Boyhood Bristolian Kacper Lopata on Bristol Rovers loan move and why it 'means that bit more'

Bristol Rovers loanee Kacper Lopata grew up a stone’s throw from the Mem despite never playing for the Gas before his move from Barnsley

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

12:00, 25 Aug 2025

Bristol Rovers loanee Kacper Lopata grew up in north Bristol and attended SGS College(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

Although he only pulled on the blue-and-white quarters for the first time last Tuesday, Bristol Rovers’ latest addition Kacper Lopata has a connection to his new loan side that added sentimental value to his switch from Barnsley.

The centre-back moved to Bristol from Poland as a child and grew up just a stone’s throw from the Mem in Horfield. He also attended SGS College where the likes of Southampton, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Brighton and Hove Albion identified the young defender’s talents.

Just a couple of days out from his 24th birthday, Lopata is now back in north Bristol and already looks set to play an important role in the Gas’ League Two campaign having started their last three games, keeping back-to-back clean sheets at home to Oldham Athletic and Cambridge United.

Although his family have since moved up north and childhood friends have embarked on their own journeys in adulthood, the defender already has roots in his home for the season.

“Actually today before I came down to the game, I left my hotel a bit early and I had a little drive around where I used to live just to remind myself,” Lopata reflected after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cambridge United.

“Yeah, it definitely means that bit more, you know? I remember I used to go out for little runs with my football around Horfield and then play footy just at the back of the sports centre up there. So yeah, I went for a little drive. It reminded me of when I was a kid, with a little dream and yeah, maybe that played a little part today.

“I did once, yeah,” the 23-year-old added with a smile when asked if he ever came to a game at the Mem. “Years ago when I was probably about a month, two months after we moved here.

“Tickets were expensive for us back then, but I don’t remember the squads from going with my brother. We didn’t speak a word of English. My mum’s friend took us. So, yeah, I remember the ground. I remember telling my older brother, he remembers this, ‘Oh, yeah. I’ll play at this ground one day.’ I was a little fat chubby kid!”

A ratio of two clean sheets every three appearances would be an excellent streak for Lopata to keep up having added a refreshing no nonsense approach to the backline’s defending.

The Barnsley loanee particularly impressed alongside Alfie Kilgour on Saturday afternoon as Rovers secured their first win of the season when beating Cambridge 1-0 but was also excellent in a goalless stalemate with Oldham Athletic four days prior.

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His debut was less memorable as the Gas lost 3-1 at Chesterfield having had to play most of the match with 10 men after a red card to Joel Senior. The centre-back was doing well but was brought off at half-time with Rovers 1-0 down and in need of a tactical reshuffle following the dismissal.

That first appearance came less than 48 hours after being announced by the club that Thursday evening as their 10th signing of the summer. Head coach Darrell Clarke worked with the defender briefly at Barnsley last season before he joined Ross County on loan for the campaign. At Oakwell, Lopata also worked with assistant head coach Jon Stead, but he has also been coached by Rhys Carr at Sheffield United.

“I’ve worked with all the coaching staff,” the Gas loanee explained. “Obviously the gaffer and Steady at Barnsley and then Rhys Carr years ago at Sheffield United, so I know what they’re about.

“I knew integrating into the team wasn’t going to be a problem because I know what to expect from them and they know what to expect of me. So that’s kind of black and white.

“Sometimes it could be tough, especially when the team hasn’t won and things were looking not the best, if that’s the right word, but I know football changes really quick and hopefully we can continue this okay run.”

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Lopata played in two cup matches for the Tykes under Clarke last season before his move to the Scottish Premiership where he played 31 times across all competitions, including against Celtic and Rangers.

Prior to his move to Oakwell in 2023 from non-league Woking, the centre-back made two senior appearances at Sheffield United having also featured in the youth sides at the likes of Bristol City and Brighton as well as the Blades.

He left Bramall Lane on a free transfer to Southend United in the National League in summer 2022 where he played 40 times before departing for Woking in March 2023.

Lopata had a run in the Barnsley team straight after his move to South Yorkshire under former boss Neill Collins, which included 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Rovers at the Mem two years ago.

A loan move to Port Vale then followed in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, meaning that the 23-year-old has just 17 appearances to his name for the Reds despite joining them two years ago.

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“I had a little niggle in my calf, which came out of absolutely nowhere,” Lopata reflected on how his loan move to BS7 came about. That complicated my plans.

“My goal was to get in the Barnsley team. I strongly feel like I’m good enough for League One. But that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. As soon as I got a call from the gaffer, I thought, ‘he knows what he wants to do this season’ and I wanted to be a part of that.

“I think for me, for a defender, it’s more just to play. The level doesn’t necessarily matter and you have kind of got to put that ego aside.

“[It was] hectic. A lot of driving around, a lot of stress, sorting stuff out with the missus, with the dogs. But that’s just the life we live. The life of a footballer. You’ve got to adapt and, you know, let’s be honest, it’s not hard. There’s worse things you could be doing in life than moving around. It’s about perspective.”

Boyhood Bristolian Kacper Lopata on Bristol Rovers loan move and why it ‘means that bit more’

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