Rovers return

Shortly before Bristol Rovers returned to Bristol after the best part of a decade in exile playing at Bath City’s Twerton Park, a few of us were talking, over a pint, obviously, about the run out tune at our new home, the Memorial Stadium. For years, our boys had run out to the theme from Rocky, the battling underdog boxer who somehow managed to pluck victory from the jaws of victory. Returning to Bristol, shouldn’t we have something different? We had a few ideas but we quickly narrowed it down to one song: Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back In Town.

We knew that neither the band nor the song had any connection with Bristol Rovers. It just felt right. Moving to Bath City, a non league ground with, shall we say, somewhat limited and dated facilities, might have been a financial necessity to ensure the survival of the club, but it also felt like a near death experience. Rovers had been through enough new ground suggestions and plans over the years and none had ever got past the drawing board. Many of us felt that we might stay at Bath indefinitely and eventually downsize, adapting to bottom tier, possibly even non league, football. But we came back. The Boys Are Back In Town!

At the time, I didn’t really know anyone at the club, so I wrote a letter to the club secretary offering our suggestion. I had a very friendly, albeit totally non-committal reply but there the idea faded and died. We returned to Bristol and throughout the following 26 years, we still haven’t got it right.

Dave Edmunds’ version of Singing the Blues, various versions of Goodnight Irene and a return to Rocky have all been used. I’ve always held the view that we could do so much better. I still do and to that end, I’m making the same suggestion that, ‘once this is over’ ™ Rovers will give The Boys Are Back In Town a go.

I have played it thorough in my head. The usual pre match build up, then the teams are emerging, the speakers are cranked up, and it’s ‘Guess who just got back today?’ Given that most of our supporters are of, shall we say, a certain age, they will already be familiar with the song and even for the younger fan, there’s a great hook to sing along with. I know this is just a feeling on my part and it could be I am so out of touch the response might not be as positive as I think it will. But it’s so relevant to Rovers, albeit 24 years late. When football with fans actually does resume, I suspect the boys will want something very loud to sing along with.