By Rovers Reporter Zak Armitage.
With Doncaster Rovers pushing for promotion this season, it felt like an ideal time to take a flashback to their last promotion-winning squad who earned Rovers a return to their current division League One back in the 2016-17 season.
A key figure in this team was Frenchman Mathieu Baudry, who made 31 League appearances over the course of that campaign. I recently caught up with Mathieu as he discussed at length his spell in South Yorkshire.
To start with Baudry explained how his move to the Keepmoat Stadium came about and what made Rovers the right team to join at that point.
"It came mainly from Darren Ferguson, he tried to sign me at Peterborough before.
"I also really liked his style of play and wanted to play for him."
Baudry arrived at Doncaster off the back of a shock relegation to League Two the season prior, Baudry explained Darren Ferguson's vision to make an immediate return to League One that campaign.
"The gaffer had a clear vision, I could have gone to League One but the gaffer had a vision with the size of the club that we could get promoted straight away and then be a force in League One to challenge again the next season."
Baudry was instrumental in Rovers promotion-winning season putting in some excellent performances which included five goals- an impressive goalscoring record for a defender. Baudry reflected on that season and the wish he has about it.
"I thought it was ok. I just wish I didn't miss the start of the season through injury, but I was happy to help the team meet the objective and get promoted at the first time of asking."
With the strong expectation to make an immediate return to League One at the start of that season, I asked Baudry how much relief there was that season after the goal of promotion was achieved.
"Yes, I think it was a relief. I was proud to have achieved the goal we set ourselves but I saw it more as a first step to where we wanted to go. The long-term objective was to challenge for promotion from League One"
A part of the following season in League One, Baudry reflected on the 2017-18 season.
"Same, (to the previous season) I got a planned surgery during the offseason that was supposed to get me ready for the start of the (2017-18) season but got complications of that took some of my momentum.
I was happy overall with the way I performed when I was on the pitch I just wish I didn't miss that much time with injuries."
At the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, Baudry departed Doncaster heading to MK Dons. I asked him how the move away from South Yorkshire came about and if it felt like the right time to move on.
"No, it didn't feel like it was the right time. I felt like I had more to give and the manager (Darren Ferguson) was honest and said that it wasn't a problem of my quality or performances but in term of return from money in term of availabilities with injury. He couldn't justify it to the board and he was getting a tighter budget. He then left for the same reason, so I understood."
To finish I asked Mathieu what he would say was the best game in a Rovers shirt.
"As for the best game I'm not really sure what to say. I don't really look back to be fair as my recollection of games is really poor. I just try to enjoy the moments, I hope people enjoy the way I try to play football, and that's all that matters."
A player who amassed over 60 appearances in all competitions for Rovers, Baudry made some excellent memories during his time at the Keepmoat Stadium and it was fantastic to interview the Frenchman about his time in South Yorkshire. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank him for taking the time to answer the questions, which have made this article possible.
