Rovers

Early doors and Royle family style comedy about a football club with a hint of Phoenix Nights. Great cast. Understated comedy. Very British with lots of British references so may not be for everyone.

Don't know how this passed me by as I'd never even seen it advertised. Some hilarious scenes but mostly nice chuckles throughout with relatable comedy and story lines. If you support a lower league football club or have ever been to your local workingman's club, then this will appeal to you. Nothing groundbreaking but just a nice, British, calm, heartwarming comedy. Enjoyed every episode and pleased it cropped up.

One of those bemusing shows that I immediately catalogue as a show that other people watch but I do not.

If you remember "The Royal Family" (the show, not those Germans in Windsor Palace) it's reminiscent of that but I like this a lot more.

A glimpse into a world that is totally beyond me; not only is it about sports followers but the lives of people whose primary passion is an Association Football Team and indeed, not one of those that Spanish people strangely know about.

The humor is often based on low hanging fruit but there is a charm in the mundanity of this landscape of fruit machines and smoking out in the rain as the fortunes of this football team fuel a million conversations. The sheer passion and devotion is both curious and oddly charming as it brings something to cheer about to these people who will never exactly go into the history books.

Romances emerge, lives change key, old-school sorts learn they have to adjust to change but the old friendships survive despite life throwing everything at them. The mocking affection for this community has no delusions that there is something a little crazy about the whole thing but one leaves this 6 episode meditation with a changed impression of these folks.

They embody comradery standing strong when we need it most.

I watch a lot of TV.

Netflix automatically started playing this show after I watched (and loved) Detectorists. Honestly I was so swept up I just didn't stop it. That was 4 weeks ago and I've now seen Rovers 4 times all the way through.

Hilarious, intelligent, stupid, wonderful, compelling, adorable, complicated, emotional. Ultimately, it's on my top 5 all time list. And, I watch a lot of TV.

I'm going to keep watching this show over and over, too. And there's nothing you can do to stop me.

We hope that there is more of this comedy, we had got into the characters and alas it was over before we were ready, bring back more of this brilliant comedy please

My wife and I have travelled around the world and nothing beats being home like a good Northern sense of humour comedy.

In a world full of negatives we all need a belly laugh and this did it for us.

Being fans of the Royle family, a series that was hard to beat, Early Doors was great.

Rovers deserves more airtime and follow on series.

Thank you for the entertainment.

We hope to see you back on our screens soon

Craig Cash's odyssey through comedies in limited situations continues with Rovers – set in the club house of Redbridge Rovers, a semi professional English football team in levels 7 & 8 of the footballing pyramid.

Is it a problem that Rovers' number 1 support Cash is also executive producer and director of the show? Having multiple roles means difficulties reigning in Craig's more excitable moments. But nothing is perfect.

Those familiar with "Early Doors" will recognise the setup: a group of locals gather in the club house before and after games. They all have their own seats where they settle for the day. Conversation can be limited to a single group or can travel around the bar. In fact step forward director Cash for a smooth transition between different groups. "Royle Family" favourite Sue Johnson turns in a good performance as bar manager Doreen. Otherwise the acting is solid. The script is okay and grows as the first series progresses. You have to watch the whole first series to really get an appreciation of the show. Individual episodes lead you to miss the bigger picture. The humour is ribald but doesn't step over any lines. And there are a few teary moments.

So a decent first series and hopefully more to come.