The 2006–07 season was the 124th year of football played by Bristol Rovers, and their 80th season in The Football League, and covers the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. After finishing sixth in Football League Two, Rovers won the playoff final for the first time in their history, and won promotion for only the fourth time since joining The Football League. The previous promotions were all automatic, and came in the 1952–53, 1973–74 and 1989–90 seasons.^[1]

The season began with a subdued atmosphere among fans, caused by six previous seasons of poor performances and a bitter boardroom split, resulting in four directors leaving the club.^[2][3] However, as the season progressed the team gradually climbed up the league and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, and the final of the Football League Trophy.

Review and events

Bristol Rovers playing in the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium.

The pre-season period was a turbulent one, with a potential take-over of the club by Mike Turl being rejected by then-chairman Geoff Dunford. Directors Kevin Spencer and Colin Williams left the club in protest at the rejection,^[2] followed shortly after by the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club representative on the football club's board, Kim Stuckey.^[3]

Ryan Green had signed for the club from Hereford United at the end of the previous season,^[4] and he was joined by three more new players before the start of the 2006–07 season. Sammy Igoe, who had been on loan at Rovers from Millwall the previous season, joined on a full-time basis, young defender Byron Anthony, who had yet to make an appearance in the Football League, joined from Cardiff City, and experienced goalkeeper Steve Phillips crossed the city to join from local rivals Bristol City.

A number of players left the club following the end of the 2005–06 season. Senior players John Anderson, who had been assistant manager to Paul Trollope during his spell as caretaker manager the previous year,^[5] Ali Gibb, Jon Bass and Christian Edwards were released, while Jamie Forrester moved to Lincoln City on a free transfer. Also leaving the club were a number of younger players who had failed to earn extensions to their contracts. These were Mark Preece, Matt Thorne, Ben Willshire and goalkeepers Ryan Clarke and Martin Horsell.^[6]

The first game of the season was away to Peterborough United in League Two, and ended in a 4–1 defeat,^[7] resulting in the lowest league position, 23rd, that Rovers would occupy all season. As the season progressed, Rovers gradually climbed the league table, eventually clinching a playoff spot after winning their final league match 2–1 against Hartlepool United.

The playoff campaign was high-scoring, with there being an average of 4⅔ goals per game in the three matches played. The semi-final was against Lincoln City, and was played over two legs. The first leg at the Memorial Stadium was won 2–1 by Rovers, thanks to goals by Craig Disley and Richard Walker. The second leg was played at Sincil Bank and ended 5–3, with Stuart Campbell, Rickie Lambert, Richard Walker, Sammy Igoe and Sean Rigg scoring the goals. This gave Rovers a 7–4 aggregate win and a place in the final at Wembley Stadium. A record attendance for a League Two playoff final of 61,589 watched the game, and saw Rovers win the match 3–1 and gain promotion for only the fourth time in the club's history.^[1] Richard Walker scored two of the goals and Sammy Igoe scored the other.

The League Cup campaign was a brief one. Rovers were knocked out in the first round by Luton Town on penalty kicks after drawing the match 1–1. The FA Cup was more successful, with the team reaching the fourth round where they were beaten 1–0 by Derby County. The best cup run of the season was in the Football League Trophy, where they reached the final after beating rivals Bristol City 1–0 in the southern area final. The game was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but resulted in a 3–2 defeat after extra time, the score being 2–2 after 90 minutes.

Match results

Bristol Rovers played a total of 62 competitive matches during the 2006–07 season,^[33] as well as nine pre-season friendlies, making a total of 71 games played. The team finished sixth in Football League Two, reaching the play-offs for the first time since the 1997–98 season.^[1]

In the cup competitions, Rovers were knocked out of the League Cup at the first round stage in a penalty shootout, having drawn 1–1 with Championship side Luton Town after extra time. They fared better in the FA Cup however, reaching the fourth round stage where they lost again to a Championship team; this time Derby County. The most successful cup competition for Rovers was the Football League Trophy, in which they reached the final for the first time since the 1989–90 competition.^[1] They were beaten by Doncaster Rovers after extra time at the Millennium Stadium.^[23]

League progress

This chart shows the league position of Bristol Rovers F.C. over the course of the season. The green area represents the automatic promotion positions (positions 1 to 3), the yellow area represents the play-off positions (positions 4 to 7) and the red area represents the relegation places (positions 23 and 24). The lowest position in the league that Bristol Rovers reached during the course of the season was 23rd, after the first game, and their highest placing was 6th, after the final game.

Player details

During the 2006–07 season, Rovers used 24 different players, and there were nine squad members who did not make an appearance on the pitch. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player. Play-off appearances are included in the league appearances column.^[34]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League Two (including playoffs)		FA Cup		League Cup		Football League Trophy
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Steve Phillips	59	0	47	0	5	0	1	0	6	0
23	GK	SCO	Scott Shearer	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
31	GK	ENG	Mike Green	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	DF	WAL	Ryan Green	42	0	36	0	2	0	1	0	3	0
3	DF	WAL	Joe Jacobson	13	0	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	DF	EIR	Robbie Ryan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	DF	ENG	Craig Hinton	38	0	30	0	3	0	0	0	5	0
6	DF	ENG	Steve Elliott	54	5	42	5	5	0	1	0	6	0
11	DF	ENG	Chris Carruthers	54	0	41	0	5	0	1	0	7	0
15	DF	WAL	Byron Anthony	33	2	26	0	3	1	1	0	3	1
16	DF	ENG	Samuel Oji	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	DF	ENG	Ollie Barnes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	DF	ENG	Tom Parrinello	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF	ENG	Aaron Lescott	43	0	34	0	4	0	1	0	4	0
35	DF	ENG	Ben Willshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	MF	ENG	Sammy Igoe	55	5	43	3	5	0	1	0	6	2
7	MF	SCO	Stuart Campbell	57	2	44	2	5	0	1	0	7	0
8	MF	ENG	James Hunt	14	1	14	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	MF	ENG	Andy Sandell	48	3	36	3	4	0	1	0	7	0
20	MF	ENG	Craig Disley	61	6	48	5	5	1	1	0	7	0
22	MF	ENG	Chris Lines	9	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
24	MF	WAL	Paul Trollope	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF	ENG	Darren Mullings	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	MF	WAL	Lewis Haldane	60	6	48	6	5	0	1	0	6	0
30	MF	ENG	James Palmer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	FW	GHA	Junior Agogo	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	FW	ENG	Rickie Lambert	49	9	39	8	5	0	0	0	5	1
10	FW	ENG	Richard Walker	61	23	49	16	5	4	1	1	6	2
18	FW	WAL	Jamal Easter	4	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
19	FW	ENG	Stuart Nicholson	26	7	22	6	0	0	0	0	4	1
19	FW	ENG	James Walker	5	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
27	FW	ENG	Sean Rigg	26	2	21	2	2	0	1	0	2	0
29	FW	WAL	Lewis Powell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Transfers

In

Five players were signed during the 2006–07 season, with a total transfer cost of £200,000, all of which was spent on Rickie Lambert. The remainder of the transfers were free. In addition to this, five players were loaned in over the course of the season, with Stuart Nicholson having two loan spells at the club, and seven scholars from the Bristol Academy of Sport were awarded their first professional contracts at the end of the season.

The players that joined Bristol Rovers during the 2006–07 season, along with their previous club, are listed below.

Date Player Previous Club Cost 19 July Steve Phillips Bristol City Free[37] 29 July Sammy Igoe Millwall Free[38] 4 August Byron Anthony Cardiff City Free[39] 31 August Rickie Lambert Rochdale £200,000[40] 26 September James Walker Charlton Athletic Loan[41] 27 October Jamal Easter Cardiff City Loan[42][43] 16 November Stuart Nicholson West Bromwich Albion Loan[44][45][46] 31 January Stuart Nicholson West Bromwich Albion Loan[47] 15 February Joe Jacobson Cardiff City Loan[48] 16 February Samuel Oji Birmingham City Loan[49][50] 11 May Josh Klein-Davies Bristol City Free[27] 16 May Alex Kite Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Charlie Reece Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Tom Godsell Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Ryan Paddock Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Matt Groves Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Adam Mahdi Youth team n/a[51] 16 May Charlie Clough Youth team n/a[51]

Out

Six players were loaned out during the 2006–07 season, and seven left the club permanently. The club received a transfer fee for one player only, Junior Agogo, but the amount received was not made public.

Listed below are the players that were transferred out, loaned out or released during the season, along with the club that they joined. For players that were transferred or loaned, this is the club that they joined from Rovers. For players that were released by the club, the next team that they joined after leaving Bristol Rovers is listed, even if they did not join that club immediately.

Date Player New Club Cost 30 August Junior Agogo Nottingham Forest Undisclosed[52] 22 September Mike Green Mangotsfield United Loan[53] 25 October Lewis Powell Mangotsfield United Loan[54] 26 October Scott Shearer Shrewsbury Town Loan[55][56] 4 November Darren Mullings Clevedon Town Loan[57] 8 December Ollie Barnes Gloucester City Loan[58] 14 January James Hunt Grimsby Town Loan[59][60] 1 February Robbie Ryan Welling United Released[61][62] 14 May James Hunt Grimsby Town Free[63] 27 May Scott Shearer Wycombe Wanderers Free[64] 30 June Ollie Barnes Salisbury City Released[27][65] 30 June Darren Mullings Torquay United Released[27][66] 30 June Lewis Powell Weston-super-Mare Released[27][67] Team kit The team kit for the 2006–07 season was produced by Erreà and the main shirt sponsor was Cowlin Construction. The home shirt featured the traditional blue and white quarters, however the shade of blue was lighter than in earlier seasons, and the blue and white were reversed from the previous year. The away kit was dark blue with yellow trim, and the third choice kit was yellow with black trim. 2006–07 home colours 2006–07 away colours 2006–07 third choice colours Awards During the course of the 2006–07 season, Bristol Rovers staff won three divisional awards. First team coach Paul Trollope won the League Two Manager of the Month award in April after the team won four of the six games played, and kept five clean sheets.[68] The other two awards both went to Steve Phillips, who won the League Two player of the month award in November and also won the Puma Golden Gloves award for League Two after keeping 28 clean sheets during the season.[69] At the end of the season, Steve Phillips was voted the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club player of the season, and Sean Rigg was voted young player of the year in his debut season, who scored two goals in 26 appearances and missed a portion of the season after suffering a double fracture of the jaw during an FA Cup match in November. Award Recipient League Two player of the month (November) Steve Phillips[70] League Two Manager of the Month (April) Paul Trollope[71] League Two Puma Golden Glove award Steve Phillips[72] Bristol Rovers player of the year Steve Phillips[73] Bristol Rovers young player of the year Sean Rigg[73] See also 2006–07 in English football References 1 2 3 4 Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2. 1 2 Turl hits out at Bristol Rovers BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006 1 2 Kim Stuckey steps down from board Archived 5 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine Bristol Rovers Supporters Club website. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ "Rovers bag Bulls defender Green". BBC Sport. 31 May 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2007. ↑ "Atkins sacked - your views". BBC Bristol. Retrieved 20 August 2007. ↑ "2006 summer moves". Gasheads.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007. ↑ "Peterborough 4-1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2007. ↑ Walker strike sinks pilgrims bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ Penalty heartbreak for Rovers bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ Club submit revised stadium plan BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2006 1 2 BBC Radio Bristol, 7 October 2006 ↑ Rovers chairman to leave position BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ Hodges joins to head up youth bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ The new King of the board bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2006 ↑ Welcome back Carl Saunders bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2006 ↑ Barrow launch probe into 'punch' BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2006. ↑ Chelsea compensation figures confirmed The Football League. Retrieved 2 February 2007. ↑ Wycombe 1–1 Chelsea BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2007. ↑ Memorial Stadium given go-ahead BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2007. ↑ Derby 1–0 Bristol Rovers BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2007. ↑ Bristol Rovers 1–0 Bristol City BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2007 ↑ Rovers appoint Ron Craig as chairman BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2007. 1 2 Bristol Rovers 2–3 Doncaster AET BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2007 ↑ Byron gets new two-year deal Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2007 ↑ Phillips signs new deal Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2007 ↑ Super Rickie does it again bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2007 1 2 3 4 5 "One deal, two offers, three leave". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007. ↑ "Campbell agrees extended stay". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2007. ↑ "We're Going to Wembley". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2007. ↑ "Pirates set sail for League One". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2007. ↑ "Whaddon Road to become home". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2007. ↑ "Three more years for Steve". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2007. ↑ "2006–07". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2007. ↑ "Bristol R 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack (2007). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008. London: Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-1664-9. ↑ "Club stats". BBC Sport. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2007. ↑ "Transfers - July 2006". BBC Sport. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ "Igoe finally a Pirate". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ "Pirates tie up Anthony deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ Lambert delighted at Rovers move BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ Bristol Rovers sign loan striker BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006 ↑ Happy Easter for Rovers bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2006 ↑ Rovers keep Easter for December BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2006 ↑ Pirates land Baggies' Nicholson BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2006. ↑ Rovers extend Nicholson loan deal BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2006. ↑ West Brom recall Pirates loanee BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2007. ↑ "Nicholson is high on Gas". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2007. ↑ Jacobson bolsters Gas defence bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2007 ↑ Sam the Man Joins on Loan bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2007 ↑ Oji signs for a further month bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2007 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Seven youngsters get deals". bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2007. ↑ "Forest complete signing of Agogo". BBC Sport. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006. ↑ "Transfers - September 2006". BBC Sport. 29 September 2006. Archived from the original on 1 June 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ "Around the Southern League". This is Wiltshire. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ Shrewsbury take Shearer on loan BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2006 ↑ Shearer loan extended by Shrews BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2007 ↑ "Around the Southern League". This is Wiltshire. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2007. ↑ Losing Start for Barnes bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2006. ↑ Grimsby Hunt Down James bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2007. ↑ Grimsby extend Hunt's loan deal BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2007. ↑ Robbie Ryan Leaves Rovers bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2007. ↑ "Welling recruit three defenders". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007. ↑ Grimsby give Hunt permanent deal bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2007 ↑ Shearer agrees to Wycombe switch bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2007 ↑ "Salisbury sign ex-Rovers defender". BBC Sport. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2007. ↑ "Torquay sign ex-Pirates youngster". BBC Sport. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 2007/8 forecast". Square Football. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007. ↑ "League 2 play-off preview". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 June 2007. ↑ "Barker narrowly misses out". Hartlepool United Official website. Retrieved 28 July 2007. ↑ "Powerade players of the month 2006/2007". The Football League. Archived from the original on 14 October 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2007. ↑ "Trollope earns managerial honour". BBC Sport. 3 May 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007. ↑ "Golden Gloves for Phillips". Vital Football. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007. 1 2 "Player of the year awards". Jeff Davis Photographic Ltd. Retrieved 27 May 2007.