2015–16 Bristol Rovers F.C. season
The 2015–16 season was the 133rd season in Bristol Rovers' history and their 88th in the Football League. Rovers returned to the Football League after an absence of just one season following their promotion from the Conference Premier via the play-offs.
2015–16 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Nick Higgs (until 19 February 2016) Steve Hamer (from 19 February 2016) | ||
Manager | Darrell Clarke | ||
Stadium | Memorial Stadium | ||
League Two | 3rd (promoted) | ||
FA Cup | First round proper (Eliminated by Chesham United) | ||
League Cup | First round (Eliminated by Birmingham City) | ||
League Trophy | Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Southend United) | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Matty Taylor (27) All: Matty Taylor (28) | ||
Highest home attendance | 11,130 (vs. Dagenham & Redbridge, 7 May 2016) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 5,819 (vs. Stevenage, 24 November 2015) | ||
Average home league attendance | 8,096 | ||
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For the second successive season, Rovers were promoted, the first time the club had achieved back to back promotions in its history. On a dramatic final day of the season in which Rovers required a win and other results to go in their favour, a 92nd-minute winner against Dagenham & Redbridge from Lee Brown sparked wild celebrations at the Memorial Stadium as the club returned to the third tier of English football for the first time in five years. Striker Matty Taylor ended the season as the top goalscorer in the top four divisions of the English football league system with 27 goals.
Season events
June
- 1 June 2015 – Popular midfielder Stuart Sinclair signed a new contract with Rovers.[1]
- 11 June 2015 – Former Woking defender James Clarke joined Rovers on a one-year deal.[2]
- 17 June 2015 – Full back Daniel Leadbitter signed a contract extension with Rovers,[3] while wingers Andy Monkhouse[4] and Abdulai Bell-Baggie[5] left the club.
- 19 June 2015 – Gibraltar international Jake Gosling agreed a contract extension with Rovers.[6] Academy players Ryan Broom, Tyler Lyttle, Jay Malpas and Kieran Preston signed professional contracts.[7]
- 22 June 2015 – Ángelo Balanta rejected a new short-term deal with Rovers and left the club.[8]
- 30 June 2015 – Chris Lines agreed a permanent transfer from Port Vale.[9] Lines had previously played for Rovers, his boyhood club, between 2002–11 and on loan the previous season.
July
- 2 July 2015 – Former West Ham United winger Cristian Montaño signed for Rovers.[10] Goalkeeper Will Puddy agreed a contract extension.[11] Defender Neal Trotman rejected the opportunity to return to Rovers for pre-season and was therefore released.[10]
- 7 July 2015 – Youngsters Jamie Lucas and Danny Greenslade agreed contract extensions.[12]
- 22 July 2015 – Manager Darrell Clarke agreed a new contract with Rovers.[13]
- 31 July 2015 – Billy Bodin signed a short-term deal with Rovers.[14]
August
- 4 August 2015 – Winger Jeffrey Monakana signed on a month-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.[15]
- 7 August 2015 – Jamie Lucas joins Boreham Wood on a month-long loan.[16]
- 11 August 2015 – Rovers were eliminated from the League Cup first round, losing 2–1 to Championship side Birmingham City.[17]
- 14 August 2015 – Chesterfield goalkeeper Aaron Chapman joined Rovers on a month-long loan.[18] Rovers midfielder Ryan Broom joined Taunton Town on loan for one month.[19]
- 20 August 2015 – Young midfielder Dominic Thomas joined Paulton Rovers on a month-long loan.[20]
- 21 August 2015 – Striker Nathan Blissett joined National League side Tranmere Rovers on loan for one month.[21]
September
- 1 September 2015 – Defender Adam Drury joined Rovers on a non-contract basis.[22]
- 7 September 2015 – Adam Drury left Rovers just six days after joining, with the club citing "personal reasons".[23]
- 11 September 2015 – Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Lee Nicholls joined Rovers on a three-month loan deal.[24]
- 17 September 2015 – Colin Sexstone joined Rovers as a non-executive director.[25] Sexstone had previously been a director at Gloucestershire CCC, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.[26]
November
- 8 November 2015 – Rovers suffered a humiliating defeat in the first round proper of the FA Cup, losing 1–0 at home to Chesham United of the Southern League Premier.[27]
- 11 November 2015 – Rovers are knocked out of their final cup competition, losing 1–0 away to League One side Southend United in the Football League Trophy.[28]
- 23 November 2015 – Millwall forward Paris Cowan-Hall joined Rovers on a month-long loan.[29] Winger Billy Bodin agreed a contract extension to the end of the season.[30]
- 26 November 2015 – Rovers sign Cambridge United forward Rory Gaffney on loan until January[31] while Nathan Blissett left for Lincoln City, also on loan with a view to becoming dead.[32]
December
- 8 December 2015 – Rovers striker Matty Taylor was named PFA Fans' Player of the Month for November.[33]
January
- 5 January 2016 – Nathan Blissett left Rovers by mutual consent.[34]
- 7 January 2016 – Experienced midfielder Liam Lawrence joined Rovers from League One side Shrewsbury Town on a contract to the end of the season.[35]
- 14 January 2016 – Rory Gaffney returned to the club from Cambridge United after his successful loan spell, joining on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee.[36]
- 17 January 2016 – Defender Tom Lockyer was awarded The Football League Young Player of the Month for December.[37]
- 18 January 2016 – Forward Ellis Harrison joined Hartlepool United on a monthlong loan.[38]
- 28 January 2016 – Experienced forward Rory Fallon joined Rovers on non-contract terms.[39]
February
- 19 February 2016 – Rovers were acquired by the Jordanian Al-Qadi family, founders of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank,[40] taking a 92% shareholding in the club.[41] As part of the deal, Wael al-Qadi became President of the club while former Swansea City chairman Steve Hamer took up the same role with Rovers.[42] Existing chairman Nick Higgs along with board members Barry Bradshaw, Chris Jelf, Colin Sexstone and Ed Ware all stood down from the board of directors with all expect Sexstone becoming Life Vice Presidents.[41]
March
- 7 March 2016 – Swansea City forward Oli McBurnie joined Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[43]
April
- 8 April 2016 – Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was awarded League Two Manager of the Month for March.[44] Clarke had led the side to six wins out of seven during the month. Striker Matty Taylor won League Two Player of the Month for March.[45] Taylor scored eight goals in the month's seven games including a hat-trick against Hartlepool United.
- 14 April 2016 – Lee Brown signed a contract extension at Rovers which will take him into a sixth season at the club.[46]
- 15 April 2016 – Wales under-21 international Tom Lockyer extended his contract with Rovers.[47] DriBuild were confirmed as next season's home shirt sponsors with Powersystems UK sponsoring the away shirt.[48]
May
- 7 May 2016 – On the final day of the season, Rovers beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 to secure promotion to League One.[49]
First team
- As of game played on 7 May 2016
No. | Name | Position | Nationality | Place of Birth | Date of Birth | Club caps | Club goals | Int. caps | Int. goals | Previous club | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
1 | Steve Mildenhall | GK | Swindon | 13 May 1979 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Millwall | ||
22 | Kieran Preston | GK | Glasgow | 4 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | On loan at Rushall Olympic | |
25 | Will Puddy | GK | Warminster | 4 October 1987 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Salisbury City | ||
Defenders | |||||||||||
2 | Daniel Leadbitter | RB | Newcastle upon Tyne | 7 October 1990 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Hereford United | ||
3 | Lee Brown | LB | London | 10 August 1990 | 211 | 20 | 0 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
4 | Tom Lockyer | CB/RB | Cardiff | 3 December 1994 | 132 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
5 | Mark McChrystal | CB | Derry | 26 June 1984 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | Club captain | |
6 | Tom Parkes | CB | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 15 January 1992 | 175 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Leicester City | ||
15 | James Clarke | RB/CB | Aylesbury | 17 November 1989 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Woking | ||
19 | Danny Greenslade | LB | Belper | 23 September 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
26 | Tyler Lyttle | RB | 12 November 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |||
32 | Alfie Kilgour | CB | Bath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | |||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
7 | Lee Mansell | CM | Gloucester | 23 September 1982 | 72 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Torquay United | Vice captain | |
8 | Ollie Clarke | CM | Bristol | 29 June 1992 | 99 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
11 | Jake Gosling | RM/LM | Oxford | 11 August 1993 | 41 | 3 | 11 | 2 | Exeter City | ||
14 | Chris Lines | CM | Bristol | 30 November 1985 | 209 | 21 | 0 | 0 | Port Vale | Vice captain | |
16 | Liam Lawrence | RM/LM | Retford | 14 December 1981 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 2 | Shrewsbury Town | ||
18 | Dominic Thomas | CM | London | 23 November 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
21 | Cristian Montaño | RM/LM | Cali | 11 December 1991 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | América de Cali | ||
23 | Billy Bodin | LM/CF | Swindon | 24 March 1992 | 38 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Northampton Town | ||
24 | Stuart Sinclair | CM | Houghton Conquest | 9 November 1987 | 57 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Salisbury City | ||
27 | Ryan Broom | RM | Newport | 4 September 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
28 | Jay Malpas | CM | Bristol | 25 May 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
Forwards | |||||||||||
9 | Ellis Harrison | CF/LM | Newport | 29 January 1994 | 104 | 24 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | ||
10 | Matty Taylor | CF | 30 March 1990 | 91 | 45 | 0 | 0 | Forest Green Rovers | |||
17 | Jermaine Easter | CF | Cardiff | 15 January 1982 | 47 | 8 | 12 | 0 | Millwall | ||
20 | Jamie Lucas | CF | Pontypridd | 6 December 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Youth team graduate | On loan at Boreham Wood | |
29 | Oli McBurnie | CF | Leeds | 4 June 1996 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | On loan from Swansea City | ||
30 | Rory Gaffney | CF | Tuam | 23 October 1989 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Cambridge United | ||
33 | Rory Fallon | CF | Gisborne | 20 March 1982 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 4 | Scunthorpe United |
In
Date | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 July 2015 | RM | Ryan Broom | Youth team graduate | [7] | |
1 July 2015 | RB/CB | James Clarke | Free agent (previously with Woking) | [2] | |
1 July 2015 | CM | Chris Lines | Port Vale | Undisclosed | [9] |
1 July 2015 | RB | Tyler Lyttle | Youth team graduate | [7] | |
1 July 2015 | CM | Jay Malpas | Youth team graduate | [7] | |
2 July 2015 | RM/LM | Cristian Montaño | Free agent (previously with América de Cali) | [10] | |
31 July 2015 | LM/CF | Billy Bodin | Free agent (previously with Northampton Town) | [14] | |
7 January 2015 | RM/LM | Liam Lawrence | Shrewsbury Town | Free transfer | [35] |
14 January 2015 | CF | Rory Gaffney | Cambridge United | Undisclosed | [36] |
28 January 2015 | CF | Rory Fallon | Free agent (previously with Scunthorpe United) | [39] |
Loans in
Date | Position | Player | Loaned from | End date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 August 2015 | RM | Jeffrey Monakana | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 September 2015 | [15] |
14 August 2015 | GK | Aaron Chapman | Chesterfield | 10 September 2015 | [18] |
11 September 2015 | GK | Lee Nicholls | Wigan Athletic | 12 December 2015 | [24] |
23 November 2015 | CF | Paris Cowan-Hall | Millwall | 21 December 2015[50] | [29] |
26 November 2015 | CF | Rory Gaffney | Cambridge United | 4 January 2016 | [31] |
7 March 2016 | CF | Oli McBurnie | Swansea City | 30 June 2016 | [43] |
Out
Date | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 June 2015 | LM | Ángelo Balanta | Carlisle United[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | [8] |
30 June 2015 | RM | Abdulai Bell-Baggie | Stockport County[lower-alpha 2] | Free transfer | [5] |
30 June 2015 | LM | Andy Monkhouse | Grimsby Town[lower-alpha 3] | Free transfer | [4] |
30 June 2015 | CB | Neal Trotman | Released | [10] | |
5 January 2016 | CF | Nathan Blissett | Torquay United[lower-alpha 4] | Free transfer | [34] |
- Following Balanta's release on 22 June 2015, he later agreed to join Carlisle United on 30 June 2015.[51]
- Following Bell-Baggie's release on 17 June 2015, he later joined Stockport County on 1 July 2015.[52]
- Following Monkhouse's release on 17 June 2015, he later agree to join Grimsby Town on 24 June 2015.[53]
- Following Blissett's release on 5 January 2016, he later agree to join Torquay United on 14 January 2016.[54]
Loans out
Date | Position | Player | Loaned to | End date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 August 2015 | FW | Jamie Lucas | Boreham Wood | 4 September 2015 | [16] |
14 August 2015 | MF | Ryan Broom | Taunton Town | 14 October 2015 | [19] |
20 August 2015 | MF | Dominic Thomas | Paulton Rovers | 26 September 2015 | [20] |
21 August 2015 | FW | Nathan Blissett | Tranmere Rovers | 19 September 2015 | [21] |
1 October 2015 | FW | Jamie Lucas | Boreham Wood | 29 October 2015 | [55] |
1 October 2015 | GK | Kieran Preston | Mangotsfield United | 29 October 2015 | [55] |
26 November 2015 | CF | Nathan Blissett | Lincoln City | 4 January 2016 | [32] |
23 December 2015 | RB | Tyler Lyttle | Nuneaton Town | 5 April 2016[56][57] | [58] |
4 January 2016 | LB | Danny Greenslade | Bath City | 6 April 2016[59][60] | [61] |
15 January 2016 | FW | Jamie Lucas | Boreham Wood | 30 June 2016 | [56] |
18 January 2016 | FW | Ellis Harrison | Hartlepool United | 20 February 2016 | [38] |
26 February 2016 | MF | Jake Gosling | Newport County | 30 March 2016 | [62] |
26 February 2016 | GK | Kieran Preston | Rushall Olympic | 30 June 2016[63] | [62] |
28 February 2016 | MF | Jay Malpas | Chippenham Town | 24 March 2016 | [64] |
Squad statistics
Appearances, goals and cards
No. | Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total | Discipline | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||
1 | GK | Steve Mildenhall | 25(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | DF | Daniel Leadbitter | 28(5) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31(5) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
3 | DF | Lee Brown | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
4 | DF | Tom Lockyer | 42(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44(1) | 0 | 7 | 0 |
5 | DF | Mark McChrystal | 20(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22(1) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
6 | DF | Tom Parkes | 29(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32(2) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
7 | MF | Lee Mansell | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
8 | MF | Ollie Clarke | 23(11) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 24(12) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
9 | FW | Ellis Harrison | 10(20) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12(20) | 8 | 6 | 0 |
10 | FW | Matty Taylor | 38(8) | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 41(9) | 28 | 3 | 0 |
11 | MF | Jake Gosling | 8(10) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11(10) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
14 | MF | Chris Lines | 30(3) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32(4) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
15 | DF | James Clarke | 36(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37(2) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
16 | MF | Liam Lawrence | 8(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
17 | FW | Jermaine Easter | 21(21) | 7 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 24(22) | 8 | 2 | 0 |
21 | MF | Cristian Montaño | 12(16) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 13(18) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
23 | MF | Billy Bodin | 26(12) | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29(12) | 13 | 0 | 0 |
24 | MF | Stuart Sinclair | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
25 | GK | Will Puddy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
26 | DF | Tyler Lyttle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
27 | MF | Ryan Broom | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
29 | FW | Oli McBurnie | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(5) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
30 | FW | Rory Gaffney | 23(1) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(1) | 8 | 2 | 0 |
33 | FW | Rory Fallon | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who are currently on loan elsewhere: | ||||||||||||||
20 | FW | Jamie Lucas | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who have left: | ||||||||||||||
29 | MF | Jeffrey Monakana | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
30 | GK | Aaron Chapman | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
31 | GK | Lee Nicholls | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
29 | FW | Paris Cowan-Hall | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
16 | FW | Nathan Blissett | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goal scorers
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Penalties
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Disciplinary record
CompetitionsSummary
Note: Games which are level after extra-time and are decided by a penalty shoot-out are listed as draws. Bristol Rovers score listed first where applicable. Overall
Updated to match played 7 May 2016 League TwoBristol Rovers London League table
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2016. Source: BBC Sport Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored (C) Champions; (P) Promoted Notes:
Results summary
Last updated: 7 May 2016. Results by roundUpdated to match(es) played on 7 May 2016. Source: [66]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss Scores overviewBristol Rovers score given first.
MatchesWon Drawn Lost Postponed Pre-season friendliesOn 26 May 2015, Rovers announced their initial pre-season fixtures against Salisbury, Cirencester Town, Arsenal U21s and Reading in addition to a testimonial fixture against West Bromwich Albion for long serving, retiring physiotherapist and former player Phil Kite.[67] Further friendlies against Cheltenham Town,[68] Mangotsfield United[69] and Sutton United[70] were later added, all away from home.
League TwoOn 17 June 2015, the Football League revealed the fixtures for the forthcoming season. Rovers' first fixture was against Northampton Town at the Memorial Stadium followed, a week later by a trip to Huish Park to face Yeovil Town. The traditional boxing day fixture saw Rovers' travel to AFC Wimbledon while the final game of the season saw Dagenham & Redbridge visit the Mem.[71] August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
FA CupOn 26 October 2015, the first round draw was made. Rovers were drawn at home to Southern League Premier side Chesham United[76] whom they lost to 1–0.
Football League CupOn 16 June 2015, the first round draw was made, Rovers were drawn at home against Championship side Birmingham City,[77] who they lost to 2–1.
Football League TrophyOn 3 August 2015, Rovers were awarded a bye in the first round.[78] On 5 September 2015, Rovers were drawn at home against fellow League Two side Wycombe Wanderers,[79] whom they defeated 2–0. On 10 October 2015, Rovers were drawn away to League One side Southend United in the quarter-final[80] and were defeated 1–0.
Gloucestershire Senior CupRovers' entered in the first round of the Gloucestershire Senior Cup where they faced holders Cirencester Town, whom they defeated 5–2. They then met Mangotsfield United in the quarter-final, winning 4–1. Their semi-final was against Forest Green Rovers whom they lost to 4–3. Rovers generally fielded a team of non-regular first-team and youth squad players in the competition.
See alsoReferences
External links
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