The strategy for the new season gave me an opportunity to get a different perspective. Met the Dublin Supporters Club bus outside what used to be Harry’s of Kinnegad in Kinnegad (state the obvious). Find a seat, no need to worry as two had been reserved and we were on our way to Sligo. Problem was we should have been going to Galway, but a slow piece of reversing up a one-way entry ramp solved the problem.Hold it, hold it, stop, easy, go ahead now, left, left, go ahead.”

Next stop Moate, a tailback, eventually Ballinasloe, what a trip, another stop I couldn’t identify. But the woman behind the bar posed the question – “Are you on the way home or going to a game” – so much for the promotion efforts of Galway Utd! After that it was decided to bar any further obstacles towards Terryland, until of course we got lost. Imagine getting lost in Galway – don’t tell anyone.

The excitement, five hours after leaving Navan I got the Galway experience. The chants had been all rehearsed. Off to the ground.

We should be playing Dundalk” was definitely the best chant of the night and aren’t we arrogant on the road. “Shall we sing a song for you” will undoubtedly be blasted towards us at The Showgrounds where the atmosphere is never as good as the Away Nights.

But I worked it out.

Supporters.

What does the word really mean.

That of course has evolved into more modern style cans and bottles, but the theory is still the same.

Sup-Porter, it helps the singing which helps the team, hopefully the team will not follow the example.

Maybe we need more Sup-Porters for the home games.

The evidence on Friday night suggested that this cannot get any better.

That was the unanimous opinion on the way home, “Best night ever” Which prompted the question to describe your best Rovers experience.

I had them – Windsor Park, Belfast 1-0 win over Coleraine in the Blaxnit Cup final first leg.  Silence.

Sometimes age can be an advantage.

Quick recovery – Colin Cameron’s hat-trick in Drogheda, Shams at the RDS.

Time for a chant – “Going down with Barings, Going down with Barings”

And the black kit – it was the first time we won in black.

It really could have been a case of Black and White and Red all over – Top of the League and having a laugh.

This was great night of entertainment. By the time I got back to Kinnegad, all the Sup-Porters were catching up on beauty sleep and no doubt planning the next away day.

Courtesy of Conal Collier