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.

Bristol Rovers
2015–16 season
ChairmanNick Higgs (until 19 February 2016)
Steve Hamer (from 19 February 2016)
ManagerDarrell Clarke
StadiumMemorial Stadium
League Two3rd (promoted)
FA CupFirst round proper (Eliminated by Chesham United)
League CupFirst round (Eliminated by Birmingham City)
League TrophyQuarter-finals (Eliminated by Southend United)
Top goalscorerLeague: Matty Taylor (27)
All: Matty Taylor (28)
Highest home attendance11,130 (vs. Dagenham & Redbridge, 7 May 2016)
Lowest home attendance5,819 (vs. Stevenage, 24 November 2015)
Average home league attendance8,096

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

July

August

September

November

December

  • 8 December 2015 – Rovers striker Matty Taylor was named PFA Fans' Player of the Month for November.[33]

January

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

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 2016Lee Brown signed a contract extension at Rovers which will take him into a sixth season at the club.[46]
  • 15 April 2016Wales 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

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 2015RMRyan BroomYouth team graduate[7]
1 July 2015RB/CBJames ClarkeFree agent (previously with Woking)[2]
1 July 2015CMChris LinesPort ValeUndisclosed[9]
1 July 2015RBTyler LyttleYouth team graduate[7]
1 July 2015CMJay MalpasYouth team graduate[7]
2 July 2015RM/LMCristian MontañoFree agent (previously with América de Cali)[10]
31 July 2015LM/CFBilly BodinFree agent (previously with Northampton Town)[14]
7 January 2015RM/LMLiam LawrenceShrewsbury TownFree transfer[35]
14 January 2015CFRory GaffneyCambridge UnitedUndisclosed[36]
28 January 2015CFRory FallonFree agent (previously with Scunthorpe United)[39]

Loans in

Date Position Player Loaned from End date Ref.
4 August 2015RMJeffrey MonakanaBrighton & Hove Albion7 September 2015[15]
14 August 2015GKAaron ChapmanChesterfield10 September 2015[18]
11 September 2015GKLee NichollsWigan Athletic12 December 2015[24]
23 November 2015CFParis Cowan-HallMillwall21 December 2015[50][29]
26 November 2015CFRory GaffneyCambridge United4 January 2016[31]
7 March 2016CFOli McBurnieSwansea City30 June 2016[43]

Out

Date Position Player Transferred to Fee Ref.
30 June 2015LMÁngelo BalantaCarlisle United[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer[8]
30 June 2015RMAbdulai Bell-BaggieStockport County[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer[5]
30 June 2015LMAndy MonkhouseGrimsby Town[lower-alpha 3]Free transfer[4]
30 June 2015CBNeal TrotmanReleased[10]
5 January 2016CFNathan BlissettTorquay United[lower-alpha 4]Free transfer[34]
  1. Following Balanta's release on 22 June 2015, he later agreed to join Carlisle United on 30 June 2015.[51]
  2. Following Bell-Baggie's release on 17 June 2015, he later joined Stockport County on 1 July 2015.[52]
  3. Following Monkhouse's release on 17 June 2015, he later agree to join Grimsby Town on 24 June 2015.[53]
  4. 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 2015FWJamie LucasBoreham Wood4 September 2015[16]
14 August 2015MFRyan BroomTaunton Town14 October 2015[19]
20 August 2015MFDominic ThomasPaulton Rovers26 September 2015[20]
21 August 2015FWNathan BlissettTranmere Rovers19 September 2015[21]
1 October 2015FWJamie LucasBoreham Wood29 October 2015[55]
1 October 2015GKKieran PrestonMangotsfield United29 October 2015[55]
26 November 2015CFNathan BlissettLincoln City4 January 2016[32]
23 December 2015RBTyler LyttleNuneaton Town5 April 2016[56][57][58]
4 January 2016LBDanny GreensladeBath City6 April 2016[59][60][61]
15 January 2016FWJamie LucasBoreham Wood30 June 2016[56]
18 January 2016FWEllis HarrisonHartlepool United20 February 2016[38]
26 February 2016MFJake GoslingNewport County30 March 2016[62]
26 February 2016GKKieran PrestonRushall Olympic30 June 2016[63][62]
28 February 2016MFJay MalpasChippenham Town24 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
1GK Steve Mildenhall 25(1)000100026(1)000
2DF Daniel Leadbitter 28(5)010101031(5)040
3DF Lee Brown 46610102050680
4DF Tom Lockyer 42(1)010100044(1)070
5DF Mark McChrystal 20(1)010002022(1)050
6DF Tom Parkes 29(2)000102032(2)050
7MF Lee Mansell 28210000029220
8MF Ollie Clarke 23(11)200100(1)024(12)220
9FW Ellis Harrison 10(20)710110012(20)860
10FW Matty Taylor 38(8)27100(1)02141(9)2830
11MF Jake Gosling 8(10)010101011(10)010
14MF Chris Lines 30(3)00(1)0002032(4)040
15DF James Clarke 36(1)00(1)0101037(2)040
16MF Liam Lawrence 8(4)10000008(4)110
17FW Jermaine Easter 21(21)70(1)0102124(22)820
21MF Cristian Montaño 12(16)2000(1)01(1)013(18)210
23MF Billy Bodin 26(12)1310002029(12)1300
24MF Stuart Sinclair 30210102034230
25GK Will Puddy 100000001000
26DF Tyler Lyttle 1000000(1)01(1)000
27MF Ryan Broom 0(1)0000(1)0000(2)000
29FW Oli McBurnie 0(5)00000000(5)020
30FW Rory Gaffney 23(1)800000023(1)820
33FW Rory Fallon 0(3)00000000(3)000
Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who are currently on loan elsewhere:
20FW Jamie Lucas 0(1)000000(1)00(2)000
Players to have appeared for Bristol Rovers who have left:
29MF Jeffrey Monakana 0(3)00000000(3)000
30GK Aaron Chapman 500000005000
31GK Lee Nicholls 15010002018010
29FW Paris Cowan-Hall 2(1)00000002(1)000
16FW Nathan Blissett 0(2)000000(1)00(3)000
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