As Newport County prepare to take on Bristol Rovers, we take a closer look at the Gas.
Bristol Rovers’ Story
Founded in 1883, Bristol Rovers weren’t admitted into the Football League until 1920, where they were allocated to the Third Division South. Rovers would remain in the Third Division South until their eventual promotion as champions in 1952-53. The Gas’ highest ever Football League finishes came in the 1955-56 and 1958-59 seasons, finishing sixth in the Second Division on both occasions. Rovers would suffer relegation in the 1961-62 season but would bounce back up as Third Division runners-up in the 1973-74 season. Rovers spent a further seven seasons in the second tier until their relegation in 1981.
The club would continue to bounce between the second and third divisions throughout the 80s and 90s until their relegation to League Two in the 2000-01 season. Rovers would defeat Shrewsbury Town in the 2007 League Two play-off final to regain their title as a League One side. However, relegations in 2011 and 2014 saw the club drop into the Conference Premier but would immediately regain their Football League status following their victory in the 2015 Conference Premier play-off final, drawing 1-1 with Grimsby Town but would come out as 5-3 winners on penalties. The Gas have since shifted between League One and League Two, returning to the fourth tier following last seasons 22nd place League One finish
The Head Coach
Currently in his second spell in charge of the Gas, Darrell Clarke returned to Bristol Rovers this summer, replacing Iñigo Calderón following the club’s relegation from League One. His side have endured a mixed start to the campaign, recording two wins, one draw, and four defeats.
A club hero in the eyes of many supporters, Clarke first made his mark at Rovers by guiding them back into the Football League through the 2015 Conference Premier play-offs—defying early critics who had started the season calling for his dismissal. He built on that success the following year, securing promotion to League One with a third-place finish in League Two.
Clarke’s first spell came to an end during the 2018-19 season after a difficult run of results. He later enjoyed two productive years at Walsall before Port Vale secured his services, with Clarke going on to lead the Valiants to League Two play-off glory at Wembley in 2022, beating Mansfield Town 3-0 in the final.
Subsequent short stints at Cheltenham Town and Barnsley followed—during which he faced Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in the FA Cup—before Clarke made an emotional return to the Memorial Stadium midway through last season.
The Club Captain
Returning this summer on a free transfer from Mansfield Town, Alfie Kilgour has been named as the captain of Bristol Rovers for the 2025-26 season. A highly experienced defender in the lower leagues of England, Kilgour replaces James Wilson who left the Gas to join Cheltenham Town at the end of last season.
A product of the Bristol Rovers youth system, Kilgour would be sent on various loan spells to the likes of Mangotsfield United, Cirencester Town, Hungerford Town, and Maidenhead United. Kilgour would finally make his Bristol Rovers debut on 12th March 2019 as a late substitute in a 1-0 win away at Gillingham.
Four seasons with the Gas followed and the defender would go on to make 119 appearances before joining Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee. Kilgour would help the club gain promotion at the end of the 2023-24 season via a third-place finish in League Two. Kilgour would make 21 appearances in the following season for the Stags before returning to Bristol Rovers this summer.
Key Player
Josh McEachran
A product of Chelsea’s renowned Cobham academy, Josh McEachran arrived at Bristol Rovers this summer from Championship side Oxford United.
McEachran broke through at Chelsea during the 2010-11 season, making 17 first-team appearances across all competitions—including nine in the Premier League and six in the Champions League. His first full 90 minutes came on Europe’s biggest stage, starting against French giants Marseille.
To further his development, the midfielder embarked on several loan spells with clubs including Swansea City, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan Athletic, and Dutch side Vitesse. His time in the Netherlands proved particularly valuable, paving the way for a permanent move to Championship outfit Brentford. Across four seasons with the Bees, McEachran made 101 appearances before a brief spell at Birmingham City preceded a century of games for MK Dons.
In 2021, McEachran joined Oxford United, where he played a key role in their promotion to the Championship. He continued to be a reliable figure at that level, helping the U’s defy the odds by avoiding relegation back to League One.