Myra Shay Stadium
Ground Number: 1480
Wednesday 17th September 2025
Route One Rovers 4-0 South Leeds
NCEL D1
ROUTE ONE ROVERS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The club were formed in 2013, choosing the name "Route One Rovers" as a joke about playing styles. They joined Division 2 of the West Riding County Amateur League in 2015, finishing third in their first season and earning promotion to Division 1. Another 3rd place finish the following season saw them promoted to the Premier Division. When the league was dissolved in 2019, the club transferred to the Supreme Division of the Yorkshire Amateur League, where they were champions in 2023. They were accepted into the North West Counties League Division 1 North, where they finished 8th in their debut season. At the start of this season, they transferred to the Northern Counties East Division 1 after a change of ground.
MY VISIT
The second game on this Wednesday boiled down to two options in Bradford, either Campion or Route One Rovers. With the former playing on Fridays on occasion, it was an easy choice to make to go to Route One Rovers. In some ways, I'd have preferred to have seen Albion Sports at the Myra Shay, as I like the idea of diaspora teams. However, it was not to be as the fixtures did not work out. However, after reading about their history on the train, it really got me in the mood to visit, and I was looking forward to going. As it turned out, I got my wish and did see a very spirited and bonded team.
From our game at Glasshoughton, I got my blog done on the train back to Leeds, where we arrived at 11. Colin was hungry, so we stopped at McDonald's so he could get something to eat. We were back at 11.30 and stayed up for a while before going to sleep. We woke up to puddles outside at the British weather returned to its selfish and ignorant default of raining all the time. I was not too confident of the game being on but if not, we could head into Bradford early. We left at 9.10 and walked to the bus station, where Colin swore at a bus driver who wouldn't let him use his disabled bus pass before 9.30. Instead, we left at 9.35, the West Yorkshire Day Saver was decent value at £6 for all buses in West Yorkshire. We got to the first Wetherspoons, the Golden Beam in Headingley, just before 10. It was a lovely Wetherspoons, a grand, large building that was a great place to have a breakfast muffin and Monster Ultra Strawberry Dreams. It seemed a shame to leave, but we needed a bus to the next one.
There was concern that we had cut it too fine, but the bus was nearly ten minutes late and came as we were giving up. The second Spoons in Yeadon was around 30 minutes away, and another cracker. The Clothier's Arms had a huge selection of cider, and I had a pint of Pulp Caramelised Apple for £3.14. It looked like a lovely town, even in the drizzle, but the next stop was Otley. Another beautiful town with fantastic scenery and another decent Wetherspoons, The Bowling Green. I had the new Spice Bag with a bottle of Aspalls. A further look around the town was had before we headed up to Otley Town FC to see Guiseley v Morpeth Town in an Under-19s game. However, there was no game on as scheduled, and I had to put it down to experience. We headed back to town and got a bus to Bradford. The bus took an age, but we were in Bradford for 4. We killed an hour looking around the media museum. Despite vowing to save money this morning, Colin spent £30 on Wallace and Gromit patch badges. It was then across the road to Jacobs Ale House, which was fantastic for cider. I had a pint of Grumpy John's King John and a Tikka Spiced Pork Pie. Also, a pint of Udders Orchard Russet that came in at a whacking 8.3%. River joined us for the last few minutes, then came across to Wetherspoons, where Colin needed a tick. I opted for an energy drink as I'd had two strong ciders in the previous heaven. Then a bus to the ground, where it was a bargain £6 entry, but River paid £3 for the last programme, a few disappointing sheets of A4.
Route One Rovers were in 14th with 12 points from ten games. Last time out, they'd won 4-2 at Louth Town. South Leeds were a point above, a point better from two fewer games. They'd lost 2-0 to Maltby Main eleven days ago. The hosts took the lead after ten minutes, finishing a crossfield ball from close range. Five minutes later, it was 2-0, into the top of the net from just inside the area. There weren't many chances, and it turned out to be a double from Anees Younis that had given the hosts the advantage. South Leeds started the second half on the offensive, but a swift break made it 3-0 to Route One Rovers a minute into the second period. It was 4-0 after 54 minutes, with South Leeds well beaten and Taweed Ahmed with the double in this half. The attendance was given as 127, though it felt like more than that.
THE GROUND
MYRA SHAY is a fairly uninspiring venue, although it is quite functional and offers a decent view from two or three sides. There is a seated stand and a small covered standing area on the main side. There is no bar, but a reasonable selection of food and drink. The ground is well linked by buses, and Bradford has plenty of choices of places to eat and drink.
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