Bristol Rovers F.C.

Bristol Rovers
Brist Badge.png
Full name Bristol Rovers Football Club
Nickname(s) The Pirates, The Gas
Founded 1883 (as Black Arabs)
Ground Memorial Stadium
Horfield, Bristol
(Capacity: 12,011 (2,500 seated)[1])
Chairman Nick Higgs[2]
Manager Paul Trollope [3]
League League One
2009–10 League One, 11th[4]
Home colours
Away colours

Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol. The team play their home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city, and have played in League One since being promoted via the League Two playoffs at the end of the 2006–07 season.[5]

The club was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C., and was also known as Eastville Rovers and Bristol Eastville Rovers before finally changing its name to Bristol Rovers in 1898. They were admitted to the Football League in 1920 and have never dropped out of it since. The closest they came to going out of the league was in 1939, when they were re-elected after finishing bottom of Division Three (South), and in 2002 when the team finished just one league position away from relegation to the Football Conference. Their best ever finishes were in 1956 and 1959 when they finished in 6th place in Division Two, which was the second tier of English football at the time.

The club's official nickname is The Pirates, reflecting the maritime history of Bristol. The local nickname of the club is The Gas, from the gasworks next to Eastville Stadium, their former home. Their main rivals are Bristol City, and according to a survey conducted in December 2003, Cardiff City and Swindon Town are considered the second and third biggest rivals.[6]

Contents

History

Early years

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.[7]

Football: Wotton-under-Edge v Black Arabs (Bristol). A match under association rules has been played at Wotton-under-Edge between these clubs, resulting in the defeat of the visiting team. The home team were in every point superior to their antagonists and after a one-sided game Wotton were declared victors by six goals to nil.

Dursley Gazette, 3 December 1883, reproduced in Byrne & Jay (2003).[8] A report of the Black Arabs' first match.

The club played only friendly games until the 1887–88 season, when it took part in the Gloucestershire Cup for the first time. In 1892 the club became a founder member of the Bristol and District League, which three years later was renamed the Western League. In 1897 Eastville Rovers joined the Birmingham and District League, and for two seasons played in both this league and the Western League.[9] At the beginning of the 1897–98 season, the club turned professional and changed its name to Bristol Eastville Rovers,[9] and on 17 February 1899 the name was officially changed to Bristol Rovers.[10] In 1899 Bristol Rovers joined the newly formed Southern League, where they remained until 1920, winning the league title along the way in 1905.[5]

1904–05 Southern League winning team

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.[11]

The team has won promotion on three other occasions: in 1973–74 from the Third Division to the Second Division, again in 1989–90 as Division Three champions and also in 2006–07 to the Football League One. The club has been relegated four times—in 1961–62, 1980–81, 1992–93 and most recently at the end of the 2000–01 season,[5] when the club was relegated to the fourth level of league football for the first time in its history.[12]

The highest position in the football ladder achieved by Rovers at the end of season is sixth place in the second tier, which they did twice; once in 1955–56, and again in 1958–59.[5] The closest they came to the top flight was in 1955–56, when they ended the season just four points below the promotion positions.[13] The lowest league position achieved by the club is twenty-third out of twenty-four teams in the fourth tier, which was attained during the 2001–02 season.[5] It was a narrow escape from relegation from the Football League 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.[14]

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.[15] The club also won the Division Three (South) Cup in 1934–35, as well as winning or sharing the Gloucestershire Cup on 32 occasions. The team has never played in European competition; 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.[16]

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[17] in front of a crowd of 62,787, the record for the highest attendance at any Bristol Rovers match.[18] The second time they reached the quarter final was in 1957–58, when they lost to Fulham,[17] and the most recent appearance at this stage of the competition was during the 2007–08 season, when they faced West Bromwich Albion.[19] 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.[17]

They have twice reached the final of the Football League Trophy, in 1989–90 and 2006–07, but finished runners-up on both occasions. On the second occasion they didn't 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.[20]

Colours and badge
Team colours from 1883 to 1885

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 light blue and white quartered shirt and white shorts, while the away kit is black and gold with the same colours as the trim.[21] During the 2008–09 season a special third strip, which is black with a gold sash, and is a reproduction of the original Black Arab shirt, was used for a single match to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club.[22]
Team colours on winning the Southern League in 1905

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.[23]

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.[23] The blue and white quarters were first worn in 1931, when they were introduced to try and make the players look larger and more intimidating.[24] Rovers continued to wear the quarters for 31 years until they were replaced by blue pinstripes on a white background.

Club badge used during the 1980s and 90s
1996-97 "Tesco" shirts

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.[23] During the 1996-97 season, Rovers wore an unpopular striped quartered design, prompting fans to refer to it as the Tesco bag shirts[25] because of their similarity to the design used for the company's carrier bags. The change in design prompted the Trumpton Times fanzine to change its name to Wot, No Quarters?[26]

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

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.[27] Although the pink shirts were never used in a competitive fixture, they were worn for a pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle in 2006.[28]

A pirate features on both the club badge and the badge of the supporters club,[29] reflecting the club nickname of The Pirates. Previous club badges have featured a blue and white quartered design, based on the quartered design of the team's jerseys.

Kit suppliers and sponsors

Rovers first used an official kit supplier in 1977, and the club's first official kit sponsor followed in 1981. Rovers' longest running kit suppliers are Bukta who supplied the club kits for seven years. The club's longest running kit sponsorship was from local company Cowlin Construction who sponsored the club for a total of 11 years before ending the deal in 2009.

The Cowlin deal came to an end during the late-2000s recession. Faced with the prospect of having no shirt sponsor for the 2009-10 season, the club came up with the idea of a raffle to raise the funds required. Tickets were sold at £1,000 with all 96 available being sold meaning the club raised £96,000 for one season of shirt sponsorship, more than some Premier League clubs. First prize in the draw went to local training and recruitment company N-Gaged whose logo appears on the current home kit. Second prize went to Bristol based solicitors Stevens, Hewlett & Perkins whose logo appears on the current away kit.

The raffle proved so successful that the club replicated it for the 2010-11 season with Smart Computers becoming the new home kit sponsors and Stalbridge Linen the away sponsors.

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
1996–1997 Cica 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

Stadium

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

Rovers play their home games at The Memorial Stadium in Horfield, a ground they share with Bristol Rugby Club. 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.[30]

When Bristol Rovers were known as Black Arabs F.C. in 1883, they played their home games at Purdown, Stapleton. The following year they moved to Three Acres, the precise location of which is not known, but is believed to have been in the Ashley Down area of Bristol, where they remained for seven years. 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 Eastville Stadium, where they remained for a period of 89 years from 1897-1986. Financial problems led to the team being forced to leave Eastville, and they found a temporary home at Twerton Park, the home of Bath City. They stayed in Bath for 10 seasons, before returning to Bristol in 1996.

Aftermath of the fire at Eastville Stadium, August 1980

Rovers have also played home games at Ashton Gate following a fire which destroyed one of stands at Eastville, and also for one match during the early days of the period spent in Bath. During World War II, some friendly matches were played in Kingswood, and in their early history some games were played at Parson Street, Bedminster[7]

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.[31] Building work was originally intended to begin late in 2007, but a number of delays set the project back first until the summer of 2008[32][33][34], and then until the summer of 2009.[35] Rovers were originally due to play their home games at Cheltenham Town's Whaddon Road ground when the work began,[36] but this decision has now been reversed and the club will now stay at the Mem while the work is carried out.[37]

Supporter culture

Rovers fans at the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in 2007

The team traditionally draws the majority of its support from north and east Bristol[38] and South Gloucestershire. Many towns and villages in the surrounding area are also home to significant pockets of Rovers supporters.[23]

The nickname given to Bristol Rovers supporters is "Gasheads".[39] "The Gas" was originally coined as a derogatory term by the supporters of Bristol Rovers' 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.[23] "Gasheads" was adopted as a name by a splinter group of Rovers supporters in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. 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.[40] After the club's relegation to Football League Two 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.[39]

In 2000 another splinter group of supporters came together. Known as the Blackthorn Buccaneers, their aim was to celebrate the maritime heritage of the city of Bristol, identifying with the pirate on the club's badge. The group celebrates its existence at most games by the waving of pirate flags and wearing of piratesque costumes. The group take its name from the originally named Blackthorn terrace, on which they stand at the Memorial Stadium.

In the British film Hot Fuzz Danny Butterman played by Nick Frost is seen wearing a Bristol Rovers shirt.[41]

Club song

The song which is synonymous with Rovers is "Goodnight, Irene", which was written by Leadbelly.[42] It is sung by fans in support of the team.

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.[23] 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.[43]

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

The era of the tote end is documented in detail in 'Booted and Suited' a book by Chris Brown described as social history with steel toecaps.

Players

As of 27 August 2010.[44]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Denmark GK Mikkel Andersen (on loan from Reading)
2 England DF Carl Regan
3 England DF Gary Sawyer
4 England MF Chris Lines
5 England DF Danny Coles
6 England DF James Tunnicliffe (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
7 Scotland MF Stuart Campbell (captain)
8 England FW Will Hoskins
9 England FW John Akinde (on loan from Bristol City)
10 Scotland FW Darryl Duffy
11 Northern Ireland MF Jeff Hughes
13 England GK Mike Green
14 England MF Wayne Brown
No. Position Player
15 Wales DF Byron Anthony
16 England MF Dominic Blizzard
17 Ghana FW Jo Kuffour
18 Wales FW Eliot Richards
20 England MF Charlie Reece
21 England FW Charlie Clough
22 England MF Harry Pell
23 Wales MF Ben Swallow
24 England FW Ollie Clarke
25 England MF George Booth
26 England DF Mark Cooper
27 England MF Jack McKenna
28 England FW Lamar Powell

The shirt number 12 is used by Gasheads to represent the fans as the 12th Man.[39]

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
19 England MF Mark Wright (on loan at Shrewsbury Town)

Notable former players

This is a list of the most noted former players at Bristol Rovers Football Club, giving 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
1927–1947  England Jack Pitt Played 467 league games.
Spent over 50 years at the club as a player, coach and groundsman.		 [45]
1928–1932  England 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.		 [46]
1936–1956  England Ray Warren Played 450 league games.
1945–1955  England Vic Lambden Scored 117 goals in 268 league appearances.
1945–1962  England George Petherbridge Played 457 league games.
1946–1958  England Harry Bamford Played 486 league games.
1949–1964  England Geoff Bradford Rovers' record goal scorer with 242 league goals from 462 appearances.
The only player to be capped by England while at Bristol Rovers.
1953–1962  Kenya Peter Hooper Scored 101 goals in 297 league games.
1953–1968  England Alfie Biggs Played 424 league games and scored 178 goals.
1956–1973  England Bobby Jones Played 421 league games and scored 101 goals.
1959–1973  England Harold Jarman Played 452 league games and scored 127 goals.
1966–1980  England Stuart Taylor Played 546 league games, more than any other Rovers player
1981–1999  England Ian Holloway Named the fans' Cult Hero in a BBC poll. [47]
1987–1989  England Nigel Martyn Became the first goalkeeper to command a million pound transfer fee when he was sold to Crystal Palace. [48]
1992–2000  England Andy Tillson Record signing, and former club captain. [49]
1997–1999  Jamaica Barry Hayles Club record sale when he moved to Fulham for £2,100,000.
2000–2003  Latvia Vitālijs Astafjevs Most internationally capped Bristol Rovers player, with 31 appearances for Latvia while playing with Rovers 158 times. [49]

Management

Management team

Job title Name[50][51]
Manager Paul Trollope
Assistant Manager Darren Patterson
Physio Phil Kite
Goalkeeping coach Len Bond
Head of Youth Ken Oram[52]
Youth Team Coach Jerry Gill[52]

Managers

The first manager of Bristol Rovers, Alfred Homer

As of November 2008, 28 men have been appointed as a manager of Bristol Rovers Football Club, excluding caretaker managers.[53][54] Bobby Gould and Gerry Francis are the only men to have been given the job on a permanent basis twice, although if caretaker managers are included Garry Thompson and Phil Bater have also held the position on two separate occasions.

1899–1920 Alfred Homer
1920–21 Ben Hall
1921–26 Andrew Wilson
1926–29 Joe Palmer
1929–30 David McLean
1930–36 Albert Prince-Cox
1936–37 Percy Smith
1938–50 Brough Fletcher
1950–68 Bert Tann
1968–69 Fred Ford
1969–72 Bill Dodgin, Sr.
1972–77 Don Megson
1977–79 Bobby Campbell
1979–80 Harold Jarman
1980–81 Terry Cooper
1981 Ron Gingell (caretaker)
1981–83 Bobby Gould
1983–85 David Williams
1985–87 Bobby Gould
1987–91 Gerry Francis
1991 Martin Dobson
1991–92 Dennis Rofe
1992–93 Malcolm Allison
1993 Steve Cross (caretaker)
1993–96 John Ward
1996–2001 Ian Holloway
2001 Garry Thompson (caretaker)
2001 Gerry Francis
2001–02 Garry Thompson
2002 Phil Bater (caretaker)
2002–04 Ray Graydon
2004 Phil Bater (caretaker)
2004 Russell Osman & Kevan Broadhurst
(joint caretakers)
2004–05 Ian Atkins
2005– Paul Trollope

Youth Academy

The Bristol Rovers centre of excellence is associated with the Bristol Academy of Sport, located at Filton College, which offers a college education along with football coaching.[55] Current squad members Sean Rigg, Tom Parrinello, Lewis Powell, James Palmer, Darren Mullings, Chris Lines and Mike Green all graduated from the Academy to earn a professional contract. Perhaps the most successful former member of the academy is Scott Sinclair, who was signed by Chelsea in 2005 for an initial fee of £200,000, with further payments to the club possible, depending on performance.[56]

Women's team

Bristol Academy v Birmingham City, October 2006

The club has a successful women's team, formed in 1998 as Bristol Rovers W.F.C. and now known as Bristol Academy W.F.C. They play in the top flight of women's football in England, the FA Women's Premier League National Division, and have won ten trophies since their formation, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup on five occasions.[57]

Achievements

Bristol Rovers Football Club has won the following honours:[58]

1904-05
1952-53
1989-90
2006-07
1934-35
1972
1989-90, 2006-07
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, 1994-95

Records

Scorelines

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

Players

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Bristol Rovers". Internet Football Ground Guide. 21 March 2008. http://www.footballgroundguide.com/brisrvrs.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  2. ↑ "Higgs new Bristol Rovers chairman". BBC Sport. 5 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/7543551.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  3. ↑ "Rovers unveil Trollope & Lawrence". BBC Sport. 7 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/4413544.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  4. ↑ "Divisional League Table". The Football League. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalLeagueTable/0,,10794~200725,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Bristol Rovers". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.info/BRISTOLR.HTM. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  6. ↑ "Club rivalries uncovered" (PDF). Football Fans Census. http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883-2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2. 
  8. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p29
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Into the league". bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 August 2007. http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/IntoTheLeague/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
  10. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p52
  11. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p229
  12. ↑ "Wanderers send the Gas down". Chairboys on the Net. 2 May 2001. Archived from the original on October 08, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061008185931/http://www.chairboys.ndirect.co.uk/onthenet/news/news_may2001.htm#GAS_DOWN. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  13. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p242
  14. ↑ "Promotion to/Relegation from the Football League". The Pyramid.info. 9 January 2005. http://www.thepyramid.info/stats/updown.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
  15. ↑ Greg Struthers (24 February 2008). "Caught in time: Bristol Rovers win the Watney Cup, 1972". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3423204.ece. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 
  16. ↑ "Anglo-Italian Cup 1992-93". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/cups/aicup1992-93.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Up for the Cup". bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 August 2007. http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/UpForTheCup/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-25. 
  18. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p221
  19. ↑ "FA Cup quarter-final draw". BBC Sport. 27 February 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7249824.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
  20. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 2-3 Doncaster AET". BBC Sport. 1 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6514043.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-25. 
  21. ↑ "The look of Rovers in 2008/09". bristolrovers.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Football Club. 2 June 2008. http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PhotoGallery/0,,10328~1322602,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  22. ↑ "Rovers full of eastern promise". The Football League. 23 October 2008. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/News/LeagueOneNewsDetail/0,,10794~1427359,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 "Bristol Rovers Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070822010613/http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RoversFAQ/0,,10328,00.html. 
  24. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p161
  25. ↑ "Bristol Rovers - Historical Kits". Historical Football Kits. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Bristol_Rovers/Bristol_Rovers.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-09. 
  26. ↑ "About us". Black Arab fanzine. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928152805/http://www.blackarab.co.uk/about.html. Retrieved 2007-02-13. 
  27. ↑ "Bristol Rovers fans are pretty in pink". BBC Bristol. 19 April 2005. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/04/18/pinkshirt_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  28. ↑ "Walker strike sinks Pilgrims". bristolrovers.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Football Club. 29 July 2006. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~874153,00.html. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  29. ↑ "Bristol Rovers Supporters Club logo". bristolroverssc.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Supporters Club. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070616141836/http://www.bristolroverssc.co.uk/resources/images/thumb/file1126717806.jpg. Retrieved 2007-04-30. 
  30. ↑ "Back to Bristol". bristolrovers.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Football Club. 2 August 2007. http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BackToBristol/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  31. ↑ "Memorial Stadium given go-ahead". BBC News. 18 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6272765.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  32. ↑ "Football and rugby stay in city". BBC News. 17 August 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6950967.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  33. ↑ "Memorial Stadium plans hit hurdle". BBC News. 30 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7428390.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  34. ↑ "Stadium regeneration delayed". bristolrovers.co.uk. Bristol Rovers Football Club. 3 June 2008. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/StadiumRegeneration/0,,10328~1322831,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-23. 
  35. ↑ "Rovers confident on stadium plans". BBC News. 6 June 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/7440122.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 
  36. ↑ "Rovers confirm Cheltenham switch". BBC Sport. 5 June 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/6721699.stm. Retrieved 2007-06-05. 
  37. ↑ "Memorial to remain home to Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/7686835.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 
  38. ↑ "Bristol City vs. Bristol Rovers". Football Derbies.com. http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=25. Retrieved 2007-05-09. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "First Team - Gasheads". Bristol Rovers F.C.. http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10328~24099,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-25. 
  40. ↑ Brown, Oliver (2008-01-07). "Craig Hinton puts Bristol Rovers on a high". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/07/sfgful107.xml. Retrieved 2008-04-24. 
  41. ↑ "Made in Bristol - Simon Pegg Interview". BBC Bristol. 9 February 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2007/02/09/simonpegg_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
  42. ↑ "Goodnight, Irene". Harry Lewman Music. http://www.hlmusic.com/goodnigh.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-30. 
  43. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p225
  44. ↑ "First Team". Bristol Rovers FC. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  45. ↑ "The PFA pays tribute to Bristol Rovers legend Jack Pitt who sadly passed away last week, aged 84". givemefootball.com. Professional Footballers' Association. 1 January 2007. http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-news/the-pfa-pays-tribute-to-bristol-rovers-legend-jack. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
  46. ↑ Kempson, Russell (2 October 2008). "Barnsley's bright young thing Reuben Noble-Lazarus back at school". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4863558.ece. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
  47. ↑ "Bristol Rovers' cult heroes". BBC Sport. 18 March 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/4355437.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
  48. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p391
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "Bristol Rovers all time records". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/team_records.sd?teamid=388. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
  50. ↑ "Patterson Announced as Assistant Manager". bristolrovers.co.uk. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~2055643,00.html. Retrieved 2010-05-21. 
  51. ↑ "Rovers Appoint New Goalkeeping Coach". bristolrovers.co.uk. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~2068142,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Oram appointed as new head of youth". Bristol Rovers Football Club. 21 July 2010. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~2097708,00.html. Retrieved 21 July 2010. 
  53. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), pp.479–484
  54. ↑ "Bristol Rovers manager history". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=388. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
  55. ↑ Bristol Rovers U18s Filton College. Retrieved 30 April 2007 Archived April 3, 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  56. ↑ "Chelsea compensation figures confirmed". The Football League. 9 November 2005. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10794~738992,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  57. ↑ "Bristol Academy bidding to reach semi-finals of Women's Cup". Bristol Evening Post. 18 February 2009. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/ladiesfootball/Bristol-Academy-bidding-reach-semi-finals-Women-s-Cup/article-710189-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  58. ↑ "Dates & Honours". Bristol Rovers F.C.. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/DatesAndHonours/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 "Dates & honours". bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 August 2007. http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/DatesAndHonours/0,,10328,00.html. Retrieved 2007-02-09. 
  60. ↑ "Bristol Rovers Football Club Information". Sporting Chronicle. http://www.sportingchronicle.com/football/bristolrovers.html. Retrieved 2007-02-09. 
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, ed (2006). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2006–2007. London: Headline. p. 115. ISBN 0-7553-1526-X. 
  62. ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p476

Sources

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