# 2007–08 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

During the 2007–08 English football season, Doncaster Rovers F.C. competed in League One. The team were in fourth place by the New Year, and ended up in the top three during the final stages of the league. They were promoted to the Championship along with two other teams.

## Season summary

This was Doncaster's fourth consecutive season in League One.
With Adam Brown, Jan Budtz, Liam Green, Rob Pacey, Jon-Paul Pittman, and Sean Thornton released, several new players were brought in for the beginning of the season. James Hayter was bought from Bournemouth, Gordon Greer came from Kilmarnock, free agents Sam Hird and Neil Sullivan came from Leeds, Richie Wellens from Oldham, Martin Woods from Rotherham, and Matt Mills was loaned from Manchester City.
Rovers were in 4th place by the New Year, and by the last game of the season they were in 2nd place but needed a win at Cheltenham to guarantee promotion to the Championship. Cheltenham won, as did 3rd placed Nottingham Forest, so Doncaster had to compete in the play-offs. First, they drew away at Southend where Paul Heffernan was sent off for a "head butt", but in the home leg they won 5–1, with James Coppinger getting a hattrick.
The play-off final was at the new Wembley against a Leeds side that had failed to get an automatic place partly following a pre-season 15 point deduction for exiting administration without a CVA. The contest attracted an attendance of 75,132, the biggest crowd Doncaster had ever played in front of. From a Brian Stock corner, James Hayter headed in the only goal of the match in the 47th minute and Doncaster were promoted to the second tier after an absence of 50 years when they had been relegated at the end of the 1957–58 season.
Progress in the three cup tournaments was limited.
The average league attendance figure of 7,978 was marginally up on the previous season and the highest since the 1969–70 season.
During the season it was announced that Terry Bramall and Dick Watson had become equal controlling shareholders alongside John Ryan.

## League One
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Swansea City (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 82 | 42 | +40 | 92 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest (P) | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 64 | 32 | +32 | 82 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 3 | Doncaster Rovers (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 80 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 4 | Carlisle United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 80 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 5 | Leeds United | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 76 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the Football League Championship.
* ↑ Leeds deducted 15 points for failure to comply with rules on insolvency.

### Results

League One match details :
| Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 11 August 2007 | Millwall | H | D | 0–0 | | 7,542 |
| 18 August 2007 | Hartlepool United | A | L | 1–2 | Hayter 71' | 5,544 |
| 25 August 2007 | AFC Bournemouth | H | L | 1–2 | Greer 24' | 6,476 |
| 1 September 2007 | Swansea City | A | W | 2–1 | Wellens 68', 84' | 11,933 |
| 7 September 2007 | Northampton Town | A | L | 0–2 | | 5,274 |
| 16 September 2007 | Crewe Alexandra | H | W | 2–0 | Heffernan 31', Woodards 48' o.g. | 6,726 |
| 22 September 2007 | Southend United | A | L | 2–3 | G. Roberts 28', Guy 36' | 8,117 |
| 29 September 2007 | Cheltenham Town | H | W | 2–0 | Guy 18', Mills 58' | 6,150 |
| 2 October 2007 | Walsall | H | L | 2–3 | Mills 17', Guy 40' | 6,038 |
| 6 October 2007 | Luton Town | A | D | 1–1 | Hayter 67' | 6,513 |
| 14 October 2007 | Huddersfield Town | H | W | 2–0 | Stock 13', Wilson 65' | 6,866 |
| 20 October 2007 | Nottingham Forest | A | D | 0–0 | | 23,108 |
| 28 October 2007 | Leyton Orient | H | W | 4–2 | Wellens 52', 88', Price 69', Hayter 83' | 7,184 |
| 3 November 2007 | Swindon Town | A | W | 2–1 | Stock 31', Guy 73' | 6,517 |
| 6 November 2007 | Gillingham | A | D | 1–1 | Hayter 65' pen. | 5,030 |
| 17 November 2007 | Tranmere Rovers | H | D | 0–0 | | 7,070 |
| 24 November 2007 | Port Vale | A | W | 3–1 | Guy 59', Hayter 68', Wellens 81' | 4,581 |
| 4 December 2007 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | D | 0–0 | | 6,215 |
| 8 December 2007 | Oldham Athletic | A | D | 1–1 | Hayter 90' pen. | 4,776 |
| 16 December 2007 | Yeovil Town | H | L | 1–2 | Skiverton 90' o.g. | 5,967 |
| 22 December 2007 | Crewe Alexandra | A | W | 4–0 | Price 38', 50', Green 90', Guy 90' | 4,122 |
| 26 December 2007 | Northampton Town | H | W | 2–0 | McCammon 11', Lockwood 29' | 7,046 |
| 29 December 2007 | Southend United | H | W | 3–1 | Lockwood 8', Green 30', G. Roberts 42' | 7,163 |
| 1 January 2008 | Walsall | A | D | 1–1 | Price 45' | 6,266 |
| 12 January 2008 | Carlisle United | H | W | 1–0 | Hayter 84' | 8,197 |
| 19 January 2008 | Leeds United | A | W | 1–0 | Stock 21' | 31,402 |
| 25 January 2008 | Swansea City | H | L | 0–4 | | 10,358 |
| 29 January 2008 | Hartlepool United | H | W | 2–0 | Wellens 34', Lockwood 54' | 6,442 |
| 2 February 2008 | Millwall | A | W | 3–0 | Price 43, Coppinger 77, Green 90' | 8,230 |
| 9 February 2008 | Bristol Rovers | H | W | 2–0 | Stock 65' pen., Heffernan 90' pen. | 8,168 |
| 12 February 2008 | AFC Bournemouth | A | W | 2–0 | Price 1', 70' | 4,947 |
| 23 February 2008 | Carlisle United | A | L | 0–1 | | 8,390 |
| 1 March 2008 | Tranmere Rovers | A | W | 1–0 | Coppinger 2' | 7,551 |
| 4 March 2008 | Bristol Rovers | A | W | 1–0 | Heffernan 3' | 3,933 |
| 8 March 2008 | Port Vale | H | W | 2–1 | Heffernan 11', McCammon 19' | 8,040 |
| 11 March 2008 | Gillingham | H | W | 2–1 | Coppinger 4', Heffernan 48' pen. | 7,867 |
| 15 March 2008 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | L | 0–1 | | 6,252 |
| 21 March 2008 | Yeovil Town | A | L | 1–2 | Heffernan 73' | 6,146 |
| 24 March 2008 | Oldham Athletic | H | D | 1–1 | Heffernan 37' | 8,777 |
| 28 March 2008 | Nottingham Forest | H | W | 1–0 | G. Roberts 74' | 12,508 |
| 1 April 2008 | Leeds United | H | L | 0–1 | | 15,001 |
| 5 April 2008 | Huddersfield Town | A | D | 2–2 | Taylor 52, Green 84' | 10,279 |
| 11 April 2008 | Swindon Town | H | W | 2–0 | McDaid 39', Stock 68' pen. | 8,371 |
| 19 April 2008 | Leyton Orient | A | D | 1–1 | McCammon 60' | 4,582 |
| 26 April 2008 | Luton Town | H | W | 2–0 | Mills 34', McCammon 68' | 9,332 |
| 3 May 2008 | Cheltenham Town | A | L | 1–2 | Green 76' | 6,787 |

### Play-offs

League One play-offs match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Semi-final first leg | 9 May 2008 | Southend United | A | D | 0–0 | | 9,109 |
| Semi-final second leg | 16 May 2008 | Southend United | H | W | 5–1 | Stock 11' pen., Barrett 21' o.g., Coppinger 39', 52', 80' | 13,081 |
| Final | 25 May 2008 | Leeds United | N | W | 1–0 | Hayter 48' | 75,132 |

## FA Cup

FA Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref. |
| First round | 10 November 2007 | Oldham Athletic | A | D | 2–2 | Hayter 63', 86' | 4,280 | |
| First round replay | 27 November 2007 | Oldham Athletic | H | L | 1–2 | McCammon 26' | 4,340 | |

## League Cup

League Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref. |
| First round | 14 August 2007 | Lincoln City | H | W | 4–1 | Hayter 23', Wellens 55', Heffernan 59', McCammon 73' | 5,084 | |
| Second round | 28 August 2007 | Plymouth Argyle | A | L | 0–2 | | 5,133 | |

## Football League Trophy

Football League Trophy match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 4 September 2007 | Bradford City | H | W | 5–1 | McCammon 16', 41', Guy 24', Woods 64', Harban 78' o.g. | 4,710 |
| Second round | 23 October 2007 | Oldham Athletic | H | W | 3–0 | Price 54', Green 74', Woods 87' | 4,608 |
| Quarter-final | 13 November 2007 | Grimsby Town | A | D | 2–2 (4–5 p) | Guy 25', Heffernan 79' pen. | 4,011 |

## Squad
### Statistics

Players with a zero in every column only appeared as unused substitutes.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | League One Play-offs | League One Play-offs | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Neil Sullivan | 55 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | James O'Connor | 49 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | WAL | Gareth Roberts | 45 | 3 | 35+2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | WAL | Stephen Roberts | 28 | 0 | 20+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Graeme Lee | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Lewis Guy | 39 | 8 | 13+16 | 6 | 1+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | WAL | Brian Stock | 46 | 6 | 40 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | BRB | Mark McCammon | 39 | 8 | 22+9 | 4 | 0+3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0+2 | 1 | 1+1 | 2 |
| 10 | FW | WAL | Gareth Taylor | 12 | 1 | 4+8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF | ENG | Adam Lockwood | 44 | 3 | 39 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | James Hayter | 43 | 11 | 22+13 | 7 | 2+1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Ben Smith | 2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Paul Heffernan | 32 | 9 | 18+9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Mark Wilson | 35 | 1 | 24+8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Anthony Griffith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Martin Woods | 22 | 2 | 7+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 |
| 18 | MF | SCO | Sean McDaid | 29 | 1 | 14+10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Richie Wellens | 52 | 7 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | IRL | Paul Green | 45 | 6 | 26+12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | DF | ENG | Sam Hird | 9 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Matthew Mills | 41 | 3 | 29+5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | WAL | Jason Price | 35 | 8 | 18+11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gordon Greer | 17 | 1 | 10+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | NIR | Stuart Elliott | 10 | 0 | 1+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | James Coppinger | 46 | 6 | 31+8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Craig Nelthorpe | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Matt Noble | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season: ||||||||||||||||
| | GK | ENG | Barry Richardson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | NIR | Kevin Horlock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | MSR | Bruce Dyer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |

#### Goals record

    As of 23 January 2018
| Rank | No. | Po. | Name | League One | League One Play-offs | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | 12 | FW | James Hayter | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | 14 | FW | Paul Heffernan | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | 23 | FW | Jason Price | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | 7 | FW | Lewis Guy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 9 | FW | Mark McCammon | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | 19 | MF | Richie Wellens | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | 8 | MF | Brian Stock | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | 20 | MF | Paul Green | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | 26 | MF | James Coppinger | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 | 3 | DF | Gareth Roberts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | 22 | DF | Matt Mills | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | 11 | DF | Adam Lockwood | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | 17 | MF | Martin Woods | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | 24 | DF | Gordon Greer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 15 | MF | Mark Wilson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 10 | MF | Gareth Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 18 | MF | Sean McDaid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 65 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 88 |

#### Disciplinary record

    As of 23 January 2018
| No. | Pos. | Name | League One | League One | League One | League One Play-offs | League One Play-offs | League One Play-offs | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Neil Sullivan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | James O'Connor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Gareth Roberts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Stephen Roberts | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | Lewis Guy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | Brian Stock | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Mark McCammon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF | Adam Lockwood | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | James Hayter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Paul Heffernan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | MF | Mark Wilson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Martin Woods | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Sean McDaid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | Richie Wellens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Paul Green | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Sam Hird | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Matt Mills | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | FW | Jason Price | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | Stuart Elliott | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | James Coppinger | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 53 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 4 |