The 2016–17 season was the 134th season in Bristol Rovers' history and their 89th in the English Football League. Following back-to-back promotions in 2014–15 and 2015–16, Rovers competed in the third tier of English football, League One. What was a steady season, Rovers played the likes of Coventry and Chelsea (in the EFL Cup) for the first time in decades. After a brief playoff push towards the end of the season, Rovers finished in a respectable 10th place with 66 points, their highest finish in the football league since the 1999–2000 season.
Season events
Pre-season Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was quick to make good on his promise to offer all out-of-contract senior players new contracts if the club was promoted, confirming that, with the exception of Rory Fallon, new deals were "in the post" just five days after the previous season had concluded. In addition to Lee Brown and Tom Lockyer, whose deals were signed before the season had ended, goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall and midfielder Jay Malpas were the first to sign a new deals on 17 May. Toward the end of May, Clarke himself had agreed a new three-year contract, making him the highest paid manager in the club's history. This came after the club received a formal approach from Championship side Leeds United which Rovers rejected.
June saw defender Daniel Leadbitter and winger Billy Bodin sign new two-year contracts at Rovers. Goalkeeper Will Puddy, defenders James Clarke and Mark McChrystal, midfielders Lee Mansell Cristian Montaño, Jake Gosling, Ollie Clarke and Chris Lines and forward Ellis Harrison also agreed a new deals of undisclosed duration. Tom Parkes meanwhile rejected the offer of a new deal and instead joined League Two side Leyton Orient. On 16 June, defender Peter Hartley became the club's first signing of the season on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle followed a day later by the signing of winger Byron Moore from Port Vale.
Peterborough United forward Luke James became July's first signing, on a season long loan. Rovers' top goalscorer of the previous two seasons, Matty Taylor, signed a new contract in July, ending speculation linking him with a move away.
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 125 0 0 0 Millwall 25 Will Puddy GK Warminster 4 October 1987 16 0 0 0 Salisbury City 33 Kelle Roos GK Rijkevoort 31 May 1992 0 0 0 0 On loan from Derby County Defenders 2 Daniel Leadbitter RB Newcastle upon Tyne 7 October 1990 58 1 0 0 Hereford United 3 Lee Brown LB London 10 August 1990 213 20 0 0 Queens Park Rangers 4 Tom Lockyer CB/RB Cardiff 3 December 1994 134 2 0 0 Youth team graduate Vice Captain 5 Mark McChrystal CB Derry 26 June 1984 111 0 0 0 Tranmere Rovers Club captain 6 Peter Hartley CB Hartlepool 3 April 1988 1 0 0 0 Plymouth Argyle 15 James Clarke RB/CB Aylesbury 17 November 1989 39 0 0 0 Woking 19 Danny Greenslade LB Belper 23 September 1996 0 0 0 0 Youth team graduate 26 Tyler Lyttle RB Nottingham 12 November 1996 1 0 0 0 Youth team graduate 31 Connor Roberts RB Neath 23 September 1995 0 0 0 0 on loan from Swansea City 32 Alfie Kilgour CB Bath 0 0 0 0 Youth team graduate 36 Jake Clarke-Salter CB Carshalton 22 September 1997 0 0 0 0 On loan from Chelsea Midfielders 7 Lee Mansell CM Gloucester 23 September 1982 72 7 0 0 Torquay United 8 Ollie Clarke CM Portishead 29 June 1992 101 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 211 21 0 0 Port Vale 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 30 2 0 0 América de Cali 22 Byron Moore LM/CF Stoke-on-Trent 24 August 1988 0 0 0 0 Port Vale 23 Billy Bodin LM/CF Swindon 24 March 1992 40 13 0 0 Northampton Town 24 Stuart Sinclair CM Houghton Conquest 9 November 1987 58 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 34 Hiram Boateng CM London 8 January 1996 0 0 0 0 On loan from Crystal Palace 35 Charlie Colkett CM Newham 22 September 1997 0 0 0 0 On loan from Chelsea Forwards 9 Ellis Harrison CF/LM Newport 29 January 1994 106 24 0 0 Youth team graduate 10 Matty Taylor CF Oxford 30 March 1990 93 47 0 0 Forest Green Rovers 17 Jermaine Easter CF Cardiff 15 January 1982 48 9 12 0 Millwall 20 Jamie Lucas CF Pontypridd 6 December 1995 2 0 0 0 Youth team graduate 29 Luke James CF Amble 4 November 1994 1 0 0 0 On loan from Peterborough United 30 Rory Gaffney CF Tuam 23 October 1989 26 8 0 0 Cambridge United
Transfers
In Date Position Player Transferred from Fee Ref. 1 July 2016 CB Peter Hartley Plymouth Argyle Free transfer 1 July 2016 LM Byron Moore Port Vale Free transfer 13 January 2017 CB Joe Partington Eastleigh Undisclosed 26 January 2017 CB Jonny Burn Middlesbrough Undisclosed 2 February 2017 LB Bob Harris Sheffield United Free transfer
Loans in Date Position Player Loaned from End date Ref. 6 July 2016 CF Luke James Peterborough United End of Season 24 August 2016 GK Kelle Roos Derby County 10 January 2017 25 August 2016 DF Connor Roberts Swansea City 2 January 2017 31 August 2016 CM Hiram Boateng Crystal Palace 2 January 2017 31 August 2016 CB Jake Clarke-Salter Chelsea End of Season 31 August 2016 CM Charlie Colkett Chelsea 2 January 2017 (Recalled) 18 January 2017 GK Joe Lumley Queens Park Rangers End of Season 20 January 2017 CB Ryan Sweeney Stoke City End of Season
Out Date Position Player Transferred to Fee Ref. 30 June 2016 CF Rory Fallon Truro City Free transfer 30 June 2016 DF Tom Parkes Leyton Orient Free transfer 30 June 2016 GK Kieran Preston Grantham Town F.C. Released 31 January 2017 FW Matty Taylor Bristol City Undisclosed
Loans out Date Position Player Loaned to End date Ref. 18 August 2016 RW Jake Gosling Cambridge United 2 January 2017 31 August 2016 Striker Jamie Lucas Boreham Wood 28 January 2017
Squad statistics Source:
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Bristol Rovers. Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
+No.Pos.Nat.NameAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeagueFA CupEFL CupEFL TrophyTotalDiscipline1GK00020000002DF01020300313DF410312020481504DF460302000510805 DF00000200306DF53021206507MF00000100408MF304202004909FW8021098010 FW162201195011MF00000000000014MF32021046015DF010102002016 MF000001000016DF000000001017FW41002152120FW000000000021MF1002011022MF20001022023MF13000132024MF130202017125GK00000000027MF000000000029FW *00102001030FW62303095031 DF *020001001031GK *1900000001901033 GK *030003001033DF *1600000001606034 MF *01000201201034DF000000000035 MF *30000032036DF *10000010041GK000000000000
+ Players not included in matchday squadsNo.Pos.Nat.Name18MF19DF26 DF28MF32DF
Competitions
Pre-season friendlies On 23 November 2015, Rovers first pre-season fixture was announced. As part of a week-long training camp in Spain, Rovers will play CE Sabadell with whom the club have a connection due to both playing in blue and white quartered shirts. Further fixtures were announced once the previous season had concluded, with Rovers due to play Salisbury, Bath City, Mangotsfield United, Weston-super-Mare and Exeter City, all away, and Cheltenham Town, Swansea City and Aston Villa at home.
League One
On 22 June 2016, the EFL announced the fixtures for the forthcoming season. Rovers started the season away to Scunthorpe United on 6 August, followed by their first home fixture on 14 August against fellow promoted side Oxford United. The traditional Boxing Day fixture sees Rovers host Coventry City while the season will end with Millwall travelling to the Memorial Stadium.
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
FA Cup
EFL Cup
On 22 June 2016, the first round draw for the EFL Cup was made. Rovers were drawn at home to Championship side Cardiff City, managed by former Rovers boss Paul Trollope. The game was later picked for live broadcast by Sky Sports. Rovers progressed to the second round thanks to a 115th-minute winner from Chris Lines to set up a trip to Premier League side Chelsea.
EFL Trophy
On 27 July 2016, the group stage draw for the EFL Trophy was made. Rovers were drawn in Southern Group A along with Reading Academy, Portsmouth and Yeovil Town.
See also 2016–17 in English football 2016–17 Football League One List of Bristol Rovers F.C. seasons
References
External links Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Post BBC Sport Sky Sports Soccerbase: ResultsStatsTransfers