A closer look at Donny and the Keepmoat Stadium.

Vital Statistics

Founded: 1879

Chairman: John Ryan

Last Season: Championship - 21st

Nicknames: Donny, Rovers

Rivals: Rotherham United, Barnsley, Hull City, Leeds United

Major Honours

None

Scheduled Matches

Portsmouth vs Doncaster: Saturday, October 22nd (3pm)

Doncaster vs Portsmouth: Saturday, April 14th (3pm)

Transfers In

Tommy Spurr (Sheffield Wednesday - £200,000)

Kyle Bennett (Bury - Tribunal)

James Baxendale (Leeds - Free)

Richard Naylor (Leeds - Free)

Chris Brown (Preston - Free)

Giles Barnes (West Brom - Free)

Pascal Chimbonda (QPR - Free)

Transfers Out

Steve Brooker (Released)

Byron Webster (Northampton - Free)

Dennis Souza (Released)

Wayne Thomas (Released)

Waide Fairhurst (Macclesfield - Undisclosed)

Probable Starting XI

GK: Gary WOODS

RB: Mustapha DUMBUYA

CB: James O'CONNOR

CB: George FRIEND

LB: Tommy SPURR

RM: James COPPINGER

CM: Brian STOCK

CM: John OSTER

CM: Ryan MASON

LM: James HAYTER

CF: Frederic PIQUIONNE

The Manager: Dean Saunders

Having spent his playing career with a multitude of clubs including Derby, Liverpool and Aston Villa, the Welshman hung up his boots in 2001 and began his coaching career before being given his first managerial role at Wrexham.

Despite his mediocre results, he was snapped up by Doncaster Rovers after Sean O'Driscoll was sacked and started well. However, Donny fans now want him out after an abysmal run of results.

The Fans

Donny fans are some of the most down-to-earth and knowledgeable people I've had the pleasure of speaking to before a game. They're very welcoming, helpful and humble supporters who acknowledge just what a club of Doncaster's size has achieved in such a small space of time.

Being a supposed "small club" would mean that they're not the most popular team to support amongst celebrities but apparently Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and magician Paul Daniels are famous Rovers fans.

Doncaster fan Adam Stubbings on the upcoming season:

This season I don't expect much from us...I don't think anybody does. We're favourite for relegation with every bookies in the country, and I can't say I blame them. We just survived last season thanks largely to an injury nightmare and poor defending.

Well the injury nightmare has only gotten worse over the summer and into the first game away at Brighton, where 3 players went off injured, two with suspected leg breaks. Being that one of those was our record signing Billy Sharp, you can understand the concern around the club at the moment.

Even with Sharp fully fit I'm unsure his goals would be able to help us too much, we don't have a lot of money to spend and are fighting hard to continue to punch our weight above our level.

It is going to be a long, hard season but I think we may be able to keep our heads above water providing we can get enough players fit to name a squad of 16 and can iron out the silly errors. We could also do with improving at set pieces as I can't remember the last time we scored from a free kick or a corner.

The Ground: The Keepmoat Stadium (Capacity: 15,200)

After spending 84 years at Belle Vue, it was time for Doncaster to move into their new stadium built in the middle of nowhere, although it is the only football league ground situated next to a lake.

There is a unique place to drink nearby called The Toad Brewery which is situated in part of a nearby warehouse and sells a range of alcohol and has its own BBQ too.

The exterior of the Keepmoat Stadium is more interesting than the interior. The floodlight design is unique and the ground looks tidy as you'd expect.

Pompey fans are housed in the North Stand which looks just like the South Stand opposite. The concourse inside is a good size though which means less chance of being bundled pre-game and during half-time.

This is the rather plain looking East Stand.

And this is the also rather plain looking West Stand. Basically, the Keepmoat Stadium is a smaller scale version of St. Mary's and so isn't very spectacular at all.

This is a slightly-skewed photo of the Keepmoat when it is "full" before kick-off. With so many empty seats, the atmosphere from the home fans can't be heard but the away end is very condusive to creating a loud noise.