reduced to ten men on 81 minutes when Eden Sadler-Baker was sent off after his second booking. However, they never stopped and were rewarded on 88 minutes with a penalty. Tyler Rees kept his cool to score a deserved equaliser.
Goalscorers Reiss Robinson and Tyler Reese. Picture Neil Gordon.
The visiting keeper was sent off in stoppage time after receiving his second booking for bringing down Ashley Pardoe outside the box. The resulting free kick failed to deliver a winning goal and the match ended in a draw as Rovers completed their first competitive home game in Bromsgrove.
‘Good to be back’
Rovers AFC Chairman, Bryn Davies said: “It’s great to see the boys in green and white once again playing football in Bromsgrove. We’ve come a long way as a Club in a short space of time.
He added: “Our adult’s team is aiming to play even higher in season 2024/25 by entering the football ladder via the Midland Football League. To achieve this we will need additional financial backing.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the club should email Bryn at: [email protected] for more information.
