Our Bristol Rovers reporter lifts the lid on his first season covering the club
10:27, 05 May 2026
(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)
When I was sat in the media room post-Swindon Town on December 13, I was lost for words, and as a journalist, that’s not ideal. Bristol Rovers had just lost their tenth consecutive league game – the worst run in the club’s history – and the local media were waiting to see whether Darrell Clarke would appear for the press conference. The writing was on the wall, though.
Clarke, a club legend, didn’t speak to the media and confirmation that he had been relieved of his duties came later that evening. I walked home, having not seen a win since starting my job as Bristol Rovers reporter in November. The club had seen its worst-ever run of league defeats and found itself in the relegation zone, with non-league football a serious possibility.
‘Am I a curse?’ ‘How far away is South Shields?’ ‘Who is the next manager going to be?’. All of these questions came to me in the aftermath of this defeat. As I drove home that same evening to attend a family party, things were unbelievably bleak on the north side of the river. Unfathomably so.
My first game covering the club was the 1-0 defeat at home to Gillingham – the fifth consecutive league defeat in the run of 10 in a row. The most painful loss was the 4-0 defeat away at Barnet on December 9. It could have been eight or nine.
When discussing my new job with my friends and family during this losing run, the classic question, ‘How’s it going?’ popped up, and honestly, it was hard to answer.
‘Yeah, enjoying it, even though I haven’t seen a win from the team I cover up and down the country in nearly two months!’.
But just like a Disney film, the season for Bristol Rovers and myself had a much happier ending.
Steve Evans was the man to replace Clarke, and when he was appointed I labelled him ‘the right man at the right time in the right situation’. Was I right? With 42 points from 25 games and Rovers finishing 23 points clear of the relegation zone, yes!
It wasn’t all plain-sailing, though, with only four points from the 63-year-old’s first seven games. His message, even during this tricky start, was always the same: Give me the January transfer window and I’ll improve this squad.
He did just that. Nine new arrivals signed for the Gas in the winter market, and the improvement was dramatic.
Sign up for our Rovers newsletter
Bristol Rovers have Steve Evans now in charge as they look to battle push up the League Two table – and you won’t miss a beat with our free newsletter.
All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Gas, delivered straight to your inbox.
It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE
I could speak about all nine signings and some of the moments they’ve had. Even Kane Thompson-Sommers, who has probably been the least impactful, scored one of the goals of the season away at Swindon Town, prompting wild celebrations in the away end at The County Ground.
Kofi Balmer, Riley Harbottle, Richie Smallwood, Tommy Leigh, Yusuf Akhamrich and Joe Quigley. They’ve all been outstanding, with the Spurs loanee an absolute joy to watch.
And what a lovely guy too. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing him on a few occasions and I can understand why Evans has described him as one of his “sons”.
He’s always so polite, answers questions honestly and I always come away from conversations with him thinking how impressive he is for a 20-year-old.
Yusuf Akhamrich of Bristol Rovers celebrate scoring a goal to make it 1-2 during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Tranmere Rovers and Bristol Rovers at Prenton Park, Birkenhead on 18th April 2026 – PHOTO: Steve Flynn/PPAUK
And a brilliant footballer. I love watching him play. His finishes against Crawley Town and Tranmere Rovers were not the type you’d expect to see at League Two level. He has such a bright future ahead of him and I can’t wait to see him flourish, whether that be in BS7 for another year, or elsewhere.
It’s not just been about new signings for Evans, though. Good managers don’t just rely on new additions, they improve the existing players in the squad as well. He’s also done just that.
Brad Young, Joel Senior, Shaq Forde and Clinton Mola have all looked reborn under the manager. Imagine saying in December that Mola would be an almost undroppable midfield option? Imagine saying that Young would take the number one spot and regularly make crucial saves in an eight-match winning run?
Clinton Mola of Bristol Rovers attacks during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Gillingham at Memorial Stadium on 19 August 2025. Photo: Kara Thomas/PPAUK(Image: Photo: Kara Thomas/PPAUK)
It probably sums up what a wild ride this season has been. So much has changed, so quickly. Thankfully, Evans has signed a contract until 2028, which allows the club to have some desperately needed continuity.
My favourite game of the season? Crewe Alexandra at home. After being frustrated for the majority of the game, Leigh scored goals in the 87th minute and 92nd minutes to turn it around.
The home ‘limbs’ at The Mem in the Thatcher’s End are what football is all about. People from different backgrounds, industries and ethnicities, who have worked hard all week, coming together to support their club, wildly shouting, hugging each other and enjoying the moment.
After so many months of defeats, gut-wrenching lows and disappointments, this victory felt like, for the first time since I started the job, what it feels to witness the best of this club at The Mem.
My least favourite game? The two contenders are the matches mentioned above. I’ll actually go for the 4-0 defeat at Barnet. After that, I was really fearful of relegation, mainly due to how bad the performance was.
(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)
Player of the season? I’ll release something later this week, but spoiler alert, the three main contenders are Fabrizio Cavegn, Clinton Mola and Brad Young.
Most memorable moment of the season? While this isn’t a ‘moment’ per se, it is a short summary of my experience of travelling away to Barrow twice. The first time the game was scheduled to take place was on January 4, and despite the freezing cold weather, it was deemed playable the night before.
I began the 254-mile trip up north, and guess what? When I was within 10 minutes of the stadium, I received a call: ‘Will, game’s off’. I pulled over and checked the news. Surely not.
It was a Sunday, so I decided to turn around and make the long trip back, with many Gasheads having to do the same. Over 500 miles of driving in one day. The return to Barrow two months later, however, was definitely worth it – both for the result and the performance.
On March 10, Rovers eased past the Bluebirds 2-0, with the game ending with a downpour of rain. I tentatively went down to pitch side to go behind one of the goals and greet the soaked manager.
Goal celebrations for Tommy Leigh of Bristol Rovers during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Barrow and Bristol Rovers at Holker Street, Barrow on 10 March 2026 – PHOTO: Harry Cornish/PPAUK(Image: Harry Cornish/PPAUK)
After shivering through the interview, I made the way back to my hotel and the next day, to Bristol. With Barrow going down, I won’t be returning to the SO Legal Stadium in the 2026/27 season.
It’s certainly an away trip I won’t forget.
To think that Rovers lost the most league games in a row in the club’s history, went on an eight-match unbeaten run and won eight games in a row, all within the same season, summarises just how absurd this football club can be.
Finishing 14th in League Two is hardly inspiring, and any Gashead would have been disappointed with that at the start of the season. It doesn’t tell the full story, though, and the scars from last year’s relegation needed longer to heal than we first expected.
Bristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol Rovers Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Click here to join our WhatsApp community.
Evans’ confidence, tactical flexibility and meticulous recruitment have given reason for hope again going into the 2026/27 campaign. He took over a sinking ship and has steadied it significantly.
August will bring a new challenge, though, and one that he’s used to with nine promotions at five different clubs. Expectation.
Enjoy your summer, Gasheads, but Evans has promised a “rollercoaster” ride ahead. Can he deliver a tenth promotion and a return to League One? Time will tell, but he’s clearly the best man for the job after a miserable couple of years in BS7.
Thank you to everyone who has read, watched or engaged with my content in any way this season.
To cover this club is an absolute honour that I’ll never take for granted and I’m already looking forward to next season.
Will