History for 15-year-old Hartley as McCann’s Rovers shake off the rust before Burton
Wednesday 7 October 2026 · By Pete Cawthorne
Doncaster Rovers made history on Tuesday night. When 15-year-old Dylan Hartley came on in the EFL Trophy win over Liverpool Under-21s, he became the youngest player ever to appear for the club. It was a special moment for a youngster with a bright future.
There was another milestone too. Ashton Swales, 17, made his debut as Grant McCann’s side won 1–0. The goal came from Tommi O’Reilly, on loan from Aston Villa, who scored his first goal for the club.
The result means Rovers are second in their Trophy group, with the final game against Rochdale to come in November. Earlier in the competition they lost 3–1 at home to Huddersfield.
For McCann, the main aim was to get his players match-fit. Doncaster had not played since 19 September, when they won 2–0 at Peterborough for their first league win of the season. They had no league fixture on 26 September or 3 October.
“It was good to get the rustiness out of our legs,” McCann told the Doncaster Free Press. “It’s been two and half weeks since our last game at Peterborough.” He added: “The most important thing for us tonight was, number one, to win the game and number two, to get the rustiness out... and get us ready for Burton.”
It has been a slow start in the league. Doncaster are 21st with six points from seven games. They have one win, three draws and three defeats, with eight goals scored and nine conceded. Their recent form reads D D D L L W. Before the win at Peterborough, Rovers lost 1–0 at AFC Wimbledon on 12 September and 3–2 to leaders Plymouth on 5 September. On 1 September they drew 1–1 with Notts County.
There has been good news about McCann himself, too. BBC Sport has reported that the Rovers boss underwent successful treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and he remains under monitoring. It is welcome news for everyone connected with Rovers.
Captain Owen Bailey will lead the side against Burton at home on Saturday 10 October. Gary Bowyer’s side are eighth, but they have just lost their unbeaten home record to Huddersfield. It should be a competitive game.
October brings plenty of big fixtures. After Burton, Doncaster travel to Leicester on 17 October, then host Stockport on Tuesday 20 October and Sheffield Wednesday in a Yorkshire derby on 24 October. They visit Luton on Tuesday 27 October and finish the month at MK Dons on 31 October.
Doncaster have the platform to build. The first league win is finally on the board, the young players are coming through, and McCann has his side ready after a long break. If they can turn the Peterborough performance into a run of results, they will soon climb out of the bottom four.
Club Doncaster Sports Village is the modern home of Doncaster Rovers. Opened in 2007 and holding just over 15,000, it sits at Stadium Way, Lakeside, Doncaster, DN4 5JW, a short hop from M18 Junction 3. Visiting supporters are housed in the Pass Logistics North Stand, behind the northern goal. If demand is high, extra seats can spill into the neighbouring section of the East Stand. The view is clean and single-tier; the bowl keeps noise in.
Buy tickets in advance whenever you can. The ground is ticket-only on matchdays and largely cashless, except at the Club Doncaster Box Office. Digital e-tickets with a QR code are the norm, so charge your phone. Away collections and late purchases are handled at the Club Doncaster Academy reception in the north-west corner, next to the away turnstiles — not the South Stand box office used by home fans. Anyone aged 13 or under must be accompanied by an adult of 18 or over.
By car, leave the M18 at Junction 3, follow the A6182 towards Doncaster and pick up Stadium Way after Lakeside Village. There are around 1,000 on-site spaces across several car parks, but they sell out on bigger days. Book via YourParkingSpace using postcode DN4 5JW; Car Park 3 is the usual public option. Do not park at Lakeside Village retail park — it is for shoppers and you can be fined. A handful of accessible bays are reserved for visiting supporters and must be booked and paid in advance through the Box Office on 01302 762576. Away coaches typically use Car Park 4 near XP School.
If you come by rail, Doncaster station is about a ten-minute taxi ride or a short bus hop. Local services drop you close to the complex. Give yourself time: security searches are routine, pyrotechnics are banned, and smoking or vaping is not allowed anywhere on the site. Stewards will point you to the away turnstiles on the north side.
The James Coppinger West Stand is the main stand, with the tunnel and dugouts. Opposite, the East Stand holds the Foundation Family area and hospitality. Behind the southern goal is the Polypipe South Stand — the Black Bank — where Rovers’ noisiest support gathers with flags and drums. You will be looking straight at that end from the North Stand. Concourses are modern and functional, with kiosks for food and drink; cards and contactless only. Belle Vue Bar on the west side often welcomes both sets of fans before kick-off if you arrive early, though it fills quickly.
Accessible provision is decent for a League One ground. Visiting wheelchair bays sit at pitch level in the North Stand. There are accessible toilets around the bowl; ask a steward. Baby-changing is available if you are travelling with children. Persistent standing in seated areas is discouraged and aisles must stay clear.
Around the stadium you will also find 3G pitches, an athletics track and the sports hall that give the Sports Village its name. That wider campus is why the site feels bigger than a typical football ground. After the final whistle, traffic on Stadium Way can crawl, so a little patience — or a walk to unofficial industrial-estate parking if you used it — helps. Check the latest matchday notes on the Rovers site before you travel, as kick-off times, turnstile opening and parking availability change fixture by fixture.