• League One

One Direction's Tomlinson completes Doncaster takeover

Louis Tomlinson played for Doncaster's reserves earlier this year © PA Photos

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One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson has completed his takeover of League One side Doncaster Rovers.

Tomlinson, 22, a global star as one member of the five-piece boy band and a lifelong fan of his hometown club, will be co-chairman alongside John Ryan.

A spokesman for Ryan told Press Association Sport that "it is done and the takeover is complete".

Tomlinson said: "For me, this is all about the football, the community and restoring the excitement and desire to making Doncaster Rovers the most exciting club to play for in Yorkshire.

"I want to see the supporters get the club the success it deserves. I grew up in Doncaster and have felt the love for football run through the town and it's for that reason that I have a real personal passion to make Doncaster Rovers a success story.

"This is a big step which I believe will open up opportunities to provide a very, very exciting future for the club and its supporters."

Ryan, speaking to the Doncaster Free Press said that Tomlinson will "sprinkle some stardust" on Rovers.

He added: "Hopefully it will make the Doncaster public proud of their club and I'd urge the people of the town to get behind us.

"This is an incredible project that will generate some really exciting times. What I really want is the people of Doncaster to come and enjoy that ride with us."

Both Tomlinson and Ryan have played for Rovers before. The singer turned out for their reserve side against Scunthorpe earlier this year, while Ryan became the oldest footballer to appear for a professional club in Britain when he came on as an 89th-minute substitute against Hereford in 2003 just four days short of his 53rd birthday.

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