Doncaster Rovers’ Rallying Cry: Can Grant McCann’s Side Make History?

Grant McCann has challenged his Doncaster Rovers squad to seize their moment and secure a place in club folklore by winning promotion this season.

It has been eight years since Doncaster last celebrated promotion, when Darren Ferguson led the team to a third-place finish in League Two during the 2016-17 campaign. Since then, the club has endured two failed play-off campaigns and a relegation, with McCann himself overseeing the painful semi-final exits in 2019 and 2024.

Speaking ahead of their crucial fixture at Tranmere Rovers, McCann emphasised the magnitude of the opportunity his players have in front of them.

Writing Their Names into History

At their training ground, murals of successful Rovers sides from the past act as daily reminders of the legacy awaiting this group if they can deliver.

“At our training ground and in the canteen there’s murals all around of teams that have done it before,” he told the Free Press. “I keep saying this to the players that the fans don’t forget you when you do something like that. We really want to try and achieve it.”

The manager admitted promotion is never easy but stressed how close his squad are to achieving something lasting for themselves and the club.

Reflecting on past struggles and the need for a strong finish, McCann said that after so many near-misses, the current players must channel their ambition into securing an automatic promotion place without relying on the uncertainty of the play-offs.

Doncaster currently find themselves in the thick of the promotion race, but McCann knows from experience that opportunities like this do not come around often and must be fully grasped.

Writer’s view

Grant McCann’s emotional rallying cry could be the catalyst Doncaster need to finish the job this time. After painful experiences of falling short, the current squad have a real chance to define their careers. History beckons, but only if they can handle the pressure of the final few games. Expect drama, passion, and a fierce drive from a squad determined not to let this chance slip away.