Race to sign Roy is on as beloved character gets a reboot for 2018
ROY of the Rovers has been relaunched for the modern age with a flash new haircut and a £1million contract. But fans will be shocked to discover that the classic cartoon character, who was always loyal to Melchester Rovers, may leave the League Two side when the big money clubs come calling. Roy Race’s story ran from 1954 until 2001 in a series of newspapers and magazines.
Now publisher Rebellion has overseen a redesign which will take Roy back to his early days as a fresh-faced 16-year-old hopeful.
The new strip will appear in Match of the Day magazine from June 5. In it, Melchester are long past their glory days but their prospects are enhanced by the familiar teenage prodigy.
His first story sees the club take on rivals Tynecaster and Spanish sides Varagosa and Real Santana.
The writers promise plenty of nods to original players and teams. However, other things have changed to reflect life in 2018. Melchester have players from various cultural backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the modern game. Off the pitch, Roy is a part-time carer for his disabled father and an avid user of social media.
Rob Power, Rebellion’s brand manager and a member of the writing team, said: “There aren’t many millionaires in League Two, which is where the mighty Melchester are languishing, but he’ll certainly have to deal with the pressure of being in the spotlight.
“What will happen when the big clubs come calling is anyone’s guess…”
Jason Kingsley, chief executive of Rebellion, said: “We are delighted to begin the next chapter in Roy of the Rovers history. The ‘new’ Roy might look different to his predecessors, but rest assured the core of the character – from his talent to his sportsmanship and, of course, his blonde
mop – remain.”
‘There aren’t too many millionaires in League Two .. what happens when the big clubs come calling is anyone’s guess’