‘Greatest turnaround in football’ Rovers fans in seventh heaven

AMIRACLE – that’s how club owner Wael Al-Qadi summed up Bristol Rovers’ astonishing and historic victory at the weekend.

In what is being hailed as the greatest turnaround ever in football, Rovers leapfrogged Northampton Town to seal automatic promotion to League One on goals scored after winning 7-0 on the final day.

Rovers had to beat Scunthorpe United by five goals more than Northampton beat Barrow on the final day of the season. And that looked increasingly unlikely as Northampton took a 3-1 lead in their game. But the goals started flying in at the Memorial Stadium – and the rest is history.

Wael Al-Qadi, pictured inset, said: “I just witnessed a footballing miracle.”

He said: “You can see what it means for the fans, it’s just an incredible feeling, this winning feeling to see everybody happy.

“After the relegation last season, we owed it to our fans and it means a lot but we’re only going to get better.”

Even when Rovers were 7 up, and the Northampton game had finished 3-1, there was still worry that victory could be snatched away from Rovers – jubilant fans invaded the pitch after the seventh goal, and the referee stopped the game and threatened to abandon it if fans didn’t stay in their seats.

Mr Al-Qadi and Rovers manager Joey Barton went onto the pitch and pleaded with fans to behave.

Mr Al-Qadi said: “After we scored the goal, they ran onto the pitch and I was slightly surprised to see the referee (threaten to call it off).

“To have the threat of the match being abandoned after working so hard to get there, we had to let everybody know what’s at stake and we did that, and all’s well that ends well.”

But when the final whistle did eventually blow, and their dream came true, many Rovers fans returned to the pitch to celebrate.

Mr Barton said the day was one he would never forget.

He said: “I think my first promotion as a coach I’ll always remember, especially as I had two mad court cases in the middle of it.

“We’ve got a fantastic group and all we can do is give the blue half of Bristol something to believe in.

“The world’s tough. If we can give a little bit of an oasis on the weekend to people then that’s where football’s at its best.”

After the game, fans celebrated around town, and Gloucester Road was brought to a standstill as the jubilations continued.

One fan posted on Twitter at 8.49pm:

“Finally got home as had to walk to town as @waelalqadi has shut the Glos Rd again ... did that really happen?

“Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”