Bristol Rovers fan wearing City shirt after shirt-swap bet. please log in to view this image Rovers fan Sean Rogers (left) and City fan Mike Stokes ROVERS fans endured agony on Saturday, watching in disbelief as their beloved team was relegated from the Football League. Tears were flowing from fans and manager alike, but for one diehard supporter the pain was about to get even worse. Sean Rogers has been a Rovers fan all his life, but this week he is undergoing the extra humiliation of having to wear the shirt of Rovers' rival team, Bristol City. Last week, he made a charity bet with his business partner, Mike Stokes. Not believing for a second that Rovers would lose their game against Mansfield, Sean said if they did, he would wear a City shirt for a week. And if Rovers had won, Mike would have been forced to don a Rovers shirt. Sean is wearing the shirt in aid of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation after his 14-year-old son, Josh, was diagnosed with the disease eight years ago. Sean, 48, of Bradley Stoke, said: "Watching the game was torture. Speaking as a lifelong Rovers fan, it is a terrible scenario. "I didn't expect to be on the losing end of this bet. "I went to the match and the mood at the final whistle was very bad – people were walking around with their heads in the their hands. "Everyone was lulled into silence. I just could not believe it. The last few minutes were hell with everybody just willing them to do it. "I always knew it could happen, but I didn't think it actually would. My girlfriend says I've been awful to live with these past few days, but I am starting to get over it now. Life goes on." He has endured some teasing from Mike, who works with him at Cleaner Carpets Bristol. He said: "Mike has been teasing me a bit, which is fine. If it had been the other way round, I would have been laughing at him. "He knows how disappointed I am, though, so he is being more supportive – he's not a spiteful person. "I've got a few jobs over in traditional City territory later in the week, which I am dreading. "No one has shouted at me yet, but I'm braced for it happening." Sean is confident the future is brighter for Rovers, if only the fans can stick together. He said: "Fans were angry at the chairman on Saturday and there were nasty scenes on the pitch. If I were him, I wouldn't have wanted to face angry people. "But the league we are going into is awful, and it will be hard to get out of. We'll be playing teams we've never dreamed of playing before. "It might take us more than a season to get back into the league, but we'll get there. For the fans, it is a case of sticking together and having faith. "I do think ticket prices should be more affordable now, though, given the situation we're in. But balanced against that, we need to invest in the best players." Both men are hoping to raise hundreds for their charities on the back of the bet. Mike is collecting funds for ME Awareness Charity. His 31-year-old daughter, Amy, has battled against the chronic fatigue syndrome for 13 years. Sean said: "Raising money for these charities means something good comes out of all the disappointment. I've got to honour my promise, although I am not enjoying it at all. But the JDRF do great things for people with this life-changing affliction. "When I think about my son having to inject himself and think about blood sugar levels all the time, this is really nothing. If I get down about it, I just think about him." Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Rovers...tory-21064841-detail/story.html#ixzz313EzJxIb Fair play to you Sean, I wish you both success..
fair shout to him i once wore a city shirt to a funeral. i was in my teens at the time though. a mate of mine who was a city fan died in an accident and his family wanted everyone wearing something with city on it but had to be red and not the away colours. i wore a city home shirt. i did say to begin with that i will wear socks or something but i did the right thing and borrowed a shirt and im glad i did that day.
Nothing on earth could ever induce me to put on (whatever latest design they have changed to) a Southampton shirt.
I used to play footy with a mad Gashead when I lived in Bermuda. All the ex-pats used to go down to the beach on Christmas morning for a few beers and a swim. Santa hats were obligatory. He turned up one year with a blue and white hat on with "Gashead" embroidered across it. He said in the spirit of Christmas that I should wear it for a team photo. I refused! He was a good lad though....
