From Premier League to non-league: Where Bristol Rovers' last League Two promotion squad are now

Bristol Rovers were promoted at the first time of asking in their last League Two campaign, something the current squad will be looking to do next season

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

13:00, 30 May 2025

Bristol Rovers players celebrate promotion from League Two in 2022(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Bristol Rovers will be targeting promotion from League Two at the first time of asking next season following their relegation from League One.

It has been just over three years since the Gas last played at fourth tier level, securing automatic promotion in the most sensational fashion with a final day 7-0 thumping of Scunthorpe United to seal promotion on goals scored ahead of Northampton Town.

That promotion had come at the first time of asking following relegation from the third division, while their stint in League Two prior to that was also for the one season. Darrell Clarke’s side were promoted back into the Football League from the Conference with momentum and managed to secure a second promotion in a row in the 2015/16 season.

Even that achievement was sealed in dramatic fashion as Lee Brown scored a late winner against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Supporters will no doubt take promotion next season, with or without similar drama of the previous two, but there is still a significant amount of work to be done to even be within the conversation of returning to League One at the first time of asking.

Notes can certainly be taken from promotions past though. Given that it was only three years ago, we took a look at what members of the promotion squad of 2021/22 are currently doing and have done since that memorable campaign.

Here is where every player who made at least one appearance that season are now…

James Belshaw – Harrogate Town

Starting strong with that year’s player of the season, Belshaw was absolutely crucial to Rovers’ success, playing in 42 of the 46 league games and keeping 17 clean sheets.

The goalkeeper joined from Harrogate Town that summer, where he had been for four years. Previously, Belshaw had played out in the United States as well as lining up for Nuneaton and Tamworth in non-league.

Now 34, the shot-stopper had another season as Rovers’ first choice in League One before loan spells at Forest Green and Harrogate were followed with a permanent switch back to Town.

James Belshaw celebrates a Bristol Rovers goal(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Anssi Jaakkola – Southend United (coach)

The Fin started that season in goal, playing the opening two matches against Mansfield Town and Stevenage before picking up an injury that paved the way for Belshaw to become number one. He then played another two matches later on in the campaign against Sutton United and Oldham Athletic.

Jaakkola ended up being a player at Rovers for four years before becoming goalkeeper coach in 2023 following his retirement. The 38-year-old held that role for one season and is now goalkeeping coach at Southend United under former Rovers coach Kevin Maher. He will be at Wembley this weekend hoping to see the Shrimpers beat Oldham in the National League play-off final.

Jed Ward – Bristol Rovers

If you thought Rovers’ current number one was young now at 21, at 18 he was frequently on the bench for the Gas as Belshaw’s back-up.

The then-teenager goalkeeper didn’t make a league appearance that campaign, having made his league debut on the final day of the season prior at Blackpool, but did play in three EFL Trophy matches.

He remains one of the best products to come out of the Pirates’ academy in recent years with 42 first-team appearances to his name after two half-seasons as the Gas’ number one.

Nick Anderton – Retired

It’s impossible to write this without emotion creeping in following what Anderton and his family had to endure in the aftermath of the promotion season.

The former left-back made 34 league appearances that campaign but, in the summer of 2022, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, after a scan on his knee. He subsequently underwent gruelling chemotherapy alongside being forced to call time on his playing career at just 25.

Thankfully, after an unimaginably difficult year, Anderton was given the all clear in summer 2023. He has since done incredible work sharing his story and was recently an assistant in the backroom staff at AFC Fylde. A true inspiration.

Nick Anderton pictured playing for Bristol Rovers(Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)Junior Brown – Alsager Town

Signed from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2021, experienced left-back Brown played just six times for the Gas that season.

Now 36, the defender has since played in non-league for Whitchuch, Hednesford and Alsager Town.

Trevor Clarke – Shamrock Rovers

Joining from Rotherham United ahead of the promotion campaign, the left-back only played seven league games, although he did start that Scunthorpe game on the final day.

He then featured nine times in League One before joining Shamrock on loan for the 2023 season. That move was then made permanent in January 2024 after a total of 24 appearances for the Pirates.

James Connolly – Crewe Alexandra

One of the most popular individuals in this list, nicknamed ‘Beefy, the young defender arrived halfway through the season on loan from Cardiff City and was an instant hit.

The centre-back played every minute of the final 24 matches and made his stay permanent in the summer of 2022.

A half-season loan spell at Morecambe last term was cut short in the January as new manager Matt Taylor required defensive additions. After a total of 73 appearances in blue-and-white quarters, Connolly joined Crewe Alexandra last summer, with whom he could face Rovers next season in League Two.

James Connolly pictured in action for Bristol Rovers(Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)Josh Grant – Wealdstone

One of a limited amount of players who had been at Rovers before the promotion campaign, most of Grant’s time in north Bristol was plagued by injury. The versatile defender played 22 times in League Two that term but managed just one minute of the following campaign in League One.

A return to fitness in 2023 saw the Chelsea academy product play 36 time across all competitions before being released last summer. It took him until November to find a club, joining National League side Wealdstone.

This season, Grant played 23 times in the fifth tier, helping the London-based outfit survive relegation on the final day.

Cian Harries – Forest Green Rovers

Another survivor of the 2020/21 relegation squad, Harries played 16 times in League Two that term and didn’t feature again after starting in a 2-1 defeat at Oldham Athletic in early February.

The defender joined Swindon Town in the summer of 2022 before further permanent moves to Aldershot Town in 2023 and Woking in 2024. He was then bought by Forest Green in January but the Gloucestershire outfit fell short in achieving promotion back into League Two, losing to Southend United on penalties in the play-offs.

Luca Hoole – Shrewsbury Town

An academy graduate, Hoole broke into the first-team this campaign under Joey Barton as a teenager, making 32 appearances across all competitions.

The Welshman has since gone on to establish himself as a League One player, playing two of those seasons at Rovers before turning down the opportunity to sign a new contract last summer and, instead, join Shrewsbury Town.

Hoole played 39 times in the third tier this term for Salop, who were relegated alongside the Gas.

Luca Hoole went on to play 102 games for Bristol Rovers(Image: Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images)Alfie Kilgour – free agent

Also a product of the Rovers academy, Kilgour finally made his long-awaited first-team debut for the Gas in March 2019 but was ruled out of most of the promotion season through injury, making 14 appearances in the first half of the campaign.

The centre-back joined Mansfield Town in January 2023 after struggling for game time in League One. He then suffered a ruptured Achilles in August 2023 which ended up keeping him sidelined for 14 months.

After playing 21 times this term, the Bath-born defender is now a free agent after being released by the Stags.

Pablo Martinez – retired

Another sad story. The former West Brom academy player moved to Rovers in 2020 and played eight times in League One towards the end of the relegation campaign. He then made one League Two appearance in the promotion season, coming on at half-time in a 4-2 home win over Rochdale.

Following a brief loan spell at Gloucester City, he was then released and joined Chippenham Town that summer.

However, in a National League South game against Chelmsford City, the then-21-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and required CPR and treatment from a defibrillator which ended up being life-saving. He returned eight months later but has since retired from playing.

Connor Taylor – Bristol Rovers

Quite possibly the most popular individual amongst Gasheads in this list, the defender has been a kingpin for Rovers in recent years.

Joining on loan from Stoke City, Taylor played in 42 of the League Two matches that term, scoring one of the seven goals against Scunthorpe.

After a campaign back at Stoke, the 23-year-old re-joined Rovers on a permanent basis two years ago and has totalled 136 appearances for the Gas. Supporters will hope that there are more to come with the defender subject to external interest following the club’s relegation.

Connor Taylor celebrates scoring for Bristol Rovers against Scunthorpe United(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)Ryan Jones – Aldershot Town

Signed from Weston-super-Mare in 2020 as a teenager, Jones was subject to major excitement amongst Gasheads.

The versatile left-back spent a month of the promotion season on loan at Bath City but made five cup appearances for Rovers’ first-team.

Jones only went on to play two more times for the Gas before being released last summer. He is currently at Aldershot Town in the National League where the 23-year-old is impressing.

Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest

The only player here currently playing higher than League One level – and he could be an England international within the next 12 months if his stock continues to increase at its current rate.

We all know what a teenage Anderson did in blue-and-white quarters. Arriving from Newcastle United on loan in January, the midfielder tore League Two apart as Rovers shot up the table.

He scored eight goals and registered five assists in 21 appearances for the Gas, with his final strike the goal that secured promotion for the Pirates.

Since, the now-22-year-old has established himself as a Premier League regular, first with boyhood club Newcastle before joining Nottingham Forest last summer. He played a key role in getting the Reds into the Europa Conference League and is being backed for a senior England call-up in the not too distant future.

Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring Bristol Rovers’ promotion-winning goal against Scunthorpe United(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)Harry Anderson – Colchester United

Very nearly an ever-present, Anderson only missed two league games that season, scoring six goals and registering four assists in 44 league appearances.

The winger was a reliable asset for Rovers in League Two but didn’t quite have the same impact the following campaign in League One, failing to find the back of the net in 28 third tier games.

Since, the 28-year-old spent half a season at Stevenage before joining Colchester United on loan. He then signed for the Essex outfit permanently last summer.

Paul Coutts – Inverurie Loco Works

Appointed captain shortly after his arrival in the summer of 2021, Coutts was everything a skipper should be – a presence on and off the pitch and popular with supporters.

A red card in his first appearance against Mansfield Town was a far from ideal start to life in blue-and-white quarters, but he certainly made amends, using his experience to help Rovers climb up the table and get over the line.

The midfielder departed in summer 2023 and currently plays back in his native Scotland for Inverurie Loco Works.

Sam Finley – Tranmere Rovers

Replacing Coutts as club captain in 2023, Finley was another integral figure in the Gas’ promotion squad.

That campaign, the midfielder played 36 times in the league, scoring five goals and providing seven assists, before going on to play a total of 121 matches for the Pirates, more than any other club in his career so far.

The 32-year-old moved much closer to home following his release last summer, joining Tranmere Rovers.

Antony Evans – Huddersfield Town

Another scorer in the 7-0 win, netting twice, Evans provided 10 goals and 12 assists in 35 appearances during the promotion campaign, having arrived from German side Paderborn that summer.

After a mixed first term at League One level, the attacking midfielder was named Rovers’ player of the season in 2023/24 after scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in 52 appearances across all competitions.

The fan’s favourite departed for Huddersfield Town last summer and will be hoping to make more of an impact in the new season having not scored since September.

Antony Evans celebrates scoring for Bristol Rovers against Scunthorpe United(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)Tom Mehew – Chippenham Town

An academy youngster, Mehew broke onto the scene with two goals in the EFL Trophy against Walsall and Oxford United during the relegation campaign. He also made a substitute appearance in League One against Blackpool on the final day.

The midfielder only played once for the Gas during the promotion season against Chelsea Under-23s, having had four loan spells at Bath City, Gloucester City, Swindon Supermarine and Chippenham Town.

Now 24, Mehew joined Chippenham Town is currently in his third spell with the club, having joined permanently in summer 2022 before then moving to Havant and Waterloovile the following summer, where he spent just four months before returning.

Sam Nicholson – Motherwell

Hailing from Edinburgh, Nicholson returned to the UK in 2020 having spent three years in the United States at Minnesota United and Colorado Rapids.

In the promotion season, the wide man played in 35 league games, scoring five times and providing four assists.

He then returned to the MLS to re-join Colorado for the remainder of the 2022 season. The 30-year-old is now back in Scotland with Motherwell where he has been since January 2024.

Jon Nolan – free agent

One that only a select few Gasheads watched play for their club in person. Nolan arrived at Rovers on a free transfer from Ipswich Town in January 2022 but made just one appearance for the club in a 1-0 defeat away at Newport County.

Injuries prevented the midfielder from playing again for the Pirates. He has been a free agent since leaving Macclesfield last year, whom he joined from Tranmere Rovers after departing north Bristol at the end of the promotion campaign.

Alex Rodman – retired

Playing just shy of 100 games for Rovers over a five-year spell, Rodman only made four appearances for the Gas in the 2021/22 season all of which came within Joey Barton’s side’s first five matches. The winger was on the bench for the Scunthorpe game.

Now 38, Rodman retired from playing in summer 2023 and is the founder of Rockman Wealth, providing independent financial advice, retirement planning and investment management.

Sion Spence – free agent

A loanee from Crystal Palace, Spence only made six league appearances that season for Rovers, but did score in the 2-1 win at Walsall.

The 24-year-old has since played in non-league and is set to be a free agent after leaving Hednesford Town.

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Glenn Whelan – Wigan Athletic (coach)

Another experienced figure brought in to help Rovers both on the pitch and off it, the former Ireland international and Premier League midfielder played 31 times in League Two that term, playing the full game against Scunthorpe on the final day.

The Irishman played another season in League One and then called time on his playing career, becoming a coach at Rovers. He is now the assistant head coach at Wigan Athletic.

Leon Clarke – retired

Having played in the Premier League for Sheffield United while making shy of 300 career appearances in the Championship, Clarke arrived at Rovers in 2021 as another experienced signing.

The striker scored twice in 11 matches before being released at the end of the season.

Now 40, Clarke went on to play for Hartlepool United, Rushall Olympic, Kettering Town and Mickleover before retiring last summer.

Aaron Collins – Bolton Wanderers

A player who will also go down as a modern Rovers great, it took some time for the Welshman to click into gear in BS7 following a move from Forest Green Rovers that summer, but once he did he was unstoppable.

15 goals and two assists helped the Gas fire up the table in the second half of the campaign before he then took to League One like a duck to water. Two of those goals came against Scunthorpe. 16 goals and 12 assists saw the forward named League One player of the season.

An underwhelming first half of the 2023/24 campaign followed before a January move to Bolton Wanderers. The 28-year-old deserves to play Championship football in his career.

Aaron Collins celebrates scoring Bristol Rovers’ sixth goal against Scunthorpe United(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)Ryan Loft – Cambridge United

Although it didn’t work out for the striker at Rovers, Loft scored one of the most important goals of that season, netting a late goal off the bench at Port Vale to seal a vital victory.

In 56 appearances, the striker scored seven goals before joining Vale on deadline day 2023. He then moved to Cambridge United following their relegation and is set to play in League Two in the upcoming campaign following the Us’ relegation.

Harvey Saunders – Tranmere Rovers

Arriving from Fleetwood Town to link up with former manager Joey Barton in summer 2021, Saunders scored three goals in 23 matches across all competitions, all of which scored by early October.

The forward then struggled to make an impact in League One, subsequently joining Tranmere Rovers in January 2023 where he currently remains.

Luke Thomas – Bristol Rovers

Although another fan favourite, Thomas’ time at Rovers overall has been mixed. Joining the Gas as a loanee from Barnsley in 2021, the winger found it difficult to make the desired impact.

He then returned on a permanent basis in 2023 and was a key player during the 2023/24 campaign with seven goals and nine assists.

The season just gone though ended in disappointment for the 26-year-old who could be a crucial asset for the Gas in League Two next term.

From Premier League to non-league: Where Bristol Rovers’ last League Two promotion squad are now

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