Gary Bowyer: Becoming the Rovers manager, the feeling of being sacked and youth prospects

Andre Ooijer: Life under Hughes & Allardyce, scoring last-minute winners and playing for Holland

Welcome to the "They Think It's All Rovers" Podcast. Today, we're joined by Dutch defender Andre Ooijer, who joins us to discuss his trophy-laden career. We start the conversation with discussions on Andre's early life in Amsterdam, and his time in the youth set-up with Ajax. His loan spell at Volendam and then his move to Roda JC comes under the spotlight, with chat on the KNVB Cup victory. We then hear about his move to PSV, and his feelings on winning five Dutch league titles and a cup. The focus then switches to his move to Rovers and early struggles in England, before we hear about Andre's struggles when he was ruled out for several months with a broken leg and damaged ankle ligaments. Andre then talks about his return to the side to score vital last-minute winners versus Everton and Tottenham, and life under Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Sam Allardyce. We then speak about how his departure from Rovers came about, and his final playing days with PSV and Ajax, before his past and current coaching roles with the former round off the conversation. Thanks for listening, and follow us for more! Listen to our latest episodes: Spotify: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 ⁠ [https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 ] Apple: ⁠https://apple.co/4n0BeOG ⁠ [https://apple.co/4n0BeOG ] Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates: X (formerly Twitter): ⁠https://bit.ly/42zbeBy⁠ [https://bit.ly/42zbeBy] Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/4phUTeg ⁠ [https://bit.ly/4phUTeg ] TikTok: ⁠https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow ⁠ [https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow ] Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/4glPbnN⁠ [https://bit.ly/4glPbnN]

Gary Bowyer: Becoming the Rovers manager, the feeling of being sacked and youth prospects

Welcome to the "They Think It's All Rovers" Podcast. Today, we're joined by current Burton Albion manager and former Rovers Head of Youth Coaching, Reserve Team Manager, Caretaker Manager and Permanent Manager Gary Bowyer! We start the episode by running through his early life as the son of European Cup winner Ian Bowyer, and how his dad’s value shaped his career. Gary’s brief playing career then comes under the spotlight, with focus on the mental side of retiring at 25 due to injury. We then leap into Gary’s coaching days with Ilkeston Town and Derby County, before focus switches to his move to Rovers. His time spent developing the likes of Grant Hanley, Phil Jones and David Raya, his sides’ FA Youth Cup exploits and his progression through the ranks then feature, before we discuss his two caretaker spells. We then learn about how the permanent job came about, the trials and tribulations of the role and also the pressures he felt. Focus then turns to Rovers’ 2014-15 FA Cup run, which saw us narrowly edged out by Liverpool in the quarter final replay, before the missed play-off opportunities become the centre of discussion. We then learn Gary’s thoughts around the time he left the club, and how the departure came about, before finishing with focus on his managerial successes at Blackpool, Bradford, Dundee and his current club Burton Albion. Thanks for listening, and follow us for more! Listen to our latest episodes: Spotify: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 [https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9] ⁠ Apple: ⁠https://apple.co/4n0BeOG [https://apple.co/4n0BeOG] ⁠ Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates: X (formerly Twitter): ⁠https://bit.ly/42zbeBy⁠ [https://bit.ly/42zbeBy%E2%81%A0] Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/4phUTeg [https://bit.ly/4phUTeg] ⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow [https://bit.ly/4phUTeg] ⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/4glPbnN⁠ [https://bit.ly/4glPbnN%E2%81%A0]

Bobby Mimms: Winning at Wembley, being replaced by Flowers and returning as a coach

Welcome to the "They Think It's All Rovers" Podcast. Today, we're joined by Bobby Mimms, who sits down to discuss his three spells with Rovers. His early life in Yorkshire as a child starts the conversation off, before we learn about his time as an apprentice with Halifax Town. Spells with Rotherham United, Everton, Notts County and Sunderland are next under the radar, before we find out about Bobby's loan spell in 1987, We then learn about his time with Tottenham and Scottish side Aberdeen, before focus turns to his permanent move to Ewood Park in 1990. Bobby takes us through the first couple of years as Rovers gained promotion from the second tier in 1992 with a memorable win at Wembley versus Leicester City. We then learn about the early Premier League years, and his thoughts on being replaced by Tim Flowers in 1994, the year before Rovers lifted the Premier League. His departure in 1996 comes under the spotlight, and then the final stages of his career before his coaching career. In a coaching career that has taken him to India, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Philippines, Fiji and Montserrat, he has still managed to spend four years at Rovers between 2008 and 2012. We finish up by discussing his move back to the club, life under Paul Ince, Sam Allardyce and Henning Berg, and the change of ownership at the club. Thanks for listening, and follow us for more! Listen to our latest episodes: Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 Apple: https://apple.co/4n0BeOG Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates: X (formerly Twitter): https://bit.ly/42zbeBy Instagram: https://bit.ly/4phUTeg TikTok: https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow Facebook: https://bit.ly/4glPbnN

Mick Rathbone: His brand new book, life at Rovers and working with David Moyes

📘 Check out Mick's latest book 'The Smell Of Football 3' here: https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/smell-football-iii 📕 You can also purchase 'The Smell Of Football 2', the prequel to Mick's latest book, here: https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/smell-football-ii Welcome to the "They Think It's All Rovers" Podcast. Today’s episode sees us sit down with Mick Rathbone, who spent eight years at Rovers. The discussion starts with his early days at his boyhood club Birmingham City and their fierce rivals, Aston Villa. Mick discusses the pressures of playing under Sir Alf Ramsay and his childhood hero Trevor Francis. He then discusses how he fell out of love with football and having to be convinced to go on loan to Rovers, where he rediscovered his enjoyment for the game, and then how he wanted to make the move permanent. His life at Rovers then comes under the radar, with discussions on the 1980 promotion from the third tier, life with injury after he broke his leg in 1983, and then his frustration at missing the 1987 Full Members' Cup final. His departure is then the main talking point, before his time playing at Preston and then as as caretaker manager/physio/player at Halifax Town. Mick's long-standing physiotherapy career comes up next, before we finish with a discussion on his new book 'The Smell Of Football 3'. Information on 'The Smell Of Football 3' The third and final part of the highly acclaimed The Smell Of Football trilogy – told with flair and unique insider insight. Mick ‘Baz’ Rathbone concludes his riveting football memoir with a 100-day diary starting in the early 2024/5 season. Once again, he brings us a unique insight into the world of professional football, this time through his role as a physio. Written with humour and candour, the book demonstrates that incredibly fine line between winning and losing – the width of a goalpost or a referee’s decision – and the diametrically opposed emotions they bring. This book is for diehard fans who support their team unconditionally, season after season. It will show them just how much the players and officials really do care and, sadly, just how painful and emotionally draining defeat is. It is an honest account that draws on the author’s incredible 50 years in professional sport, bringing to life the day to day running of a professional football club. Just like its predecessors, this third book – perhaps the finest in the trilogy – makes you feel as if you are there with Mick sharing his experiences. Read and you will discover: * An in-depth description of a leisurely pre-season – the manager’s favourite part of the year: that pressure-free lull before the storm when results don’t matter * The plight of the poor trialist doing pre-season in the ‘last chance saloon’ of a League Two club with one of the smallest budgets: the book exposes the fragility of their careers * The physical and psychological effects of a mystery injury to a key player, and the emotional attachment between the player and physiotherapist * The delicate and potentially volatile interaction between the manager and the head of the medical department: the daily morning meeting is brought to life * A fascinating insight into the day-to-day minutia of life at a small provincial League Two club, with a no-holds-barred look behind the scenes * * An incredible, unexpected and shocking climax that would leave the author with a simple, life-changing decision from which there would be no coming back Thanks for listening, and follow us for more! Listen to our latest episodes: Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 Apple: https://apple.co/4n0BeOG Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates: X (formerly Twitter): https://bit.ly/42zbeBy Instagram: https://bit.ly/4phUTeg TikTok: https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow Facebook: https://bit.ly/4glPbnN

Craig Short: Winning promotion at Preston, playing in Europe and his respect for Neil Warnock

Welcome to the "They Think It's All Rovers" Podcast. Today’s episode sees us sit down with Craig Short, who spent six years at Rovers. The conversation starts with his early career in non-league with Scarborough Athletic under Neil Warnock, and then his subquent moves to Notts County and Derby County, where he rejected a move to Rovers in 1992. His move to Everton then comes under the spotlight, before his eventual signing for Rovers in 1999 becomes the focus. We discuss the promotion in 2001, the Worthington Cup win in 2002, the following years in European competition and his depature. We then hear about Craig's time in Hungary, before we discuss his coaching career and his return to Rovers under the management of Gary Bowyer, and his current role with Oxford United. Thanks for listening, and follow us for more! Listen to our latest episodes: Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pd7Sy9 Apple: https://apple.co/4n0BeOG Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates: X (formerly Twitter): https://bit.ly/42zbeBy Instagram: https://bit.ly/4phUTeg TikTok: https://bit.ly/4gdf2Ow Facebook: https://bit.ly/4glPbnN