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.
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
Pre-season
June – Popular midfielder Stuart Sinclair signed a new contract with Rovers. – Former Woking defender James Clarke joined Rovers on a one-year deal. – Full back Daniel Leadbitter signed a contract extension with Rovers, while wingers Andy Monkhouse and Abdulai Bell-Baggie left the club. – Gibraltar international Jake Gosling agreed a contract extension with Rovers. Academy players Ryan Broom, Tyler Lyttle, Jay Malpas and Kieran Preston signed professional contracts. – Ángelo Balanta rejected a new short-term deal with Rovers and left the club. – Chris Lines agreed a permanent transfer from Port Vale. Lines had previously played for Rovers, his boyhood club, between 2002–11 and on loan the previous season.
July – Former West Ham United winger Cristian Montaño signed for Rovers. Goalkeeper Will Puddy agreed a contract extension. Defender Neal Trotman rejected the opportunity to return to Rovers for pre-season and was therefore released. – Youngsters Jamie Lucas and Danny Greenslade agreed contract extensions. – Manager Darrell Clarke agreed a new contract with Rovers. – Billy Bodin signed a short-term deal with Rovers.
August – Winger Jeffrey Monakana signed on a month-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. – Jamie Lucas joins Boreham Wood on a month-long loan. – Rovers were eliminated from the League Cup first round, losing 2–1 to Championship side Birmingham City. – Chesterfield goalkeeper Aaron Chapman joined Rovers on a month-long loan. Rovers midfielder Ryan Broom joined Taunton Town on loan for one month. – Young midfielder Dominic Thomas joined Paulton Rovers on a month-long loan. – Striker Nathan Blissett joined National League side Tranmere Rovers on loan for one month.
September – Defender Adam Drury joined Rovers on a non-contract basis. – Adam Drury left Rovers just six days after joining, with the club citing "personal reasons". – Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Lee Nicholls joined Rovers on a three-month loan deal. – Colin Sexstone joined Rovers as a non-executive director. Sexstone had previously been a director at Gloucestershire CCC, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.
November – 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. – Rovers are knocked out of their final cup competition, losing 1–0 away to League One side Southend United in the Football League Trophy. – Millwall forward Paris Cowan-Hall joined Rovers on a month-long loan. Winger Billy Bodin agreed a contract extension to the end of the season. – Rovers sign Cambridge United forward Rory Gaffney on loan until January while Nathan Blissett left for Lincoln City, also on loan with a view to becoming dead.
December – Rovers striker Matty Taylor was named PFA Fans' Player of the Month for November.
January – Nathan Blissett left Rovers by mutual consent. – Experienced midfielder Liam Lawrence joined Rovers from League One side Shrewsbury Town on a contract to the end of the season. – Rory Gaffney returned to the club from Cambridge United after his successful loan spell, joining on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee. – Defender Tom Lockyer was awarded The Football League Young Player of the Month for December. – Forward Ellis Harrison joined Hartlepool United on a monthlong loan. – Experienced forward Rory Fallon joined Rovers on non-contract terms.
February – Rovers were acquired by the Jordanian Al-Qadi family, founders of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank, taking a 92% shareholding in the club. 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. 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.
March – Swansea City forward Oli McBurnie joined Rovers on loan until the end of the season.
April – Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was awarded League Two Manager of the Month for March. 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. Taylor scored eight goals in the month's seven games including a hat-trick against Hartlepool United. – Lee Brown signed a contract extension at Rovers which will take him into a sixth season at the club. – Wales under-21 international Tom Lockyer extended his contract with Rovers. DriBuild were confirmed as next season's home shirt sponsors with Powersystems UK sponsoring the away shirt.
May – On the final day of the season, Rovers beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 to secure promotion to League One.
First team
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
Transfers
In Date Position Player Transferred from Fee Ref. 1 July 2015 RM Ryan Broom Youth team graduate 1 July 2015 RB/CB James Clarke Free agent (previously with Woking) 1 July 2015 CM Chris Lines Port Vale Undisclosed 1 July 2015 RB Tyler Lyttle Youth team graduate 1 July 2015 CM Jay Malpas Youth team graduate 2 July 2015 RM/LM Cristian Montaño Free agent (previously with América de Cali) 31 July 2015 LM/CF Billy Bodin Free agent (previously with Northampton Town) 7 January 2016 RM/LM Liam Lawrence Shrewsbury Town Free transfer 14 January 2016 CF Rory Gaffney Cambridge United Undisclosed 28 January 2016 CF Rory Fallon Free agent (previously with Scunthorpe United)
Loans in Date Position Player Loaned from End date Ref. 4 August 2015 RM Jeffrey Monakana Brighton & Hove Albion 7 September 2015 14 August 2015 GK Aaron Chapman Chesterfield 10 September 2015 11 September 2015 GK Lee Nicholls Wigan Athletic 12 December 2015 23 November 2015 CF Paris Cowan-Hall Millwall 21 December 2015 26 November 2015 CF Rory Gaffney Cambridge United 4 January 2016 7 March 2016 CF Oli McBurnie Swansea City 30 June 2016
Out Date Position Player Transferred to Fee Ref. 30 June 2015 LM Ángelo Balanta Carlisle United Free transfer 30 June 2015 RM Abdulai Bell-Baggie Stockport County Free transfer 30 June 2015 LM Andy Monkhouse Grimsby Town Free transfer 30 June 2015 CB Neal Trotman Released 5 January 2016 CF Nathan Blissett Torquay United Free transfer
Loans out Date Position Player Loaned to End date Ref. 7 August 2015 FW Jamie Lucas Boreham Wood 4 September 2015 14 August 2015 MF Ryan Broom Taunton Town 14 October 2015 20 August 2015 MF Dominic Thomas Paulton Rovers 26 September 2015 21 August 2015 FW Nathan Blissett Tranmere Rovers 19 September 2015 1 October 2015 FW Jamie Lucas Boreham Wood 29 October 2015 1 October 2015 GK Kieran Preston Mangotsfield United 29 October 2015 26 November 2015 CF Nathan Blissett Lincoln City 4 January 2016 23 December 2015 RB Tyler Lyttle Nuneaton Town 5 April 2016 4 January 2016 LB Danny Greenslade Bath City 6 April 2016 15 January 2016 FW Jamie Lucas Boreham Wood 30 June 2016 18 January 2016 FW Ellis Harrison Hartlepool United 20 February 2016 26 February 2016 MF Jake Gosling Newport County 30 March 2016 26 February 2016 GK Kieran Preston Rushall Olympic 30 June 2016 28 February 2016 MF Jay Malpas Chippenham Town 24 March 2016
Squad statistics
Appearances, goals and cards No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupLeague TrophyTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Steve Mildenhall25(1)000100026(1)0002DF Daniel Leadbitter28(5)010101031(5)0403DF Lee Brown466101020506804DF Tom Lockyer42(1)010100044(1)0705DF Mark McChrystal20(1)010002022(1)0506DF Tom Parkes29(2)000102032(2)0507MF Lee Mansell282100000292208MF Ollie Clarke23(11)200100(1)024(12)2209FW Ellis Harrison10(20)710110012(20)86010FW Matty Taylor38(8)27100(1)02141(9)283011MF Jake Gosling8(10)010101011(10)01014MF Chris Lines30(3)00(1)0002032(4)04015DF James Clarke36(1)00(1)0101037(2)04016MF Liam Lawrence8(4)10000008(4)11017FW Jermaine Easter21(21)70(1)0102124(22)82021MF Cristian Montaño12(16)2000(1)01(1)013(18)21023MF Billy Bodin26(12)1310002029(12)130024MF Stuart Sinclair3021010203423025GK Will Puddy10000000100026DF Tyler Lyttle1000000(1)01(1)00027MF Ryan Broom0(1)0000(1)0000(2)00029FW Oli McBurnie0(5)00000000(5)02030FW Rory Gaffney23(1)800000023(1)82033FW Rory Fallon0(3)00000000(3)000Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who are currently on loan elsewhere:20FW Jamie Lucas0(1)000000(1)00(2)000Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who have left:29MF Jeffrey Monakana0(3)00000000(3)00030GK Aaron Chapman50000000500031GK Lee Nicholls1501000201801029FW Paris Cowan-Hall2(1)00000002(1)00016FW Nathan Blissett0(2)000000(1)00(3)000
Goal scorers