Following their third-placed finish in League Two last season, Bristol Rovers will make their return to League One in the upcoming 2016-17 campaign.
The Gas moved into the last automatic promotion spot on the final day of the 2016-17 season, following a last gasp winner from Lee Brown against Dagenham & Redbridge, resulting in them pipping Accrington Stanley to third position.Results were mixed in the first half of the season for Rovers, but it was their form towards the climax of the campaign which ultimately saw them edge out Stanley, with a run of eight wins out of 11 throughout the months of March, April and May.
Striker Matty Taylor’s goals were an integral part of the Gas’ rise up the league table, as the 26-year-old got on the scoresheet 28 times in the campaign - form which has attracted interest from those higher up the English footballing pyramid. It wasn’t only Taylor who weighed in with goals though, as fellow frontman Billy Bodin found the net 13 times and Jermaine Easter’s eight strikes proved vital too.
Manager Darrell Clarke has been in charge at the Memorial Stadium for just over two years, and having been unable to prevent relegation to the Conference in his first season, he guided the club back to the Football League at the first attempt and continued to impress with back-to-back promotions as a result of last season’s third placed finish. Clarke recently signed a new three-year deal with the club, turning down interest from Leeds United in the process.
Clarke has reinforced his squad with two signings so far, with Peter Hartley joining from Plymouth Argyle and Byron Moore arriving from Port Vale, both on free transfers.
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