2024–25 Bristol Rovers F.C. season

The 2024–25 season is the 142nd season in the history of Bristol Rovers Football Club and their third consecutive season in League One. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.

Bristol Rovers
2024–25 season
OwnerHussain Al-Saeed
CEOTom Gorringe
ManagerMatt Taylor[1]
StadiumMemorial Stadium
League One9th
EFL CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Bryant Bilongo (1)
All: Four players (1)
Highest home attendance8,529 vs. Northampton Town
(10 August 2024)
Lowest home attendance1,584 vs. Tottenham Hotspur U21
(20 August 2024, EFL Trophy Group Stage)
Average home league attendance8,529
2025–26 →

Transfers

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Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
24 June 2024 AM   Isaac Hutchinson   Walsall Undisclosed [2]
26 June 2024 CF   Ruel Sotiriou   Leyton Orient Undisclosed[a] [3]
27 June 2024 CB   Dan Ellison   Chippenham Town Undisclosed [4]
28 June 2024 LB   Bryant Bilongo   Middlesbrough Undisclosed [5]
1 July 2024[b] LB   Clinton Mola   Reading Free [6]
1 July 2024[c] CB   Taylor Moore   Valenciennes Free [7]
1 July 2024[d] RB   Joel Senior   Morecambe Free [8]
12 July 2024 CM   Jamie Lindsay   Rotherham United Free [9]
19 July 2024 RW   Promise Omochere   Fleetwood Town Undisclosed [10]
9 August 2024 LW   Micah Anthony   Queens Park Rangers Free [11]
  1. ^ Although Sotiriou was out of contract, an undisclosed fee was agreed to avoid a compensation committee hearing
  2. ^ The transfer was announced on 25 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Reading contract expired
  3. ^ The transfer was announced on 30 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Valenciennes contract expired
  4. ^ The transfer was announced on 29 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Morecambe contract expired
Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref.
4 July 2024 CM   Antony Evans   Huddersfield Town Undisclosed [12]
1 August 2024 CB   James Connolly   Crewe Alexandra Undisclosed [13]

Loaned in

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Date Pos Player From Date until Ref
5 July 2024 CB   Michael Forbes   West Ham United End of Season [14]
10 July 2024 GK   Josh Griffiths   West Bromwich Albion End of Season [15]
3 August 2024 CM   Jake Garrett   Blackburn Rovers End of Season [16]
14 August 2024 LB   Lino Sousa   Aston Villa End of Season [17]

Loaned out

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Date Pos Player To Date until Ref
31 July 2024 GK   Jed Ward   Forest Green Rovers End of Season [18]

Released / Out of Contract

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Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join date Ref.
30 June 2024 CM   Sam Finley   Tranmere Rovers 1 July 2024 [19][20]
30 June 2024 RB   James Gibbons   Cambridge United 1 July 2024 [19][21]
30 June 2024 LB   Lewis Gordon   Chesterfield 1 July 2024 [19][22]
30 June 2024 CF   Harvey Greenslade   Yeovil Town 1 July 2024 [19][23]
30 June 2024 CM   Ryan Jones   Aldershot Town 1 July 2024 [19][24]
30 June 2024 RB   Luca Hoole   Shrewsbury Town[a] 16 July 2024 [25]
30 June 2024 CF   John Marquis   Shrewsbury Town 19 July 2024 [19][26]
30 June 2024 DM   Jordan Rossiter   Shrewsbury Town 30 July 2024 [27][28]
30 June 2024 DM   Josh Grant [19]
  1. ^ Compensation package was agreed

Pre-season and friendlies

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On 7 April, Bristol Rovers announced a pre-season training camp in Portugal, with two friendly matches planned, opponents being announced on 16 July.[29][30] On 31 May, the club announced their first three pre-season friendlies, against Melksham Town, Bath City and Yeovil Town.[31] Six days later, a home friendly versus Plymouth Argyle was confirmed.[32] On 25 June, it was confirmed that Cardiff City would visit during pre-season.[33] Two matches during the Portugal training camp were later announced, against Bromley and Portimonense.[34]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 July 2024 (2024-07-05) Friendly Melksham Town 2–4 Bristol Rovers Melksham
19:30 BST
  • Stroud   58'
  • Graham   60' (pen.)
Report
  • Hutchinson   10'
  • Dewsbury   47'
  • Ellison   70', 76'
Stadium: Oakfield Stadium
Attendance: 903
13 July 2024 (2024-07-13) Friendly Bath City 0–1 Bristol Rovers Twerton
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Twerton Park
Attendance: 1,908
Referee: Stacey Pearson
16 July 2024 (2024-07-16) Friendly Yeovil Town 0–3 Bristol Rovers Yeovil
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 1,715
23 July 2024 Friendly Bristol Rovers 1–2 Bromley Parchal, Portugal
11:00 WEST
Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal Bela Vista
27 July 2024 Friendly Bristol Rovers 2–0 Portimonense Parchal, Portugal
11:00 WEST
Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal Bela Vista
30 July 2024 (2024-07-30) Friendly Bristol Rovers 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Horfield
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,266
3 August 2024 Friendly Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cardiff City Horfield
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,251

Competitions

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League One

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 Stevenage 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
12 Reading 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4
13 Bolton Wanderers 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 4
14 Bristol Rovers 3 1 1 1 1 2 −1 4
15 Mansfield Town 3 1 1 1 6 8 −2 4
16 Wycombe Wanderers 3 1 0 2 6 6 0 3
17 Exeter City 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
Updated to match(es) played on 24 August 2024. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[35]

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
3 1 1 1 1 2  −1 4 1 0 0 1 0  +1 0 1 1 0 2  −2

Last updated: 24 August 2024.
Source: Soccerway

Matches

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On 26 June, the League One fixtures were announced.[36]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

10 August 2024 1 Bristol Rovers 1–0 Northampton Town Horfield
17:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,529
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
17 August 2024 2 Rotherham United 0–0 Bristol Rovers Rotherham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: New York Stadium
Attendance: 9,414
Referee: Neil Hair
24 August 2024 3 Stockport County 2–0 Bristol Rovers Edgeley
12:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,423
Referee: Paul Howard
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved for live Sky Sports broadcast.[37]

FA Cup

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EFL Cup

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On 27 June, the draw for the first round was made, with Bristol Rovers being drawn away against Cardiff City.[38]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

13 August 2024 First round Cardiff City 2–0 Bristol Rovers Leckwith
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 5,718
Referee: Charles Breakspear

EFL Trophy

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In the group stage, Bristol Rovers were drawn into Southern Group G alongside Exeter City, Swindon Town and Tottenham Hotspur U21.[39][40]

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 ACA Tottenham Hotspur U21 1 0 1 0 0 3 3 0 2 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Bristol Rovers 1 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
3 L1 Exeter City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 L2 Swindon Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 20 August 2024. Source: EFL
20 August 2024 Group stage Bristol Rovers 3–3
(5–6 p)
Tottenham Hotspur U21 Horfield
19:00 BST
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,584
Referee: James Oldham
Penalties
8 October 2024 Group stage Swindon Town v Bristol Rovers Swindon
19:00 BST Stadium: County Ground
29 October 2024 Group stage Bristol Rovers v Exeter City Horfield
19:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium

Statistics

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Appearances and goals

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As of match played 24 August 2024

List includes all first team players and any other matchday squad players

No. Pos Nat Player Total League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ENG Josh Griffiths (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF   ENG Joel Senior 4 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
3 DF   ENG Lino Sousa (on loan from Aston Villa) 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
4 DF   ENG Taylor Moore 3 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
5 DF   WAL James Wilson 3 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
6 DF   ENG Clinton Mola 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW   ENG Scott Sinclair 4 0 0+3 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF   ENG Grant Ward 3 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW   IRL Promise Omochere 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
10 FW   CYP Ruel Sotiriou 4 0 1+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0
11 FW   ENG Luke Thomas 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
14 MF   ENG Jake Garrett (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) 3 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
15 DF   ENG Dan Ellison 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 DF   ENG Connor Taylor 4 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
18 FW   ENG Chris Martin 3 0 1+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
19 MF   ENG Isaac Hutchinson 4 1 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 1
20 FW   JAM Jevani Brown 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
21 FW   ENG Micah Anthony 2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 1+0 0
22 MF   SLE Kamil Conteh 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
23 MF   ENG Luke McCormick 4 1 0+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 1
25 DF   NIR Michael Forbes (on loan from West Ham United) 3 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
27 DF   ENG Bryant Bilongo 4 1 3+0 1 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
29 MF   SCO Jamie Lindsay 3 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
32 DF   ENG Jack Hunt 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
34 MF   ENG Jerry Lawrence 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
35 GK   ENG Matt Hall 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
37 MF   ENG Kofi Shaw 2 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 1+0 1
43 FW   WAL Ollie Dewsbury 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
Players away on loan:
31 GK   ENG Jed Ward 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Goals Record

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As of match played 20 August 2024
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
1 19   CM Isaac Hutchinson 0 0 0 1 1
23   CM Luke McCormick 0 0 0 1 1
27   LB Bryant Bilongo 1 0 0 0 1
37   CM Kofi Shaw 0 0 0 1 1
Total 1 0 0 3 4

Disciplinary record

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As of match played 20 August 2024
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
                                       
1 1   GK Josh Griffiths 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
2   RB Joel Senior 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
4   CB Taylor Moore 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
10   CF Ruel Sotiriou 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
21   LW Micah Anthony 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
25   CB Michael Forbes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 0

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Taylor Announced as Bristol Rovers Manager". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Bristol Rovers Sign Midfielder Isaac Hutchinson". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign striker Ruel Sotiriou". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign defender Dan Ellison". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Bryant Bilongo Joins Bristol Rovers". Bristol Rovers FC. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Clinton Mola joins Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Bristol Rovers Sign Defender Taylor Moore". Bristol Rovers FC. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Joel Senior Completes Bristol Rovers Transfer". Bristol Rovers FC. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign midfielder Jamie Lindsay". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Bristol Rovers Complete Signing Of Promise Omochere". Bristol Rovers FC. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Micah Anthony joins Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Antony Evans joins Huddersfield Town". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ "James Connolly Completes Crewe Alexandra Transfer". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Michael Forbes joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Josh Griffiths joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Jake Garrett joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Lino Sousa joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Jed Ward joins Forest Green Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "Bristol Rovers issue 2023/24 Retained List". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Tranmere Rovers sign Sam Finley on two-year contract". Tranmere Rovers FC. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Gibbons rejoins on two-year deal". www.cambridgeunited.com. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Defender joins Spireites". chesterfield-fc.co.uk. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Harvey Greenslade joins the Glovers". www.ytfc.net. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. ^ "NEW SIGNING: Ryan Jones". www.theshots.co.uk. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Luca Hoole Joins Shrewsbury Town". Bristol Rovers FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Shrewsbury sign John Marquis". www.shrewsburytown.com. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Jordan Rossiter departs Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Jordan Rossiter becomes our latest recruit". www.shrewsburytown.com. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Rovers set for Portugal pre-season camp | Hotel packages available now!". Bristol Rovers FC. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Opponents confirmed for Portugal pre-season trip". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Melksham, Bath and Yeovil pre-season fixtures confirmed". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Rovers set for Plymouth Argyle pre-season test". Bristol Rovers FC. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Rovers To Face Cardiff City In Final Pre-Season Fixture". Bristol Rovers FC. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Opponents confirmed for Portugal pre-season trip". Bristol Rovers FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  35. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Birmingham start League One campaign against Reading". British Broadcasting Corporation. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Stockport County clash set for Sky Sports+ coverage". Bristol Rovers FC. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Carabao Cup Round One draw confirmed". English Football League. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Under-21 teams and Group Stage draw confirmed for 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy". English Football League. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  40. ^ "Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group Stage confirmed". English Football League. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.