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2026–27 Bristol Rovers F.C. season

144th season in existence of Bristol Rovers FC From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026–27 season is the 144th season in the history of Bristol Rovers Football Club and their second consecutive season in League Two. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.

OwnerHussain Al-Saeed
Head CoachSteve Evans
StadiumMemorial Stadium
FA CupFirst round
Quick facts season, Owner ...
Bristol Rovers
2026–27 season
OwnerHussain Al-Saeed
Head CoachSteve Evans
StadiumMemorial Stadium
FA CupFirst round
EFL CupFirst round
EFL TrophyGroup stage
← 2025–26
2027–28 →
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Current squad

As of 11 August 2026
More information No., Name ...
No. Name Position Nationality Date of birth (age) Previous club Date signed Fee Contract end
Goalkeepers
1Brad YoungGKEngland (2002-05-05) 5 May 2002 (age 24)Leicester City1 July 2025Free30 June 2030
Defenders
2Tom JamesRBWales (1996-04-15) 15 April 1996 (age 30)Leyton Orient1 July 2026Free30 June 2028
3Jack SparkesLBEngland (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 25)Peterborough United23 June 2025Free30 June 2027
4Kofi BalmerCBNorthern Ireland (2000-09-19) 19 September 2000 (age 25)Motherwell1 July 2026Free30 June 2028
5Alfie KilgourCBEngland (1998-05-18) 18 May 1998 (age 28)Mansfield Town1 July 2025Free30 June 2027
14Ben PurringtonLBEngland (1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 30)Cambridge United1 July 2026Free30 June 2027
17Ciarán KellyCBRepublic of Ireland (1998-07-04) 4 July 1998 (age 28)Bradford City1 July 2026Free30 July 2028
23Macauley Southam-HalesRBWales (1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 (age 30)Stockport County1 July 2025Free30 June 2027
26Riley HarbottleCBEngland (2000-09-26) 26 September 2000 (age 25)AFC Wimbledon16 January 2026Free30 June 2028
37Taylor MooreCBEngland (1997-05-12) 12 May 1997 (age 29)Valenciennes1 July 2024Free30 June 2027
Midfielders
6Clinton MolaLBEngland (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 (age 25)Reading1 July 2024Free30 June 2027
8Reiss Russell-DennyCMEngland (2006-05-11) 11 May 2006 (age 20)Tottenham Hotspur7 August 2026Loan31 May 2027
11Jack AitchisonAMScotland (2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 26)Exeter City1 July 2026Free30 June 2028
21Richard SmallwoodCMEngland (1990-12-29) 29 December 1990 (age 35)Tranmere Rovers1 July 2026Free30 June 2027
22Keenan GoughDMEngland (2006-02-28) 28 February 2006 (age 20)Charlton Athletic7 August 2026Loan31 May 2027
24Tommy LeighCMEngland (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 (age 26)Bradford City17 June 2026Loan31 May 2027
25Ryan HowleyCMWales (2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 (age 22)Coventry City8 July 2025Free30 June 2027
33Ryan de HavillandCMEngland (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 25)Peterborough United3 January 2026Undisclosed30 June 2028
Forwards
7Shaq FordeRWEngland (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 22)Watford30 August 2024Undisclosed30 June 2027
9Joe QuigleyCFRepublic of Ireland (1996-12-10) 10 December 1996 (age 29)Oldham Athletic2 February 2026Undisclosed30 June 2028
10Bobby KamwaLWCameroon (2000-03-18) 18 March 2000 (age 26)Newport County1 July 2026Free30 June 2028
18Mees RijksCFNetherlands (2003-03-08) 8 March 2003 (age 23)Vålerenga27 January 2026Undisclosed30 June 2028
19Ellis HarrisonCFWales (1994-01-29) 29 January 1994 (age 32)Milton Keynes Dons29 July 2025Free30 June 2027
20Promise OmochereRWRepublic of Ireland (2000-10-18) 18 October 2000 (age 25)Fleetwood Town19 July 2024£500,00030 June 2027
29Fabrizio CavegnCFSwitzerland (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 23)Vaduz1 August 2025Undisclosed30 June 2028
30Ollie DewsburyCFWales (2008-02-22) 22 February 2008 (age 18)Academy1 July 2023Trainee30 June 2027
Out on loan
Charlie BinnsGKEngland (2005-04-28) 28 April 2005 (age 21)Bath City5 August 2026Free30 June 2027
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Transfers and contracts

In

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player From Fee Ref.
1 July 2026[a]CAMScotland Jack AitchisonEngland Exeter CityFree[1]
1 July 2026[b]CBNorthern Ireland Kofi BalmerScotland Motherwell[2]
1 July 2026[c]RBWales Tom JamesEngland Leyton Orient[3]
1 July 2026[d]LWCameroon Bobby KamwaWales Newport County[4]
1 July 2026[e]CBRepublic of Ireland Ciarán KellyEngland Bradford City[5]
1 July 2026[f]LBEngland Ben PurringtonEngland Cambridge United[6]
1 July 2026[g]CDMEngland Richard SmallwoodEngland Tranmere Rovers[7]
5 August 2026GKEngland Charlie BinnsEngland Bath City[8]
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  1. [a]
    The transfer was announced on 29 June, and would become official on July 1 once Aitchison's contract at Exeter City expired.
  2. [b]
    The transfer was announced on 8 June, and would become official on July 1 once Balmer's contract at Motherwell expired.
  3. [c]
    The transfer was announced on 19 June, and would become official on July 1 once James' contract at Leyton Orient expired.
  4. [d]
    The transfer was announced on 26 June, and would become official on July 1 once Kamwa's contract at Newport County expired.
  5. [e]
    The transfer was announced on 22 June, and would become official on July 1 once Kelly's contract at Bradford City expired.
  6. [f]
    The transfer was announced on 11 June, and would become official on July 1 once Purrington's contract at Cambridge United expired.
  7. [g]
    The transfer was announced on 5 June, and would become official on July 1 once Smallwood's contract at Tranmere Rovers expired.

Loaned in

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref.
17 June 2026CAMEngland Tommy LeighEngland Bradford CityEnd of Season[9]
7 August 2026CDMEngland Keenan GoughEngland Charlton Athletic[10]
CMEngland Reiss Russell-DennyEngland Tottenham Hotspur[11]
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Loaned out

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player To Loaned until Ref.
5 August 2026GKEngland Charlie BinnsEngland Malvern TownEnd of Season[8]
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Out

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref.
9 July 2026CMSierra Leone Kamil ContehEngland BromleyUndisclosed[12]
10 July 2026GKEngland Jed WardEngland Walsall[13]
20 July 2026CAMEngland Isaac HutchinsonEngland Doncaster Rovers[14]
11 August 2026GKNorthern Ireland Luke SouthwoodEngland Blackpool[15]
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Released / out of contract

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Joined date Ref.
19 June 2026RBEngland Joel SeniorEngland Tranmere Rovers1 July 2026[16][17]
30 June 2026CBWales Tom LockyerAustralia Melbourne Victory11 July 2026[18][19]
RWEngland Luke ThomasScotland St Mirren1 August 2026[18][20]
5 August 2026CMEngland Josh McEachran[21]
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New contract

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Player Contract until Ref.
29 May 2026CFWales Ellis Harrison30 June 2027[22]
1 June 2026GKEngland Brad Young30 June 2030[23]
22 July 2026CDMEngland Kian HillUndisclosed[a][24]
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  1. [a]
    First professional contract

Pre-season and friendlies

On 20 May, Rovers announced four pre-season friendlies, against Salisbury, Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers and Yate Town.[25] On 3 June, the club confirmed a training camp at St Andrews between 29 July – 3 August.[26] A home friendly against Leicester City was added.[27] On 22 June, a further two friendlies were added against Weston-super-Mare and Portsmouth.[28] On 27 July, two behind-closed-doors matches against Dundee and Burnley U21.[29]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

7 July 2026 Friendly Weston-super-Mare 0–3 Bristol Rovers Weston-super-Mare
19:15 BST Report
Stadium: The Optima Stadium
Attendance: 1,189
Referee: Ross Martin
11 July 2026 Friendly Salisbury 2–3 Bristol Rovers Old Sarum
14:00 BST
  • Odokonyero 23', 45'
 Report
Stadium: Raymond McEnhill Stadium
14 July 2026 Friendly Bristol Rovers 1–2 Leicester City Horfield
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,004 (480 away)
Referee: Sam Allison
18 July 2026 Friendly Yeovil Town Cancelled Bristol Rovers Yeovil
14:00 BST Stadium: Huish Park
Note: On 18 June, the club announced the fixture at Yeovil Town would no longer go ahead.[30]
18 July 2026 Friendly Bristol Rovers 1–1 Portsmouth Horfield
15:00 BST
Report
  • Downey 77'
 Stadium: The Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,064 (574 away)
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
21 July 2026 Friendly Forest Green Rovers 2–2 Bristol Rovers Nailsworth
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The Bolt New Lawn
Attendance: 1,144 (382 away)
24 July 2026 Friendly Yate Town Cancelled Bristol Rovers Yate
19:00 BST Stadium: Lodge Road
Note: Fixture was cancelled by mutual agreement.[31]
29 July 2026 Friendly Dundee 0–3 Bristol Rovers St Andrews, Scotland
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: University of St Andrews
Attendance: 0 (BCD)
Referee: Nathan Crawford
31 July 2026 Friendly Burnley U21 1–1 Bristol Rovers St Andrews, Scotland
13:00 BST Report
Stadium: University of St Andrews
Attendance: 0 (BCD)

Competitions

League Two

Main article: 2026–27 EFL League Two

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Accrington Stanley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to EFL League One
2 Barnet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Bristol Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Cheltenham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for League Two play-offs
5 Chesterfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 14 August 2026. 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[32]

Results summary

More information Overall, Home ...
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0
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Last updated: pre-season.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

More information Round, Ground ...
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223
GroundAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA
Result
Position
Points
Close
Source: Soccerway
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed
Notes:

Matches

On 25 June, the League Two fixtures were revealed.[33]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

15 August 2026 1 York City v Bristol Rovers Huntington
15:00 BST Stadium: LNER Community Stadium
22 August 2026 2 Bristol Rovers v Newport County Horfield
12:30 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward.[34]
29 August 2026 3 Crawley Town v Bristol Rovers Crawley
15:00 BST Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
1 September 2026 4 Bristol Rovers v Colchester United Horfield
19:45 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
5 September 2026 5 Bristol Rovers v Rotherham United Horfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
12 September 2026 6 Grimsby Town v Bristol Rovers Cleethorpes
12:30 BST Stadium: Blundell Park
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports.[35]
19 September 2026 7 Gillingham v Bristol Rovers Gillingham
15:00 BST Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
26 September 2026 8 Bristol Rovers v Exeter City Horfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
3 October 2026 9 Crewe Alexandra v Bristol Rovers Crewe
15:00 BST Stadium: Mornflake Stadium
10 October 2026 10 Bristol Rovers v Barnet Horfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
17 October 2026 11 Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers Shrewsbury
12:30 BST Stadium: The Croud Meadow
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[36]
20 October 2026 12 Bristol Rovers v Salford City Horfield
19:45 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
24 October 2026 13 Bristol Rovers v Swindon Town Horfield
15:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
31 October 2026 14 Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers Fleetwood
15:00 GMT Stadium: Highbury Stadium
14 November 2026 15 Bristol Rovers v Chesterfield Horfield
15:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium
21 November 2026 16 Cheltenham Town v Bristol Rovers Cheltenham
15:00 GMT Stadium: EV Charger Points Stadium
28 November 2026 17 Bristol Rovers v Tranmere Rovers Horfield
12:30 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[36]
1 December 2026 18 Oldham Athletic v Bristol Rovers Oldham
19:45 GMT Stadium: Boundary Park
12 December 2026 19 Bristol Rovers v Accrington Stanley Horfield
15:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium
19 December 2026 20 Rochdale v Bristol Rovers Spotland
15:00 GMT Stadium: Crown Oil Arena
26 December 2026 21 Bristol Rovers v Walsall Horfield
15:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium
29 December 2026 22 Port Vale v Bristol Rovers Burslem
19:45 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
2 January 2027 23 Northampton Town v Bristol Rovers Sixfields
15:00 GMT Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for 1 January, but was pushed back by 24 hours after both teams agreed to reschedule to allow extra player recovery time over the festive period.[37]

FA Cup

Main article: 2026–27 FA Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

EFL Cup

Main article: 2026–27 EFL Cup

The draw for the first round was conducted on 25 June.[38]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

8 August 2026 First round Bristol Rovers 0–1 Peterborough United Horfield
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,810
Referee: David Rock

EFL Trophy

Main article: 2026–27 EFL Trophy

Group stage

Rovers were drawn against Reading, Wycombe Wanderers and a Chelsea U21 into Southern Group C.[39][40]

More information Pos, Div ...
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 L1 Reading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 L1 Wycombe Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 ACA Chelsea U21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Close
Source: EFL

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

25 August 2026 Group stage Bristol Rovers v Chelsea U21 Horfield
19:00 BST Stadium: Memorial Stadium
6 October 2026 Group stage Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers High Wycombe
19:00 BST Stadium: Adams Park
10 November 2026 Group stage Bristol Rovers v Reading Horfield
19:00 GMT Stadium: Memorial Stadium

Statistics

Appearances and goals

As of match played 8 August 2026

Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate loaned in player

More information No., Pos ...
No. Pos Nat Player TotalLeague TwoFA CupEFL CupEFL Trophy
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK England ENG Brad Young 100+000+001+000+00
4 DF Northern Ireland NIR Kofi Balmer 100+000+001+000+00
6 MF England ENG Clinton Mola 100+000+001+000+00
7 FW England ENG Shaq Forde 100+000+001+000+00
8 MF England ENG Reiss Russell-Denny 100+000+000+100+00
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Joe Quigley 100+000+001+000+00
10 MF Cameroon CMR Bobby Kamwa 100+000+000+100+00
11 FW Scotland SCO Jack Aitchison 100+000+001+000+00
14 DF England ENG Ben Purrington 100+000+001+000+00
18 FW Netherlands NED Mees Rijks 100+000+000+100+00
21 MF England ENG Richard Smallwood 100+000+001+000+00
22 MF England ENG Keenan Gough 100+000+000+100+00
23 DF Wales WAL Macauley Southam-Hales 100+000+001+000+00
24 MF England ENG Tommy Leigh 100+000+001+000+00
26 DF England ENG Riley Harbottle 100+000+001+000+00
29 FW Switzerland SUI Fabrizio Cavegn 100+000+000+100+00
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Goals Record

As of pre-season
More information Rank, No. ...
RankNo.Nat.Po.NameLeague TwoFA CupEFL CupEFL TrophyTotal
Total00000
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Disciplinary record

As of match played 8 August 2026
More information Rank, No. ...
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
Yellow cardYellow card Yellow-red cardRed cardYellow cardYellow card Yellow-red cardRed cardYellow cardYellow card Yellow-red cardRed cardYellow cardYellow card Yellow-red cardRed cardYellow cardYellow card Yellow-red cardRed card
1 7EnglandRWShaq Forde 000000100000100
Total 000000100000100
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References

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