2025–26 Bristol Rovers F.C. season

Bristol Rovers
2025–26 season
OwnerHussain Al-Saeed
Head CoachDarrell Clarke
StadiumMemorial Stadium
League Two21st
EFL CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Isaac Hutchinson
Promise Omochere (both 1)
All: Isaac Hutchinson
Promise Omochere (both 1)
Highest home attendance9,242 vs. Harrogate Town
(2 August 2025)
Lowest home attendance2,681 vs. Cambridge United
(12 August 2025, EFL Cup First round)
Average home league attendance7,974

The 2025–26 season is the 143rd season in the history of Bristol Rovers Football Club and their first season back in League Two since the 2021–22 season following relegation from League One in the preceding season. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.

In May, Darrell Clarke was announced as the clubs new head coach, signing a three year deal. It would be his second spell at the club, having previously been in charge between 2014–2018.[1]

Current squad

As of 6 August 2025
No. Name Position Nationality Date of birth (Age) Previous club Date signed Fee Contract end
Goalkeepers
1 Luke Southwood GK Northern Ireland (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 Bolton Wanderers 6 July 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2027
13 Brad Young GK England (2002-05-05) 5 May 2002 Leicester City 1 July 2025 Free 30 June 2027
Defenders
2 Joel Senior RB England (1999-06-24) 24 June 1999 Morecambe 1 July 2024 Free 30 June 2026
3 Jack Sparkes LB England (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 Peterborough United 23 June 2025 Free 30 June 2027
4 Taylor Moore CB England (1997-05-12) 12 May 1997 Valenciennes 1 July 2024 Free 30 June 2027
5 Alfie Kilgour CB England (1998-05-18) 18 May 1998 Mansfield Town 1 July 2025 Free 30 June 2025
6 Clinton Mola LB England (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 Reading 1 July 2024 Free 30 June 2027
15 Dan Ellison CB England (2005-03-30) 30 March 2005 Chippenham Town 27 June 2024 £10,000 30 June 2026
23 Macauley Southam-Hales RB Wales (1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 Stockport County 1 July 2025 Free 30 June 2027
27 Bryant Bilongo LB England (2001-09-15) 15 September 2001 Middlesbrough 28 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2026
Midfielders
8 Isaac Hutchinson AM England (2000-04-10) 10 April 2000 Walsall 20 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2027
20 Josh McEachran CM England (1993-03-01) 1 March 1993 Oxford United 1 July 2025 Free 30 June 2027
22 Kamil Conteh DM Sierra Leone (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 Grimsby Town 26 January 2024 £300,000 30 June 2027
25 Ryan Howley CM Wales (2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 Coventry City 8 July 2025 Free 30 June 2027
Forwards
7 Shaq Forde CF England (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 Watford 30 August 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2027
9 Promise Omochere RW Republic of Ireland (2000-10-18) 18 October 2000 Fleetwood Town 19 July 2024 £500,000 30 June 2027
10 Ruel Sotiriou CF Cyprus (2000-08-24) 24 August 2000 Leyton Orient 26 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2027
11 Luke Thomas RW England (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 Barnsley 1 July 2023 Free 30 June 2026
19 Ellis Harrison CF Wales (1994-01-29) 29 January 1994 Milton Keynes Dons 29 July 2025 Free 30 June 2026
21 Micah Anthony LW England (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 Queens Park Rangers 1 July 2024 Free 30 June 2026
29 Fabrizio Cavegn CF Switzerland (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 Vaduz 1 August 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2028
43 Ollie Dewsbury CF Wales (2008-02-22) 22 February 2008 Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2027
Out on loan
31 Jed Ward GK England (2003-05-20) 20 May 2003 Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2028

Transfers and contracts

In

Date Pos. Player From Fee Ref.
23 June 2025 LB England Jack Sparkes England Peterborough United Free transfer [2]
1 July 2025[a] CB England Alfie Kilgour England Mansfield Town Free [3]
1 July 2025[b] CM England Josh McEachran England Oxford United [4]
1 July 2025[c] RB Wales Macauley Southam-Hales England Stockport County [5]
1 July 2025[d] GK England Brad Young England Leicester City [6]
6 July 2025 England Luke Southwood England Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed [7]
8 July 2025 CM Wales Ryan Howley England Coventry City Free [8]
29 July 2025 CF Wales Ellis Harrison England Milton Keynes Dons [9]
1 August 2025 Switzerland Fabrizio Cavegn Liechtenstein Vaduz Undisclosed [10]
  1. ^ The transfer was announced on 25 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Mansfield Town contract expired
  2. ^ The transfer was announced on 30 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Oxford United contract expired
  3. ^ The transfer was announced on 25 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Stockport County contract expired
  4. ^ The transfer was announced on 26 June, and would become official on July 1 once his Leicester City contract expired

Out

Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref.
1 August 2025 CAM England Kofi Shaw England Brighton & Hove Albion Undisclosed [11]
6 August 2025 CB England Connor Taylor England Wycombe Wanderers Undisclosed [12]

Loaned in

Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref.
14 August 2025 CB Poland Kacper Łopata England Barnsley 31 May 2026 [13]

Loaned out

Date Pos. Player To Date until Ref.
1 August 2025 CM England Charlie Moody England Yate Town [14]
GK England Jed Ward England Yeovil Town 31 May 2026 [15]
CB England Charlie White England Yate Town [14]

Released / out of contract

Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join date Ref.
8 June 2025 CM Scotland Jamie Lindsay Scotland Ross County 18 July 2025 [16][17]
25 June 2025 CB Wales James Wilson England Cheltenham Town 28 July 2025 [18][19]
30 June 2025 CM England Jerry Lawrence England Corsham Town 1 July 2025 [20][21]
AM Jamaica Jevani Brown [20]
GK England Matt Hall [20]
RB England Jack Hunt [20]
CM England Luke McCormick England Yeovil Town 4 August 2025 [20][22]
Saint Kitts and Nevis Romaine Sawyers [20]
LW England Scott Sinclair [20]
RM England Grant Ward [20]

New contract

Date Pos. Player Contract until Ref.
18 July 2025 LW Wales Ollie Dewsbury Undisclosed[a] [23]
23 July 2025 CM England Charlie Moody [24]
  1. ^ First professional contract

Pre-season and friendlies

On 19 May, Bristol Rovers announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against Chippenham Town and Bath City.[25] Two days later, a third fixture was confirmed against Yeovil Town.[26] A warm-weather training camp in Murcia was next to be added, which included a clash against Stockport County.[27] On 3 June, a home friendly against Coventry City was announced.[28] A sixth pre-season fixture was later confirmed, against Oxford United.[29]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

4 July 2025 Friendly Chippenham Town 1–2 Bristol Rovers Chippenham
19:30 BST
  • Touray 43'
 Report
Stadium: The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium
Attendance: 1,465
12 July 2025 Friendly Bristol Rovers 2–3 Stockport County San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
11:30 CEST
Report
Stadium: Pinatar Arena
Referee: Cuadrado Garcia
16 July 2025 Friendly Bath City 0–1 Bristol Rovers Bath
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: Twerton Park
Attendance: 2,205
Referee: Sam Read
19 July 2025 Friendly Yeovil Town 1–2 Bristol Rovers Yeovil
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 2,236
23 July 2025 Friendly Bristol Rovers 0–2 Coventry City Horfield
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,134 (1,393 Away)
Referee: Steve Martin
26 July 2025 Friendly Oxford United 0–1 Bristol Rovers Littlemore
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Referee: Steve Martin

Competitions

League Two

Main article: 2025–26 EFL League Two

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
19 Notts County 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 1
20 Accrington Stanley 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
21 Bristol Rovers 4 0 1 3 2 6 −4 1
22 Crawley Town 4 0 1 3 2 7 −5 1
23 Shrewsbury Town 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6 1 Relegation to National League
Updated to match(es) played on 19 August 2025. 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[30]

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
4 0 1 3 2 6  −4 1 0 1 1 0 1  −1 0 0 2 2 5  −3

Last updated: 19 August 2025.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

Round1234
GroundHAAH
ResultLLLD
Position202021
Updated to match(es) played on 19 August 2025. Source: Soccerway
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

On 26 June, the League Two fixtures were announced.[31]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

2 August 2025 1 Bristol Rovers 0–1 Harrogate Town Horfield
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,242
Referee: Carl Brook
9 August 2025 2 Fleetwood Town 1–2 Bristol Rovers Fleetwood
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 2,903
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
16 August 2025 3 Chesterfield 3–1 Bristol Rovers Chesterfield
12:30 BST
Report
Stadium: SMH Group Stadium
Attendance: 8,013 (750 away)
Referee: Sam Mulhall
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved live Sky Sports broadcasting.[32]
19 August 2025 4 Bristol Rovers 0–0 Oldham Athletic Horfield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: James Oldham
Referee: 6,706
23 August 2025 5 Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United Horfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
30 August 2025 6 Grimsby Town v Bristol Rovers Cleethorpes
15:00 BST Stadium: Blundell Park
6 September 2025 7 Newport County v Bristol Rovers Newport
12:30 BST Stadium: Rodney Parade
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved live Sky Sports broadcasting.[32]

FA Cup

Main article: 2025–26 FA Cup

EFL Cup

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Cup

Bristol Rovers were drawn at home to Cambridge United in the first round.[33][34]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

12 August 2025 First round Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cambridge United Horfield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,681 (154 away)
Referee: Oliver Mackey

EFL Trophy

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Trophy

Bristol Rovers were drawn against Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle and Tottenham Hotspur U21 in the group stage.[35]

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Bristol Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Round 2
2 L2 Cheltenham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 L1 Plymouth Argyle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 ACA Tottenham Hotspur U21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: EFL

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

26 August 2025 South Group B Bristol Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur U21 Horfield
19:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
7 October 2025 South Group B Cheltenham Town v Bristol Rovers Cheltenham
19:00 BST Stadium: Whaddon Road
11 November 2025 South Group B Bristol Rovers v Plymouth Argyle Horfield
19:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium

Statistics

Appearances and goals

As of match played 19 August 2025

Players with no appearances are not included on the list

No. Pos Nat Player Total League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Northern Ireland NIR Luke Southwood 5 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF England ENG Joel Senior 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
3 DF England ENG Jack Sparkes 5 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
4 DF England ENG Taylor Moore 5 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
5 DF England ENG Alfie Kilgour 5 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
6 DF England ENG Clinton Mola 4 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF England ENG Isaac Hutchinson 5 1 1+3 1 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Promise Omochere 4 1 4+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
10 FW Cyprus CYP Ruel Sotiriou 5 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
11 FW England ENG Luke Thomas 4 0 1+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
19 FW Wales WAL Ellis Harrison 5 0 1+3 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
20 MF England ENG Josh McEachran 4 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
22 MF Sierra Leone SLE Kamil Conteh 5 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
23 DF Wales WAL Macauley Southam-Hales 3 0 1+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
25 MF Wales WAL Ryan Howley 4 0 2+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
27 DF England ENG Bryant Bilongo 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
29 FW Switzerland SUI Fabrizio Cavegn 4 0 2+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
35 DF Poland POL Kacper Łopata 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
43 FW Wales WAL Ollie Dewsbury 3 0 0+2 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0

Goals Record

As of match played 16 August 2025
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
1 8 England CM Isaac Hutchinson 1 0 0 0 1
9 Republic of Ireland CF Promise Omochere 1 0 0 0 1
Total 2 0 0 0 2

Disciplinary record

As of match played 19 August 2025
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card
1 2 England RB Joel Senior 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2 20 England CM Josh McEachran 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
3 3 England LB Jack Sparkes 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
6 England CB Clinton Mola 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
9 Republic of Ireland CF Promise Omochere 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
10 Cyprus CF Ruel Sotiriou 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
11 England RW Luke Thomas 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
22 Sierra Leone CM Kamil Conteh 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
23 Wales RB Macauley Southam-Hales 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
27 England LB Bryant Bilongo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Total 10 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 1

References

  1. ^ "Darrell Clarke Returns To Bristol Rovers". Bristol Rovers FC. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Bristol Rovers complete signing of Jack Sparkes". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Alfie Kilgour returns to Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Josh McEachran Joins Bristol Rovers". Bristol Rovers FC. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign Macauley Southam-Hales". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign goalkeeper Brad Young". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Bristol Rovers catch goalkeeper Luke Southwood". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Bristol Rovers sign Ryan Howley". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Ellis Harrison returns to Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Bristol Rovers Secure Signing Of Swiss Striker Fabrizio Cavegn". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Kofi Shaw Completes Brighton & Hove Albion Transfer". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Connor Taylor completes Wycombe Wanderers transfer". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Bristol Rovers secure loan signing of Kacper Lopata". Bristol Rovers FC. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  14. ^ a b "White And Moody Join Yate Town On Loan". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Jed Ward Joins Yeovil Town Town On Loan". Bristol Rovers FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Jamie Lindsay departs Rovers by mutual consent". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Jamie Lindsay rejoins the Staggies". www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  18. ^ "James Wilson departs Bristol Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Town sign defender James Wilson". www.ctfc.com. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h "Footballing Operation Review Concluded". Bristol Rovers FC. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  21. ^ @CorshamTownFC (30 May 2025). "Another one joins The Quarrymen" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 May 2025 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Luke McCormick Signs for Yeovil Town". ytfc.net. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Ollie Dewsbury Signs First Professional Deal". Bristol Rovers FC. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Charlie Moody Pens First Professional Contract". Bristol Rovers FC. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Chippenham And Bath Pre-Season Fixtures Confirmed". Bristol Rovers FC. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Yeovil Town Pre-Season Fixture Confirmed". Bristol Rovers FC. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Rovers head to Murcia for Stockport County pre-season clash". Bristol Rovers FC. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Coventry City Pre-Season Fixture At The Mem Confirmed". Bristol Rovers FC. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Oxford United Pre-Season Fixture Confirmed". Bristol Rovers FC. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  30. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  31. ^ "2025/26 Sky Bet League Two Fixtures revealed!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  32. ^ a b "Chesterfield And Newport Visits Set For Sky Sports Coverage". Bristol Rovers FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Bristol Rovers to face Cambridge United in 2025/26 Carabao Cup Round One". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Date Confirmed For Carabao Cup Clash Against Cambridge". Bristol Rovers FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  35. ^ "Under-21 teams and Group Stage draw confirmed for 2025/26 Vertu Trophy". English Football League. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
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