Roy's Season Review: 1977-78
Next up in our season-by-season guide to the fortunes of Roy Race and Melchester Rovers, it’s 1977-78. The season began with a special series of Roy of the Rovers front covers featuring each member of the reigning First Division champions’ first eleven. Beneath the glory-filled covers, however, trouble was brewing on the Melchester terraces and the first half of the season was concerned with Roy’s attempts to placate potential hooligans following his own team and others.
After Christmas, Roy was called up to select an England XI to play the Netherlands, and packed his side with Melchester teammates (alongside Nipper Lawrence and Mike Bateson from Nipper (from Tiger), Johnny Dexter from The Hard Man and a couple of real-life players). After the international diversion, Roy’s personal form took a dip but he found his touch again in time for Rovers’ season climax in the European Cup final. During the close season the team jetted out to Australia, where Roy was to receive a surprising offer which would impact his preparations for the start of Rovers’ next league campaign …
Story by Tom Tully, art by David Sque.
