# 2023–24 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 145th season in the history of Doncaster Rovers and their second consecutive season in League Two. The club are participating in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 31 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Ian Lawlor | GK | Dublin | (1994-10-27) 27 October 1994 (age 29) | Dundee | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 12 | Louis Jones | GK | Doncaster | (1998-10-12) 12 October 1998 (age 25) | Academy | 1 July 2017 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 15 | Thimothée Lo-Tutala | GK | Gonesse | (2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 21) | Hull City | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Jamie Sterry | RB | Newcastle upon Tyne | (1995-11-21) 21 November 1995 (age 28) | Hartlepool United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 3 | James Maxwell | LB | Crewe | (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 (age 22) | Rangers | 21 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 4 | Tom Anderson | CB | Burnley | (1993-09-02) 2 September 1993 (age 31) | Burnley | 1 July 2018 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 5 | Joseph Olowu | CB | Ibadan | (1999-11-27) 27 November 1999 (age 24) | Arsenal | 10 September 2021 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Richard Wood | CB | Ossett | (1985-07-05) 5 July 1985 (age 39) | Rotherham United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 16 | Thomas Nixon | RB | Trentham | (2002-11-25) 25 November 2002 (age 21) | Hull City | 24 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 17 | Owen Bailey | CB | Newcastle upon Tyne | (1999-01-22) 22 January 1999 (age 25) | Gateshead | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 23 | Jack Senior | LB | Halifax | (1997-01-13) 13 January 1997 (age 27) | FC Halifax Town | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 25 | Jay McGrath | CB | Doncaster | (2003-04-15) 15 April 2003 (age 21) | St Patrick's Athletic | 4 January 2024 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 28 | Bobby Faulkner | CB | Doncaster | (2004-08-05) 5 August 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 7 | Luke Molyneux | AM | Bishop Auckland | (1998-03-29) 29 March 1998 (age 26) | Hartlepool United | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 8 | George Broadbent | CM | Tameside | (2000-09-30) 30 September 2000 (age 24) | Sheffield United | 14 June 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 10 | Tommy Rowe | LM | Wythenshawe | (1988-09-24) 24 September 1988 (age 36) | Bristol City | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 11 | Jon Taylor | RM | Liverpool | (1992-07-20) 20 July 1992 (age 32) | Rotherham United | 9 August 2019 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 14 | Harrison Biggins | CM | Sheffield | (1996-03-15) 15 March 1996 (age 28) | Fleetwood Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Zain Westbrooke | CM | Chertsey | (1996-10-28) 28 October 1996 (age 27) | Bristol Rovers | 24 March 2023 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 27 | Liam Ravenhill | CM | Doncaster | (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2021 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 33 | Ben Close | CM | Portsmouth | (1996-08-08) 8 August 1996 (age 28) | Portsmouth | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 37 | Matthew Craig | DM | Barnet | (2003-04-16) 16 April 2003 (age 21) | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 38 | Will Flint | CM | | | Academy | 10 October 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 42 | Sam Straughan-Brown | CM | | | Academy | 15 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | George Miller | CF | Bolton | (1998-08-11) 11 August 1998 (age 26) | Barnsley | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Joe Ironside | CF | Middlesbrough | (1993-10-16) 16 October 1993 (age 30) | Cambridge United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 21 | Kyle Hurst | LW | Milton Keynes | (2002-01-20) 20 January 2002 (age 22) | Birmingham City | 22 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 22 | Conor Carty | CF | Dunlavin | (2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 (age 22) | Bolton Wanderers | 3 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 31 | Caolan Lavery | CF | Red Deer | (1992-10-22) 22 October 1992 (age 31) | Scunthorpe United | 24 January 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 36 | Maxime Biamou | CF | Creteil | (1990-11-13) 13 November 1990 (age 33) | Dundee United | 28 February 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 40 | Billy Waters | SS | Epsom | (1994-10-15) 15 October 1994 (age 29) | Wrexham | 11 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 47 | Hakeeb Adelakun | RW | Hackney | (1996-06-11) 11 June 1996 (age 28) | Lincoln City | 22 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 18 | Deji Sotona | LW | Waterford | (2002-12-07) 7 December 2002 (age 21) | Burnley | 14 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 19 | Charlie Seaman | RB | Waltham Forest | (1999-09-30) 30 September 1999 (age 25) | Bournemouth | 1 October 2020 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 29 | Jack Degruchy | AM | Knaresborough | (2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 21) | York City | 28 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Tavonga Kuleya | RW | Bradford | (2004-06-15) 15 June 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Ben Bottomley | GK | Pontefract | (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2021 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 35 | Jack Goodman | CF | Nottingham | (2005-03-21) 21 March 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 14 June 2023 | CM | George Broadbent | Sheffield United | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Owen Bailey | Gateshead | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Joe Ironside | Cambridge United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Ian Lawlor | Dundee | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | LB | Jack Senior | FC Halifax Town | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | RB | Jamie Sterry | Hartlepool United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Richard Wood | Rotherham United | Free Transfer |
| 14 July 2023 | LW | Deji Sotona | Burnley | Free Transfer |
| 8 August 2023 | GK | Rory Watson | Wrexham | Free Transfer |
| 4 January 2024 | CB | Jay McGrath | St Patrick's Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 28 February 2024 | CF | Maxime Biamou | Free agent | — |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Kieran Agard | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LM | Aidan Barlow | Eastleigh | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Jonathan Mitchell | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Jak Whiting | Bradford (Park Avenue) | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Ro-Shaun Williams | Free agent | Released |
| 24 August 2023 | GK | Rory Watson | York City | Free Transfer |
| 10 November 2023 | CF | Reo Griffiths | Free agent | Mutual Consent |
| 1 February 2024 | CB | Adam Long | AFC Fylde | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | RW | Tyler Roberts | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 January 2024 |
| 24 July 2023 | RB | Tom Nixon | Hull City | End of Season |
| 11 August 2023 | CF | Modou Faal | West Bromwich Albion | 13 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | SS | Louie Marsh | Sheffield United | 10 January 2024 |
| 3 January 2024 | CF | Conor Carty | Bolton Wanderers | End of Season |
| 9 January 2024 | DM | Matthew Craig | Tottenham Hotspur | End of Season |
| 11 January 2024 | SS | Billy Waters | Wrexham | End of Season |
| 22 January 2024 | RW | Hakeeb Adelakun | Lincoln City | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | GK | Thimothée Lo-Tutala | Hull City | End of Season |
* ↑ On 2 January, Roberts' loan from Wolves ended early.
* ↑ On 13 January, Faal returned to parent club West Brom early from his season-long loan.
* ↑ On 10 January, Marsh returned back to Sheffied United early due to injury.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 22 July 2023 | AM | Jack Degruchy | Marske United | 19 January 2024 |
| 22 July 2023 | RW | Tavonga Kuleya | Marske United | 26 August 2023 |
| 24 July 2023 | CF | Jack Goodman | Gainsborough Trinity | 26 August 2023 |
| 27 July 2023 | RB | Charlie Seaman | Hartlepool United | 5 January 2024 |
| 8 September 2023 | RW | Tavonga Kuleya | Sheffield | 7 October 2023 |
| 15 November 2023 | CB | Will Green | Maltby Main | 13 December 2023 |
| 24 November 2023 | LW | Deji Sotona | Boston United | 13 January 2024 |
| 28 November 2023 | GK | Ben Bottomley | Gainsborough Trinity | 26 December 2023 |
| 10 January 2024 | RW | Tavonga Kuleya | Gainsborough Trinity | 7 February 2024 |
| 19 January 2024 | AM | Jack Degruchy | Kettering Town | 17 February 2024 |
| 19 January 2024 | RB | Charlie Seaman | Wealdstone | End of Season |
| 27 February 2024 | CF | Jack Goodman | Matlock Town | End of Season |
| 27 February 2024 | RW | Tavonga Kuleya | Gainsborough Trinity | End of Season |
| 27 March 2024 | AM | Jack Degruchy | Matlock Town | End of Season |
| 28 March 2024 | GK | Ben Bottomley | Cleethorpes Town | End of Season |
* ↑ On 19 January, Degruchy was recalled from his loan at Marske and subsequently joined Kettering on loan.
* ↑ On 26 August, Tavonga Kuleya was recalled from his season-long loan at Marske United.
* ↑ On 26 August, Jack Goodman was recalled from his season-long loan at Gainsborough Trinity.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 25 May, Doncaster announced their first pre-season friendly, against Rossington Main. A second friendly was confirmed on June 6, against Port Vale. A day later, a third was added, against Sheffield Wednesday. On 14 June, the club confirmed a three further friendlies, against Boston United, York City and Scunthorpe United.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | Matchday 1 | | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 31 | 47 | −16 | 029.63 |
| FA Cup | First round | Second round | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | +0 | 033.33 |
| EFL Cup | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 050.00 |
| EFL Trophy | Group stage | Quarter Final | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 49 | 61 | −12 | 034.21 |
Last updated: 31 January 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Wrexham (P) | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 89 | 52 | +37 | 88 | Promoted to EFL League One |
| 3 | Mansfield Town (P) | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 90 | 47 | +43 | 86 | Promoted to EFL League One |
| 4 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 83 | 68 | +15 | 78 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 68 | +5 | 71 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 69 | 65 | +4 | 71 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Crawley Town (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 73 | 67 | +6 | 70 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Barrow | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 56 | +6 | 69 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 23 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 29$^2$ | 37 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 18$^1$ | 44 | 45 | 38$^3$ | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A |
| Result | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | D | W | D | W | W | L | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | D |
| Position | 19 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
* $^1$ Matchday 18 (vs Walsall) was postponed due to the international call-ups.
* $^2$ Matchday 29 (vs Bradford City) was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
* $^3$ Matchday 38 (vs Colchester United) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League Two fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

#### Play-offs

Doncaster finished 5th in the regular 2023–24 EFL League Two season, so were drawn against 6th placed Crewe Alexandra in the Play-off Semi-Final. The first leg, which Doncaster won 2–0, took place at Gresty Road and the second leg took place at the Eco-Power Stadium. Crewe won the second leg 2–0, making the aggregate score 2–2, and then won a penalty shoot-out 4–3 to reach the final for promotion to EFL League One.

### FA Cup

Rovers were drawn at home to Accrington Stanley in the first round and away to Peterborough United in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Doncaster were drawn away to Hull City in the first round and at home to Everton in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Doncaster were drawn into Northern Group H, alongside Burton Albion, Mansfield Town and Everton U21. After topping the group, they were drawn at home to Nottingham Forest U21 in the second round, and Wigan Athletic in the third round and away to Bradford City in the quarter-finals.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Burton Albion | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Mansfield Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Everton U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures