If you are a fan of Tranmere Rovers FC, or if you are curious to learn more about this historic and proud club, then this article is for you. In this article, we will explore some of the essential facts that every Tranmere Rovers supporter should know, from the club’s origins and nickname, to its achievements and rivalries, to its current status and future goals.

Whether you are a new or a long-time supporter, you will find something interesting and informative in this article. So, let’s get started and discover the fascinating story of Tranmere Rovers FC.

Humble beginnings

Tranmere Rovers FC is one of the oldest football clubs in England, dating back to 1884. The club was originally formed as Belmont FC, when two cricket clubs, Lyndhurst Wanderers and Belmont, decided to play football in the winter months.

The club changed its name to Tranmere Rovers in 1885, after the area of Birkenhead where they played. The club joined the West Lancashire League in 1889, and then moved to various regional leagues, such as the Combination, the Lancashire Combination, and the Central League.

The club has played a pivotal role in Football League since its inception. The club’s first major trophy was the Liverpool Senior Cup, which they won in 19081. Tranmere Rovers became a professional club in 1912, and moved to their current home ground, Prenton Park, in the same year

Modern History

The 21st century started with Tranmere Rovers FC playing in the second division, but their fortunes soon declined. They dropped to the third division in 2001, and stayed there for 13 years, often facing the threat of relegation.

In 2014, they went down to the fourth division, and then in 2015, they lost their Football League status for the first time in 94 years, after ending up at the bottom of League Two.

The club had financial and stability issues, but also a revival of fan and community support. With former player Mark Palios and his wife Nicola as owners, and Micky Mellon as manager, the club recovered from the National League, winning two play-off finals in a row in 2018 and 2019, against Boreham Wood and Newport County respectively.

Tranmere Rovers returned to the third division, but the COVID-19 pandemic cut their season short. The club was relegated on a points-per-game basis, even though they were only three points away from safety with a game left.

Tranmere Rovers Stadia

Tranmere Rovers is a football club that has played in different stadia since its formation in 1884. The first stadium was Steeles Field, where they played for three years.

Then they moved to Ravenshaws Field, which was also called the Borough Road Enclosure, South Road, or Prenton Park. They stayed there until 1912.

After that they relocated to their current stadium, also named Prenton Park. This stadium has a capacity of over 16,587 and has been renovated several times. It is also used by Liverpool’s women and reserves teams.

Prenton Park, the home of Tranmere Rovers FC has four stands:

Main Stand: This is the oldest part of the stadium, opened in 1968. It has two sections: the lower paddocks, where the Bebington End and Town End supporters sit, and the upper VIP area, where the directors and guests watch the match. The Main Stand also has the club offices, the dressing rooms, the press box, and the hospitality suites.

The Bebington Kop Stand: Also known as The Kop, is a single bank of seating for the home fans. It was built in 1994 and has a capacity of 5,696. The Kop is the most lively and noisy part of the stadium, where the hardcore fans chant and cheer for their team. This stand also has a large electronic scoreboard and a clock.

Cowshed Stand: This is where the away fans are seated, It was redeveloped in 1995 and takes its name from its previous appearance, which looked like a cowshed. The Cowshed is opposite the Main Stand and has a low roof.

The Johnny King Stand: This stand is named after a former manager, Johnny King, who led the club to three promotions, and is the newest stand which was opened in 1999. It has a capacity of 5,696 and has identical design to the Kop . It houses a large video screen, and has the statue of the legendary Johnny King Stand at the entrance.

Tranmere Rovers Mascots

Prentonia the Lion: Prentonia the Lion was the first official mascot of Tranmere Rovers FC, He was introduced in 1988, when the club adopted a new logo featuring a lion’s head. He was named after Prenton Park.

Rover the Dog: Prentonia the Lion was replaced by Rover the Dog in 1996, when the club changed its logo again. Rover the Dog is a white and blue dog who wears the Tranmere Rovers FC kit.

Tranmere Rovers Crest

Tranmere Rovers FC is a football club that has a crest based on the coat of arms of the borough of Birkenhead. The crest has several elements that represent the history and heritage of the club and the town. Here are some of them:

Lion’s head: This comes from the family seal of Hamon de Massey, who founded the Birkenhead monastery in 1150.

Crosier or shepherd’s crook: This symbolizes the Benedictine monks who ran the monastery and the town.

Warship on a football: This reflects the shipbuilding industry that was important for the town’s economy and development.

Motto: The club’s motto is “Ubi fides ibi lux et robur”, which translates to “Where there is faith there is light and strength” from Latin. This is also the motto of the borough of Birkenhead.

A blue and white shield: This is the main background of the crest, and it matches the club’s colors since 1962. The blue and white shield reflects the club’s pride and identity as a distinct team on the Wirral Peninsula.

The club’s manager, Dave Russell, introduced a white strip with blue trim, saying “Tranmere Rovers should have a specific identity of its own, so on Merseyside there’s now Liverpool’s Red, Everton’s blue and Tranmere’s white”.

The club first introduced a badge on their shirt in 1962, and it has undergone several changes since then. The current crest was adopted in 1987, when the club changed its logo to a simpler design.

Modern Owners of Tranmere Rovers

Peter Johnson: He was the owner and chairman of Tranmere Rovers from 1987 to 2014. He was also the owner of Everton FC from 1994 to 1999. He helped the club achieve its most successful period in the 1990s, when they reached the second tier and the League Cup final. He also invested in the redevelopment of Prenton Park and the youth academy.

Mark and Nicola Palios: They are the current owners and chairmen of Tranmere Rovers since 2014. Mark Palios is a former player and chief executive of the Football Association. Nicola Palios is a former lawyer and businesswoman. They have overseen the club’s revival from the National League to the third tier, and have also improved the club’s finances and community engagement.

Walutje Pte. Ltd: This is a company that owns more than 10% of Tranmere Rovers since 2017. The company is owned by PT Santinilawansa Lestari, which is 100% owned by Mr Sofjan Wanandi and Mrs Riantini Sutedja, who are Indonesian businessmen and philanthropists. They have supported the club’s development and ambitions

Tranmere Rovers Nickname

Tranmere Rovers FC have two common nicknames: “The Rovers” and “The Super Whites”.

The Rovers is a simple name for football clubs that have “Rovers” in their name.

The Super Whites is a name that shows the club’s colours of white and blue, which they have worn since 1962. The Super Whites is also a name that expresses the club’s pride and identity as a different team on the Wirral Peninsula. Some fans also use the short form “SWA” for Super White Army, which is a term of love and support for the club.

Tranmere Rovers Fan Chants

The Super Whites of Prenton Park: This is a song that celebrates the club’s colours of white and blue, and its pride and identity as a distinct team on the Wirral Peninsula.

We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park
We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park
We are the Super Whites,
We are the Super Whites ,
We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park

We’ll never give up,
we’ll never give in
We’ll always fight for the Rovers
We’ll always be there,
we’ll always be loud
We’ll always support our team

We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park
We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park
We are the Super Whites,
we are the Super Whites
We are the Super Whites of Prenton Park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brxHhe0uxkU

One Night in Gay Paris: This is a song that has a mysterious origin, but has been sung for years by the fans.

One night in gay Paris,
I paid five francs to see A big fat mon cheri,
Tattooed from head to knee,
And underneath her jaw,
Was a Spanish man of war,
And on her back A Union Jack,
So I paid her five francs more,
To see her lilly white bum,
Tattooed with the rising sun,
And underneath her fanny,
Was Al Jolson singing mammi,
She was a rooting tooting,
Stick it up yer hooting,
Hanging on the shthouse wall, Ride a bike push/buy?? a bike, Any fcking way you like,
Hanging on the shthouse wall, And halfway up her bum, Some dirty bastrd c*m,
And underneath her fanny,
Was Al Jolson singing mammi,
The Rovers Duh Duh Duh
The Rovers Duh Duh Duh The Rovers…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_thpKGHTQg

Ronnie Moore’s Barmy Army: This song praises the former manager, Ronnie Moore, who led the club to three promotions and the League Cup final.

Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army,
Ronnie Moore’s barmy army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqW0cvBwpLo

EIEIEIO: This chant is based on classic English football chant

E I E I E I O,
Up the football league we go,
When we get promotion,
This is what we’ll sing,
We are Tranmere,
Super Tranmere,
Ronnie is our king

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQl0P9yEGb0

Tranmere Rovers Legends

Tranmere Rovers FC had many legends who have made significant contributions to the club’s history and success. Here are some of them:

Ian Muir: He is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 180 goals in 393 appearances. He played for Tranmere from 1985 to 1995, and helped the club win three promotions and reach the League Cup final in 2000

John Aldridge: He is the club’s second-highest scorer with 174 goals in 294 games. He joined Tranmere in 1991 from Liverpool, and became player-manager in 1995. He led the Tranmere to three consecutive play-off campaigns and several cup runs, including the 2000 League Cup final.

Johnny King: He is the club’s most successful manager, who had two spells in charge from 1975 to 1980 and from 1987 to 1996. He guided the club to three promotions, the Associate Members’ Cup in 1990, and the second tier of English football for the first time in clubs history.

Ray Mathias: He is the club’s record appearance holder with 637 games in all competitions. He played for Tranmere from 1964 to 1984, and was part of the team that won the Third Division North Cup in 1972 and the League Cup in 1975. He also managed the club in 2002.

Harold Bell: He is the club’s record league appearance holder with 595 games. He played for Tranmere from 1946 to 1960, and holds the record for the most consecutive league appearances for a British team with 401. He was also the club captain and a fan favourite.

If you have any memories of these players please share them in comment section below.

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