• Founded: 1883
• Nicknames: The Pirates, The Gas
• Honours: Third Division (S)

Formed on the Stapleton Road in 1883, ‘Eastville Rovers’ went through a number of name changes prior to sticking with Bristol Rovers. In the 1888/89 season, The Pirates claimed the Gloucestershire Senior Cup before turning professional in 1897.  Rovers’ nickname derives from the infamous maritime history of the City, whereas ‘The Gas’ was adopted from the term used by rivals City, where Eastville Stadium laid next to a gasworks.

Bristol is one of Britain’s largest cities built heavily on its accessible waterways and sadistic past. The City was a major trade port for the British Isles during the 15^th and 16^th Centuries. At the height of the slave trade more than 2,000 ships sadly exported half a million people to work in America.

Bristol’s modern economy is built on the creative and aerodynamic industry with Airbus one of the largest employers on the Avon. One of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, Bristol was named the best city in Britain in which to live in 2014 and 2017, and won the European Green Capital Award in 2015. 

Rovers were an original member of the Third Division in 1920 and won the division in 1952/53, with their first Football League honour. The Pirates repeated the feat in 1989/90 and managed to reach the dizzying heights of Division 1 (modern Championship) in 1992. Rovers have a strange stat of the most players to have scored four goals in a single match, without a player scoring five. A staggering 12 players have completed a four-goal haul for the Gas including Sydney Leigh in 1921, against Exeter City, and a certain Jamie Cureton who netted four against Reading in 1999.  

In 2015, The Gas dropped out of the Football League but completed an immediate return, with a play-off win the following season, bouncing with back-to-back promotions. Last season Rovers stumbled to a measly 24th place finish.

Aaron McGowan’s stunning goal set Northampton on their way to a hard-fought victory over struggling Stevenage.

McGowan’s superb finish was added to by Mitch Pinnock early in the second half and those goals were enough to keep the Cobblers second in League Two.

The game was delayed after only two minutes when the sprinklers came on, soaking half of the pitch.

When play resumed after a short delay, Pinnock saw an early shot blocked before Northampton hit the front with a fabulous 18th-minute opener.

Louis Appere flicked on Bez Lubala’s cross and the fast-arriving McGowan unleashed a stunning half-volley that whistled into the bottom corner.

Northampton were comfortable in the opening half hour but Stevenage built momentum as half-time neared and they missed one clear chance to level when Elliot List fired over the angle of post and bar.

That miss looked all the more costly when Northampton doubled their lead through Pinnock’s powerful finish only four minutes into the second half.

Christy Pym denied Jack Sowerby and Jon Guthrie before Chris Lines halved the deficit when finishing off a well-worked move, but that came too late to avoid a ninth successive game without victory for Stevenage.

Elliot Anderson’s second-half goal was enough to give Bristol Rovers a 1-0 home win over Colchester and lift them into the League Two play-off zone.

The young midfielder, on loan from Newcastle, struck with a fierce right-footed shot from the left side of the box after 49 minutes to settle a closely-fought contest.

Colchester contributed plenty and attacked with menace in the second half, without coming up with a telling final ball.

Rovers had marginally the better of a low-key first half, Harry Anderson having an early shot blocked and Antony Evans seeing a free-kick from the edge of the box saved by Shemal George.

Evans also shot narrowly wide, while at the other end Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw dived to keep out a Noah Chilvers drive.

Both sides played better after the break. Tom Eastman had a header cleared off the line for Colchester from a 47th-minute corner.

Anderson forced a save from George at the end of a mazy run as Rovers defended strongly to protect their advantage.

Antony Evans netted a 59th-minute winner as Bristol Rovers came from behind to beat Northampton 2-1 in a feisty League Two clash at the Memorial Stadium.

Both sides could have netted in a lively opening to the game, Evans shooting wide from a good chance and Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw saving well from a Kion Etete volley at the other end.

The hosts were denied by the woodwork in the 33rd minute, Josh Grant firing against a post from Sam Finlay’s pass.

And the visitors took a 39th-minute lead when Connor Taylor fouled Paul Lewis inside the area and Sam Hoskins sent Belshaw the wrong way with a side-footed penalty.

But Grant levelled after 53 minutes with a powerful far-post header from Harry Anderson’s right-wing cross.

And just six minutes later Sam Nicholson forced a defensive error, allowing Evans to stride through and shoot low past Liam Roberts.

Rovers had midfielder Glenn Whelan sent off for a second booking after a 67th-minute foul on Mitch Pinnock but held out with few alarms

Oliver Langford has been appointed as the match official for Saturday’s clash at Sixfields. In League Two this season, Langford has officiated 3 games, where he has shown eight yellow cards and a single red card. Overall this season, he has taken charge of 30 matches and shown 120 yellow and two reds. 

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  Nik Tzanev
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