Tranmere Rovers match preview…. did I just write that?
This Saturday we visit Prenton Park for a Vanarama National League fixture and without any shadow of a doubt this is the trip, much like the rest of the Division we are looking forward to the most. If somebody had told me in the future we would be pitching our skills against one of the great British sides in a League match, I would have laughed, for quite a long time!
Tranmere Rovers are one of the great F A Cup sides of recent sides. The year we were winning the Ryman League Division One South title dropping just ten points from our last 14 matches, Rovers were thrilling British football fans with a truly unforgettable run in the Cup.
Their first sit up and take notice result was a 0-3 win at Goodison Park, when Division One beat The Premiership in a fierce local derby. Rovers followed that up with a Fifth Round victory over another Premiership side Southampton in dramatic fashion. After a draw on the South Coast they thrilled the football world coming back from being 0-3 down to win 4-3 at Prenton Park, the scene of their exit in the quarter finals when Liverpool made the short bus journey, winning 2-4.
Rovers have reached the quarter finals of the F A Cup on three occasions in the last fifteen years, but their heroics of 2000-2001 saw then relegated to Division Two ( now rebranded as Division One).
However, recent years have been cruel to the Birkenhead based club and two straight relegations have seen them drop out of The Football League for the first time since joining in 1921.
That led to the appointment of Gary Brabin, somewhat of a National League expert, having previously managed at Cambridge United, Luton Town and Southport.
The obvious changes to personnel have been widespread, with new recruits all over the playing field, from Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Scott Davies, through defenders Liam Hogan ( Fleetwood Town), Martin Riley (Mansfield Town), midfielders Jay Harris (Wrexham), Lois Maynard ( FC Halifax Town) and strikers Andy Mangan ( Shrewsbury Town) and James Norwood ( Forest Green Rovers).
One thing that has not changes is the locals passion for football as nearly 6000 turned out for their first ever game at this level, a 1-0 win against Woking. Since then they have beaten Gateshead 1-4 and drawn 0-0 at Braintree Town. Those result sees them sitting fourth in the fledgling table at time of writing.
A trip to Prenton Park is really an “ I was there moment” for followers of The Wood and it would be fantastic if as many of you townsfolk can share the experience. Recent comments from new Wood fans have included, “ I could not believe the standard of football on offer” and hopefully the momentum can keep on building as we continue out first ever National League journey.
Tranmere Rovers v Boreham Wood.
Saturday August 22nd kick off 3pm.
Prenton Park,
Prenton Road West,
Birkenhead, Merseyside.
CH42 9PY.
