![https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article4163279.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/11420708_1998-03-15__mark_Bristol__mark_-_mark_Rover.jpg https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article4163279.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/11420708_1998-03-15__mark_Bristol__mark_-_mark_Rover.jpg](https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article4163279.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/11420708_1998-03-15__mark_Bristol__mark_-_mark_Rover.jpg)
'A rock star' - Bristol Rovers mourn the death of legendary announcer Keith Valle
He was a popular figure at the club during the Gas' Twerton Park days
by David ByromBristol Rovers are mourning the death of legendary matchday announcer Keith Valle.
The unique personality took over as matchday announcer during the Gas' final years at Eastville Stadium before their move to Twerton Park in 1986.
Valle stayed with the Gas for the move to Bath, becoming a cult hero for his touchline antics pre-match, which often saw him jumping into the stands to interview fans - including sometimes intimidating away supporters.
Whilst he opted to stand down in 1996 when Rovers returned to Bristol and hand over the microphone to his Nick Day, his assistant of three years, Valle remained a popular figure among Rovers supporters to this day, with both Day and his successor, Lance Cook, being asked about Keith.
Hailed at the time as 'the country's most unusual, individualistic football announcer', Valle also ran a restaurant on Park Street, and was never afraid of making a controversial comment about referees.
Rovers legend Ian Holloway paid tribute to Valle, claiming the mullet-haired announcer should have really been a rock star.
Holloway said: "I first came across Keith when he worked at FA Youth Cup games. As a young player, I thought he was as cool as ten polar bears. He was the best-dressed man I knew, even if some of his clothes were outrageous.
"He should have been a rock star. Some of the things he said over the tannoy were unbelievable. Put it this way, he wasn't the most politically correct guy in the world!
"Whether it was describing a bald referee as 'the guy wearing the pink crash helmet' or saying at the end of one match that 'the ref is available for pantomime', he always entertained the fans.
"It's no exaggeration to say he became as famous as the players."
Bristol Rovers fans pay tribute to Keith Valle
RG2 Gas: Synonymous with the Twerton era, which was my personal best years supporting Rovers. He was a character and the voice of the Gas during those fantastic years.
Richard: You made me chuckle, rallied the Gasheads and dare I say the players too. You were a maverick and loved. You were unique as was the club in those Twerton days. No ground, no training ground, but we had each other and would go to war with anyone. Legend.
CW Gas: "The referee will be appearing in pantomime". RIP Keith.
Katy: Sad news, Keith was such great entertainment at Twerton. He even gave me a lift to the ground a couple of times whilst I'd be waiting for the X39 bus in Brislington. RIP Keith, thoughts to all your family.
Charlie: A true maverick of the MC in the sports arena. Great memories, the best there ever was/is. Will always have the memories in that special era, also the one when me and the lads all piled into a cab at the end of a Saturday night in town and Keith was our driver.
Derek: The most entertaining every game.
Simon: A true legend who got the fans involved including the away end. A generous bloke and a good all around egg, goodnight Keith we'll see you in our dreams.
Rick: A wonderful character who livened up the Twerton Park years. RIP Keith.
Ron: Another Gas legend gone. Will always be remembered by the Twerton fans.
Holloway's midfield partner Andy Reece added: "Keith loved Rovers and always looked after the players when we went to his restaurant in Park Street on a Saturday night.
"He always had a quip about someone and we couldn't believe some of the things he said over the PA system.
"Overall, a very funny guy, who made us laugh."
Valle's successor, Day, held the matchday announcer role himself for 22 years until 2018, and says his mentor's style made him a trailblazer.
"Keith was one of a kind," Day said. "A real face on the Bristol scene as both a nightclub DJ and restauranteur.
"He was, of curse, for many years, ‘Mr Bristol Rovers’ as PA Announcer at Twerton Park where his unique style made him a trailblazer as a football announcer.
"I had massive shoes to fill and never got the feeling I quite did them justice."
Rovers' current announcer, Cook, said Valle is a huge part of the Gas' history.
"I started going to Twerton around the 1993/94 season," he explained.
"Keith had such a unique way of doing things, going around the touchline, interviewing the fans, and there'd even be points where he'd be diving into the away end, interviewing away fans.
"Even Millwall when they came to Twerton, which is a brilliant move - certainly not one I'd like to try these days!
"He had a unique style and I never knew back, when I was seven or eight, then that I'd be doing what he did, but you take bits of the people that come before you.
"Gasheads still talk about Keith to this day and that's a testament to the role he had at the club and to him.
"He was so unique. Bristol Rovers is a unique club, full of wonderful people, and he certainly put himself into Gas folklore."
Cook added: "He had his own style about him, there were a few things he probably wouldn't have been able to get away with in this day and age, but at the time it was, where Rovers were based, the togetherness and the spirit of the Twerton era, he was an integral part of that.
"He was as important of a fixture of that era as the players and coaches.
"Nick Day would tell me stories about Keith and he sounded a hell of a character, really rock and roll, and that's what I love about him.
"I only got to meet him once, when he came back to do a game at the Mem, I was only about 21 at the time, and it was a bit like full circle for me.
"It was an absolute trip as he'd do his shtick all across the Thatcher's End, and it was a different approach to how Nick did things, so it was a bit of a challenge for me, but all I remember was that he was a quiet and modest man but, like Nick, give him the microphone and he'd turn into a different beast.
"It was great."
Day was Valle's assistant for three years before becoming the Gas' matchday announcer, with Cook assisting Day for 17 years before taking on the microphone.
Cook feels that lineage itself is a perfect example of Valle's legacy at the club.
He said: "It's a nice little chain that we've got, and it's like a family - it goes with the family feel to the club.
"It's great to be in such amazing company and, the most important thing for me is, in this role, you want to leave an impression.
"Not a lot of people go to see the announcer but if that role can be done in such a way that makes the fans engage, just a short moment, or something funny, then you've done your job.
"People still talk about Keith to this day. That's a testament to him and this role."
Cook joked: "People ask me if I should go into the away end like Keith did but that was Keith's and I wouldn't want to tread on that.
"The away end is also in the opposite corner to me, so it's too far to walk!"