Bristol Rovers F.C.

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club Bristol Rovers Football Club is a men's professional football club in Bristol, England. The team competes in Template:English football updater, the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club is affiliated to Bristol Rovers W.F.C., whose team play in the FA Women's National League.

Rovers was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C. and entered the Bristol & District League as Eastville Rovers in 1892. They moved to Eastville Stadium in 1897, when they joined the Birmingham & District League. Two years later, now called Bristol Rovers, they joined the Southern League. Rovers won the Southern League in 1904–05 and were admitted to the Football League in 1920. They were allocated to the Third Division South, and remained there until winning promotion as champions in 1952–53. They recorded their highest Football League position, sixth place in the Second Division, in each of the 1955–56 and 1958–59 seasons. Rovers were relegated in 1962. Promoted as Third Division runners-up in 1973–74, they spent another seven seasons in the second tier until relegation in 1981. Following the sale of the land at Eastville in 1986, the club spent ten years at Twerton Park in Bath. Rovers won the Third Division title in 1989–90, and spent three seasons in the second tier before relegation in 1993. In 1996, the club relocated to its current home venue at the Memorial Stadium in Horfield.

Another relegation took the team down to the fourth tier ahead of the 2001–02 season. Rovers won the 2007 Football League Two play-off final, but relegations in 2011 and 2014 saw the club drop into the Conference Premier. They finished second in the Conference under the stewardship of Darrell Clarke and immediately regained their Football League status with victory in the 2015 Conference Premier play-off final. They followed up this success by gaining promotion out of League Two at the end of the 2015–16 season. They were relegated from the third tier in 2020–21 but returned at the first attempt, claiming the final automatic promotion spot to League One. In 2024–25, they finished 22nd of the 24 clubs, and will return to League Two in 2025–26.

The club's official nickname is "The Pirates", reflecting the maritime history of Bristol, but they are known locally as "The Gas", derived from the gasworks next to their former home, Eastville Stadium. "The Gas" was originally a derogatory term used by fans of neighbouring Bristol City, but it was affectionately adopted by the club and its supporters. Matches between the two Bristol clubs are known as the Bristol Derby. Besides their various divisional titles and promotions, Rovers have won the Gloucestershire Cup 32 times. They won the Third Division South Cup in 1932, the Watney Cup in 1972, and have been Football League Trophy finalists twice.

History

Early years

The Black Arabs in February 1884

The club was formed following a meeting at the Eastville Restaurant in Bristol in September 1883. It was initially called Black Arabs F.C., after the Arabs rugby team and the predominantly black kits in which they played. This name only lasted for the 1883–84 season, and in a bid to draw more fans from the local area the club was renamed Eastville Rovers in 1884.<ref name="Byrne & Jay">Template:Cite book</ref>

Into the Football League

For the 1920–21 season, the Southern League teams were moved into the new Division Three of the Football League, which became Division Three (South) the following season. They remained in this division for over 30 years, before winning the league, and promotion in the 1952–53 season.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p229</ref>

Chart of yearly table positions in the Football League

The team has won promotion on six other occasions: in 1973–74 from the Third Division to the Second Division, again in 1989–90 as Division Three champions, in 2006–07 to the Football League One, in 2014–15 to League Two from the Conference Premier, in 2015–16 to League One and then in 2021-22 to League One from League Two. The club has been relegated eight times—in 1961–62, 1980–81, 1992–93, 2000–01, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2020–21 and most recently at the end of the 2024–25 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The highest position in the football ladder reached by Rovers at the end of season is sixth place in the second tier, which they achieved twice; once in 1955–56, and again in 1958–59.<ref name="fchd">Template:Cite web</ref> The closest they came to the top flight was in 1955–56, when they ended the season just four points below the promotion positions.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p242</ref> The lowest league position achieved by the club is twenty-third out of twenty-four teams in the fourth tier, which has occurred twice. In the 2001–02 season,<ref name="fchd"/> relegation from the Football League was narrowly avoided on two counts; firstly they ended just one league position above the relegation zone, and secondly the rules were changed the following season to increase the number of relegation places to two, meaning that if Rovers had finished in that position one year later they would have been relegated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This position was matched at the end of the 2013–14 season, which this time saw Rovers relegated to the Conference for the first time.<ref name="fchd"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They returned to the league at the end of their first Conference season, with a penalty shootout victory over Grimsby Town in the play-off final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2016, it was announced that a 92% stake in the club had been bought by the Jordanian al-Qadi family, and that Wael al-Qadi, a member of the Jordan Football Association, would become the president.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2016, the club has been owned by Dwane Sports Ltd, with 92.6% of the shares,<ref name="contact">Template:Cite web</ref> while Bristol Rovers Supporters Club owns the remaining 7.4%.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

In May 2016, the club recorded a second consecutive promotion by finishing in the final automatic promotion position in League Two after a 92nd-minute goal secured victory over Dagenham and Redbridge and Accrington Stanley failed to win on the final day of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It marked the first time Rovers had reached the third tier of English Football since relegation in 2011.<ref name="fchd"/> In June 2020, it was announced that president Wael al-Qadi had bought a controlling stake in Dwane Sports Ltd,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after he bought the shares of other members of his family, while it was also announced that the club's debt would be capitalised and a new training facility would begin construction at Hortham Lane, Almondsbury, which is close to the M5 motorway.Template:Fv<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Rovers have owned the site formerly known as 'The Colony' and re-branded by the club 'The Quarters' since 2017,Template:Fv<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> and, in June 2020, the club announced that it would be ready for the beginning of the 2020–21 season.Template:Vague<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 3 August 2023, Kuwaiti businessman Hussain AlSaeed bought a controlling 55% share in Dwane Sports, the holding company for the football club, thus becoming chairman. As part of the takeover, all debt owed to the company was capitalised.Template:Clarification needed<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> On 22 November 2024, AlSaeed reached an agreement to purchase the remaining 45% of shares owned by both Wael and Samer al-Qadi, the acquisition to be completed over an eighteen-month period.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref>

Cup competitions

Bristol Rovers playing against Tranmere Rovers at Wembley in 1990

The only major cup competition won by Bristol Rovers is the 1972 Watney Cup, when they beat Sheffield United in the final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club also won the Division Three (South) Cup in 1934–35, as well as winning or sharing the Gloucestershire Cup on 32 occasions.Template:Cn The team has never played in European competition;Template:Cn the closest Rovers came was when they missed out on reaching the international stage of the Anglo-Italian Cup in the 1992–93 season on a coin toss held over the phone with West Ham United.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the FA Cup, Rovers have reached the quarter-final stage on three occasions. The first time was in 1950–51 when they faced Newcastle United at St James' Park<ref name="cup">Template:Cite web</ref> in front of a crowd of 62,787, the record for the highest attendance at any Bristol Rovers match.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p221</ref> The second time they reached the quarter final was in 1957–58, when they lost to Fulham,<ref name="cup"/> and the most recent appearance at this stage of the competition was during the 2007–08 season, when they faced West Bromwich Albion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They were the first Division Three team to win an FA Cup tie away to a Premier League side, when in 2002 they beat Derby County 3–1 at Pride Park Stadium.<ref name="cup"/>

They have twice reached the final of the Football League Trophy, in 1989–90 and 2006–07, but finished runners-up on both occasions.<ref name="fchd"/> On the second occasion they did not allow a single goal against them in the competition en route to the final, but conceded the lead less than a minute after the final kicked off.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Rivalries

Bristol Rovers (blue) against Bristol City (red) in a Football League Trophy match at Ashton Gate in February 2007

Bristol Rovers's main rivals are city neighbours Bristol City, with whom they contest the Bristol derby.<ref name="rivalry">Template:Cite web</ref> An in-depth report by the Football Pools in 2008 deemed this rivalry 8th fiercest rivalry in English football.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The most recent encounter between the clubs as of March 2025 took place on 4 September 2013, which saw Rovers beaten by City in a Football League Trophy tie at Ashton Gate Stadium by a 2–1 scoreline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other rivals are Newport County and mainly teams from the West Country, such as Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town, Yeovil Town and Forest Green Rovers.

In the past, rivalries also emerged with Severnside rivals Cardiff City known as the Severnside derby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rovers' most recent meeting against Cardiff was an EFL Cup defeat in August 2024.<ref name="CCFCR">Template:Cite web</ref> The last time Cardiff and Bristol Rovers were in the same league was in the 1999–2000 season in the Second Division.<ref name="CCFCR"/>

The first time Rovers encountered Yeovil was a Football League Trophy match in October 2001, which Rovers won via a penalty shoot-out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="YTFC">Template:Cite web</ref> The most recent encounter between the teams was in the EFL Trophy in October 2018, which Rovers won 2–0.<ref name="YTFC"/>

As of September 2024, Rovers last played Swindon Town in October 2022 in the EFL Trophy (a 3–0 win),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cheltenham Town in the 2023–24 League One season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a 3–1 victory, and Forest Green Rovers in the 2022–23 League One season (a 3–1 away victory).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Colours and badge

Bristol Rovers are known for their distinctive blue and white quartered shirts which they have worn for most of their history. The current home kit consists of a blue and white quartered shirt and blue shorts, the away kit is all black, while the third kit is a green and black quartered shirt and black shorts. During the 2008–09 season, a special third strip, which was black with a gold sash, and a reproduction of the original Black Arab shirt, was used for a single match to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club released a similar kit marking the 140th anniversary which players wore in a match against Cheltenham Town in December 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The team began playing in black shirts with a yellow sash from their foundation in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C. until 1885, by which time they were called Eastville Rovers. For the next fourteen years, until 1899, the team wore blue and white hooped shirts. These were replaced by black and white striped shirts until 1919.<ref name="FAQ">Template:Cite web</ref>

When Rovers were admitted to The Football League in 1920 they wore white shirts with blue shorts. These remained the team colours until 1930, when the colours were reversed to blue shirts and white shorts for one season.<ref name="FAQ"/> The blue and white quarters were first worn in 1931, when they were introduced to try to make the players look larger and more intimidating.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p161</ref> Rovers continued to wear the quarters for 31 years, until they were replaced by blue pinstripes on a white background.Template:Clarify<ref name="FAQ"/> Template:Football kit box Over the next ten years, Rovers went on to wear blue and white stripes, all blue, and blue shirts with white shorts before returning to the blue and white quarters in 1973, which have remained the colours ever since.Template:Clarify<ref name="FAQ"/> During the 1996–97 season, Rovers wore an unpopular striped quartered design, prompting fans to refer to it as the Tesco bag shirts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The change in design prompted the Trumpton Times fanzine to change its name to Wot, No Quarters?Template:Clarify<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The black and gold shirts were also used as the away kit for the 2002–03 season, the club's 120th anniversary.Template:Cn

In 2005, Rovers ran an April Fools' joke on their official website, stating that the team's new away strip would be all pink. Although this was intended to be a joke, a number of fans petitioned the club to get the kit made for real, and also suggested that funds raised through the sale of the pink shirts should be donated to a breast cancer charity.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although the pink shirts were never used in a competitive fixture, they were worn for a pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle in 2006.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A pirate features on both the club badge and the badge of the supporters club,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> reflecting the club nickname of The Pirates.Template:Synthesis inline Previous club badges have featured a blue and white quartered design, based on the quartered design of the team's jerseys.Template:Synthesis inline

Kit suppliers and sponsors

Rovers first used Bukta as an official kit supplier in 1977, and Great Mills as the first kit sponsor followed 1981. Rovers' longest running kit supplier is Errea who supplied the club kits for eleven years (2005–16).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club's longest running kit sponsorship was from local company Cowlin Construction, who sponsored the club for 11 years before ending the deal in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the end of the Cowlin deal, sponsors were chosen by raffle, via the 1883 Club.Template:Clarify<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This process lasted nine seasons before the club announced Football INDEX as new sponsors for both home and away kits.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, Utilita become the main shirt sponsors of both the home and away kits for the 2019-2020 season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the deal was then extended in July 2020 to cover the 2020-2021 season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> marking the first time a shirt sponsor had lasted for more than one season since the end of the Cowlin sponsorship in 2009.Template:Synthesis inline

Template:More citations needed section

Period	Kit supplier	Home Kit Sponsor	Away Kit Sponsor
1977–1981	Bukta	No sponsor
1981–1983		Great Mills
1983–1984		Toshiba
1984–1986	Hobott
1986–1987	Henson	Peter Carol
1987–1988		Design Windows
1988–1990	Spall	Design Windows	Universal Components
1990–1992		Design Windows
1992–1993		Roman Glass
1993–1995	Matchwinner
1995–1996	Le Coq Sportif	Elite Hampers
1996–1997	Cica	Bradshaw's Snack Box
1997–1998		The Jelf Group
1998–1999		Cowlin Construction
1999–2001	Avec
2001–2005	Strikeforce
2005–2009	Errea
2009–2010		N-Gaged	Stevens, Hewlett & Perkins
2010–2011		Smart Computers	Stalbridge Linen
2011–2012		McCarthy Waste	ITS
2012–2013		Opus Recruitment Solutions	CR Windows
2013–2014		Eurocams	Highspec Travel Services
2014–2015		Arco	Office Beverages
2015–2016		The Sportsman Pub	Pensord Press
2016–2017	Macron	Dribuild	Powersystems UK Ltd
2017–2018		Thorntons Travel	Barrs Court Construction
2018–2019		Football INDEX
2019–2024		Utilita Energy
2024–present		FanHub

Stadium

Grounds

Template:More citations needed section

• Purdown – 1883–1884
• Three Acres – 1884–1891
• Schoolmasters Cricket Ground – 1891–1892
• Durdham Down – 1892–1894
• Ridgeway – 1894–1897
• Eastville Stadium – 1897–1986
• Twerton Park – 1986–1996
• The Memorial Stadium – 1996–present

History

Rovers play their home games at the Memorial Stadium in Horfield, a ground they formerly shared with Bristol Rugby. The team moved to The Mem, as it is known informally, at the beginning of the 1996–97 season, initially as tenants but purchased it two years later.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

When Bristol Rovers were known as Black Arabs F.C. in 1883, they played their home games at Purdown, Stapleton.Template:Cn The following year they moved to Three Acres, the precise location of which is not known, but is believedTemplate:By whom to have been in the Ashley Down area of Bristol, where they remained for seven years.Template:Cn This was followed by brief stays at the Schoolmasters Cricket Ground, Durdham Down and Ridgeway.

For the majority of their history, Bristol Rovers have played their home games at the Eastville Stadium, where they remained for a period of 89 years from 1897 to 1986.Template:Cn Financial problems led to the team being forced to leave Eastville, now it is an IKEA Store.Template:Cn Bristol Rovers found a temporary home at Twerton Park, the home of Bath City.Template:Cn They stayed in Bath for 10 years, before returning to Bristol in 1996.Template:Cn

Aftermath of the fire at Eastville Stadium, August 1980

Rovers also played five home games at Ashton Gate Stadium, home of rivals Bristol City, following a fire which destroyed the South Stand of the Eastville Stadium on the night of the 16–17 August 1980.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> Rovers returned to Eastville in October 1980.Template:Cn During World War II, some friendly matches were played in Kingswood, and in their early history some games were played at Parson Street, Bedminster<ref name="Byrne & Jay"/>

In January 2007, planning permission was granted for a new 18,500 capacity all-seater stadium to be built on the site of the Memorial Stadium.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The project was abandoned after a series of delays.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2011, the club announced its intention to relocate the club to a new 21,700 all-seater stadium on the University of the West of England's Frenchay campus.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The planned UWE Stadium was shelved in August 2017 due to disputes between the club and the university.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2017, there was a crowd recording at the Memorial Stadium for Early Man, a 2018 Aardaman film.Template:Clarify<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2020, the club began construction of a new training facility at a site on Hortham Lane, Almondsbury near the M5 motorway.Template:Clarify<ref name=":0" /> The site is set to include two full size pitches, a goalkeeping area, a gym and a clubhouse building.Template:Clarify<ref name=":0" /> Having owned the land since 2017,Template:Fv<ref name=":1" /> no work had previously been carried out before the club moved into the training ground for the start in October 2020.Template:Vague<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 6 April 2023, the Wholesale Bristol Fruit Market and Conygar Investment Company made overtures to eventually create a new stadium where the market stood at St. Philips Marsh. The football club saw it as a 'move in the right direction' with regards to a new stadium, having been involved in discussions for Template:Frac years prior.Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2023, new owner Hussain AlSaeed confirmed that the club's proposed move to the site was off and they would instead be redeveloping the Memorial Stadium.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref>

Supporter culture

Rovers fans at the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in 2007

The team traditionally draws the majority of its support from north and east Bristol<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and South Gloucestershire. Many towns and villages in the surrounding area are also home to significant pockets of Rovers supporters.Template:Primary source inline<ref name="FAQ" />

The nickname given to Bristol Rovers supporters is "Gasheads".Template:Vague<ref name="Gasheads">Template:Cite web</ref> "The Gas" was originally coined as a derogatory term by the supporters of Bristol Rovers's rivals Bristol City, and was in reference to the large gas works adjacent to the old Bristol Rovers stadium, in Eastville, Bristol which wafted the sometimes overpowering odour of town gas across the crowd.Template:Fv<ref name="FAQ" /> "Gasheads" was adopted as a name by a splinter group of Rovers supporters in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.Template:Cn The chant "Proud to be a Gashead" spread to regular fans, and a fanzine was produced called The Gashead.

The term "Gasheads" is now universally accepted within the English media and football fraternity as referring to Bristol Rovers supporters.Template:Better source needed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the club's relegation to the Third Division in 2001, the club designated the squad number 12 to the Gasheads, to signify them as the club's 12th Man in recognition of their loyal support.Template:Fv<ref name="Gasheads" />

The retired Conservative MP for Hayes and Harlington Terry Dicks was a Bristol Rovers fan. He mentioned the club in parliament ("now struggling in the second division of the Endsleigh league") on 5 May 1994 when debating with Labour MP and Chelsea fan Tony Banks. Other notable fans are local musicians Roni SizeTemplate:Additional source needed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Geoff Barrow of PortisheadTemplate:Primary source inline and writer David Goldblatt. Former Bristol Rovers player and manager, Ian Holloway, who also managed QPR and Blackpool as well as featuring as a pundit, is still a big fan of the club.

Based on September 2014 statistics released by the Home Office,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Rovers fan base were named the Most Dangerous English Football fan base for the 2013–2014 season, with 57 arrests on the season, of which 35% were for "violent disorder."Template:Fv Particularly dangerous was the scene on 3 May 2014 when the Rovers were assured relegation from the Football League for the first time.Template:Clarify<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Rovers fans have good relations with Spanish club CE Sabadell FC, which initially began due to several Rovers fans noticing that the club had the same colours.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2016, the clubs played each other in a pre-season match in Spain.Template:Additional source needed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

One Bristol Rovers print fanzine is currently active and is entitled Last Saturday Night.Template:FvTemplate:Primary source inline<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There is also a fan-run podcast and blog called GasCast.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Club song

The song which is synonymous with Rovers is "Goodnight, Irene", which was written by Lead Belly.Template:FvTemplate:Better source needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Opinions differ as to how this came about, but it is thought to have become popular in the 1950s when a version of the song was in the British charts—the line "sometimes I have a great notion to jump in the river and drown"—seemed to be particularly apt when Rovers lost, as the Bristol Frome flows alongside the old Eastville ground.Template:Additional source needed<ref name="FAQ" /> It is believed that John Clapham is responsible for the song as he used to work at Eastville stadium for the greyhound racing and the last record he would play at the end of the night was "Goodnight Irene" also having a daughter called Irene, the record would then be left in the player and was played at the football.Template:Fv<ref name="FAQ" /> Another theory is that it was sung at a fireworks display at the Stadium the night before a home game against Plymouth Argyle in the 1950s. During the game the following day, Rovers were winning quite comfortably and the few Argyle supporters present began to leave early prompting a chorus of "Goodnight Argyle" from the Rovers supporters—the tune stuck and "Irene" became the club song.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p. 225</ref>

Another popular Bristol Rovers song is "Tote End Boys", which was written and sung by Ben Gunstone. The name derives from the section of Gasheads who stood in the Tote End terrace at Rovers' old home, Eastville Stadium.

Players

Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable former players

Hall of fame

The football club launched its official Hall of Fame in 2021 in partnership with Retro Rovers podcast with the purpose of recognising the players and managers who had had the greatest impact. It was announced that ten people would be inducted in the Hall at a rate of one per week in the first half of 2021, with three added per year thereafter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first inductee was the club's all-time record goalscorer Geoff Bradford.

Bristol Rovers Hall of Fame Inductees

Inductee #	Name	Appearances	Goals	Period	Date inducted	Notes
1	Template:Sortname	461	242	1949–1964	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Club record goalscorer
2	Template:Sortname	546	28	1965–1980	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Club record appearance maker
3	Template:Sortname	486	5	1945–1958	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Second most appearances for the club.
4	Template:Sortname	463	197	1953–1961 & 1962–1968	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Second top scorer in the club's history.
5	Template:Sortname	450	28	1936–1956	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Title winning captain in 1952-53.
6	Template:Sortname	499	16	1946–1960	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Spent 50 years at club as player, coach & groundsman
7	Template:Sortname	457	85	1945–1962	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	More FA Cup appearances than any other player for the club.
8	Template:Sortname	129	18	1979–1984	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Talented fan favourite who died from lung cancer in 1984, aged just 24
9	Template:Sortname	452	127	1959–1973 (player) 1979–1980 (manager)	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Third top scorer in the club's history
10	Template:Sortname	323	19	1945–1963	Template:Date table sorting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Oldest living former Rovers player. Died on 3 June 2023 at the age of 98.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other notable players

This is a list of the other most noted former players at Bristol Rovers Football Club (excluding those listed in the Hall of Fame above) stating the period that each player spent at the club, their nationality and their reason for being listed. To be included in this list a player must have made over 400 league appearances for the club, scored over 100 league goals or hold a club record.

Note: all details from Byrne & Jay (2003), unless otherwise stated

Years	Nation	Player	Achievement	Notes
1928–1932	Template:ENG	Ronnie Dix	The club's youngest ever player, at 15 years 173 days. The Football League's youngest ever goalscorer, at 15 years 180 days.	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1945–1955	Template:ENG	Vic Lambden	Scored 117 goals in 268 league appearances.
1945–1962	Template:ENG	George Petherbridge	Played 457 league games.
1953–1962	Template:Flagu	Peter Hooper	Scored 101 goals in 297 league games.
1956–1973	Template:ENG	Bobby Jones	Played 421 league games and scored 101 goals.
1959–1973	Template:ENG	Harold Jarman	Played 452 league games and scored 127 goals.
1981–1999	Template:ENG	Ian Holloway	Named the fans' Cult Hero in a BBC poll.	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1987–1989	Template:ENG	Nigel Martyn	Became the first goalkeeper to command a million pound transfer fee when he was sold to Crystal Palace.	<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p391</ref>
1992–2000	Template:ENG	Andy Tillson	Record signing, and former club captain.	<ref name="sb records">Template:Cite web</ref>
1997–1999	Template:JAM	Barry Hayles	Club record sale when he moved to Fulham for £2,100,000.
2000–2003	Template:LAT	Vitālijs Astafjevs	Most internationally capped Bristol Rovers player, with 31 appearances for Latvia while playing with Rovers 158 times.	<ref name="sb records"/>
2016–2018	Template:ENG	Byron Moore	Scorer of Rovers' fastest ever league goal (11 seconds) vs AFC Wimbledon	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Club staff

Club personnel

As of 26 June 2025<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Job title	Name
Head coach	Darrell Clarke
Assistant head coach	Rhys Carr
Assistant head coach	Jon Stead
Goalkeeping coach	James Bittner
Head of Medical and Performance	Gavin Crowe
Club Doctor	John Moore
Sports Therapist	Leighanne Kelly
Director of Football	Ricky Martin
Head of Recruitment	Chris Spendlove
Head Analyst	Liam McCartan
Lead Sports Scientist	Kyler Burns
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Sam Pashen
Academy Manager	Byron Anthony
Youth Development Phase Lead Coach (U13-U16s)	Phil Hicks
Foundation Phase Lead Coach	Jake Sainsbury
Groundsman	Ben Ford
Kit Man	Josh Evans
Assistant Kit Man	Tom Foley

Board of directors

Position	Name<ref name="contact"/>
Chairman	Hussain AlSaeed
President	Wael al-Qadi
Executive Vice-President	Abdullatif AlSaeed
Director	Khaled Alkandari
Director	Abdulaziz Alroomi
Director of Football	Ricky Martin
Director of Commercial & Revenue	Ritchie Bates

Managerial history

The first manager of Bristol Rovers, Alfred Homer

36 men have been appointed as a manager of Bristol Rovers Football Club, excluding caretaker managers.<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), pp.479–484</ref>Template:Fv<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bobby Gould, Gerry Francis and John Ward are the only men to have been given the job on a permanent basis twice, although Garry Thompson had a spell as caretaker manager before later being appointed permanently, and Phil Bater was caretaker manager on two occasions.

• Template:Flagicon Alfred Homer 1899–1920
• Template:Flagicon Ben Hall 1920–21
• Template:Flagicon Andrew Wilson 1921–26
• Template:Flagicon Joe Palmer 1926–29
• Template:Flagicon David McLean 1929–30
• Template:Flagicon Albert Prince-Cox 1930–36
• Template:Flagicon Percy Smith 1936–37
• Template:Flagicon Brough Fletcher 1938–50
• Template:Flagicon Bert Tann 1950–68
• Template:Flagicon Fred Ford 1968–69
• Template:Flagicon Bill Dodgin Sr. 1969–72
• Template:Flagicon Don Megson 1972–77
• Template:Flagicon Bobby Campbell 1977–79
• Template:Flagicon Harold Jarman 1979–80
• Template:Flagicon Terry Cooper 1980–81
• Template:Flagicon Ron Gingell 1981 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Bobby Gould 1981–83
• Template:Flagicon David Williams 1983–85
• Template:Flagicon Bobby Gould 1985–87
• Template:Flagicon Gerry Francis 1987–91
• Template:Flagicon Martin Dobson
• Template:Flagicon Dennis Rofe
• Template:Flagicon Malcolm Allison 1992–93
• Template:Flagicon Steve Cross 1993 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon John Ward 1993–96
• Template:Flagicon Ian Holloway 1996–2001 (player-manager 1996–99)
• Template:Flagicon Garry Thompson 2001 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Gerry Francis 2001
• Template:Flagicon Garry Thompson 2001–02
• Template:Flagicon Phil Bater 2002 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Ray Graydon 2002–04
• Template:Flagicon Phil Bater 2004 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Russell Osman & Kevan Broadhurst 2004 (joint caretakers)
• Template:Flagicon Ian Atkins 2004–05
• Template:Flagicon Paul Trollope 2005–10
• Template:Flagicon Darren Patterson 2010–11 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Dave Penney 2011
• Template:Flagicon Stuart Campbell 2011 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Paul Buckle 2011–12
• Template:Flagicon Shaun North 2012 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Mark McGhee 2012
• Template:Flagicon John Ward 2012–14
• Template:Flagicon Darrell Clarke 2014–18
• Template:Flagicon Graham Coughlan 2018–19 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Graham Coughlan 2019
• Template:Flagicon Joe Dunne 2019 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Kevin Maher 2019 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Ben Garner 2019–20
• Template:Flagicon Tommy Widdrington 2020 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Paul Tisdale 2020–21
• Template:Flagicon Tommy Widdrington 2021 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Joey Barton 2021–2023
• Template:Flagicon Andy Mangan 2023 (caretaker)
• Template:Flagicon Matt Taylor 2023–2024
• Template:Flagicon Iñigo Calderón 2024–2025
• Template:Flagicon Darrell Clarke 2025–

Youth Academy

The Bristol Rovers Academy currentlyTemplate:When operates at The City Academy Bristol and Sir Bernard Lovell School. Current first-team squad members Ellis Harrison, Alfie Kilgour, Tom Lockyer and Jed Ward graduated from the Academy to earn professional contracts.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2021, U16s player Kyrie Pierre signed for Aston Villa for an undisclosed six-figure fee, a record fee received by the Academy for a player.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

One former member of the academy is Scott Sinclair, who was signed by Chelsea in 2005 for £200,000, with further payments to the club possible, depending on performance.<ref name="football-league2005">Template:Cite web</ref>

Other former Academy players currently contracted to teams in the Premier League or English Football League include Ryan Broom (Cheltenham Town), Ollie Clarke (Swindon Town), Matt Macey (Colchester United) and Kofi Shaw (Brighton & Hove Albion.Template:Citation needed

Women's team

Bristol Academy v Birmingham City, October 2006

The club formerly had a women's team, set up in 1998, as Bristol Rovers W.F.C., following a merger with Cable-Tel L.F.C..Template:Fv This merger came about as Bristol Rovers only had girls' teams up to the under-16 age group level, so when girls reached the age of 16 they were forced to leave the club.Template:Fv The merger with Cable-Tel meant that Bristol Rovers had a senior squad.Template:Fv The club's name was changed to Bristol Academy W.F.C. in 2005, to reflect the increased investment from the Bristol Academy of Sport.Template:Fv In 2016, Bristol Academy were re-branded as Bristol City following a sponsorship arrangement with Rovers' local rivals.Template:Additional source needed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2019, the Bristol Rovers Community Trust relaunched the Women’s team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They began fielding two teams in the Gloucestershire County Women's Football League in the 2019–20 season.

In 2024, the club announced that they would take on the management of the women’s team. After three promotions, the team play in FA Women's National League Division One.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>

Records

Scorelines

Bristol Rovers record goalscorer, Geoff Bradford. Picture taken in 1988, when he was 61 years old.

• Biggest League Win:<ref name="club records">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 7–0 (v Brighton & Hove Albion, Division Three (South), 29 November 1952)
  • 7–0 (v Swansea City, Division Two, 2 October 1954)
  • 7–0 (v Shrewsbury Town, Division Three, 21 March 1964)
  • 7–0 (v Alfreton Town, Conference Premier, 25 April 2015)<ref> Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 7–0 (v Scunthorpe United, League Two, 7 May 2022)<ref name="7.5.22"> Template:Cite web</ref>
    • Biggest Cup Win:
  • Competition proper:
    • 6–0 (v Merthyr Tydfil, FA Cup round 1, 14 November 1987)<ref name="club records"/>
    • 6–0 (v Darlington, FA Cup round 2, 29 November 2020)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Qualifying: 15–1 (v Weymouth, FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, 17 November 1900)<ref name="club records"/>
• Biggest League Defeat: 0–12 (v Luton Town, Division Three South, 13 April 1936)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Players

• Most League Appearances: 546 – Stuart Taylor, 1966–1980<ref name="Football Yearbook 06-07">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Most Goals for club: 242 – Geoff Bradford, 1949–1964<ref name="Football Yearbook 06-07"/>
• Most Goals in a season: 33 – Geoff Bradford, 1952–53<ref name="Football Yearbook 06-07"/>
• Highest Transfer Fee Paid: £500,000 – Promise Omochere from Fleetwood Town 2024 <ref name="Football Yearbook 06-07"/>
• Highest Transfer Fee Received: £2,600,000 – Barry Hayles to Fulham, November 1998Template:Cn

Other

• Record Home Attendance: 38,472 (v Preston North End, FA Cup, 30 January 1960)<ref>Byrne & Jay (2003), p476</ref>
• Best FA Cup performance: Quarter-finals, 1950–51, 1957–58, 2007–08<ref name="fchd" />
• Best League Cup performance: Quarter-finals: 1970–71, 1971–72<ref name="fchd" />
• Best League Trophy performance: Runners-up, 1989–90, 2006–07<ref name="fchd" />
• Best FA Trophy performance: First round, 2014–15<ref name="fchd" />

Honours

Bristol Rovers have won the following honours:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="fchd"/>

League

• Third Division South / Third Division (level 3)
  • Champions: 1952–53, 1989–90
  • Runners-up: 1973–74
• Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
  • Promoted: 2015–16, 2021–22
  • Play-off winners: 2007
• Conference Premier (level 5)
  • Play-off winners: 2015
• Southern League
  • Champions: 1904–05
• Western League
  • Champions: 1899–1900
  • Runners-up: 1902–03

Cup

• Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy
  • Runners-up: 1989–90, 2006–07
• Third Division South Cup
  • Winners: 1934–35
• Watney Cup
  • Winners: 1972
• Gloucestershire Cup
  • Winners (32): 1888–89, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1913–14, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95Template:Fv

Sources

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Supporters club website Template:Webarchive
• Vital Gas
• The odd link between Bristol Rovers and the singer Leadbelly