Bristol Rovers F.C. season 2006–07

Infobox Football club season
club = Bristol Rovers F.C.

season = 2006–07
manager = Paul Trollope
chairman = Geoff Dunford (until 1 April)
Ron Craig (from 2 April)
league = Football League Two
league result = 6th (promoted)
W:20 D:12 L:14 F:49 A:42
cup1 = FA Cup | cup1 result = Fourth Round
cup2 = Carling Cup | cup2 result = Second Round
cup3 = Johnstone's Paint Trophy | cup3 result = Runners-up
league topscorer = Richard Walker (12)
season topscorer = Richard Walker (23)
highest attendance = 11,530 (vs Bristol City, 27 February 2007)
lowest attendance = 2,672 (vs Torquay, 17 October 2006)
prevseason = 2005–06
nextseason = 2007–08

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 2006-07-01 to 2007-06-30. After finishing sixth in Coca-Cola League 2, 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.cite book |last=Byrne |first=Stephen |coauthors=Jay, Mike |title=Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883-2003 |year=2003 |publisher=Tempus |location=Stroud |isbn=0-7524-2717-2]

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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/5083186.stm Turl hits out at Bristol Rovers] BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006] [http://www.bristolroverssc.co.uk/News/1/Kim_Stuckey_Steps_Down_From_Board.html Kim Stuckey steps down from board] Bristol Rovers Supporters Club website. Retrieved 16 October 2006] 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 Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Review and events

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, followed shortly after by the Bristol Rovers Supporters Club representative on the football club's board, Kim Stuckey.

Ryan Green had signed for the club from Hereford United at the end of the previous season, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/5034268.stm |title=Rovers bag Bulls defender Green |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-08-17 |format=HTML] 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, [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/09/22/atkins_feature.shtml |title=Atkins sacked - your views |work=BBC Bristol |accessdate=2007-08-20 |format=HTML] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.gasheads.com/summer06.htm |title=2006 summer moves |work=Gasheads.com |accessdate=2007-08-17 |format=HTML]

The first game of the season was away to Peterborough United in League 2, and ended in a 4–1 defeat, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/5226908.stm |title=Peterborough 4-1 Bristol Rovers |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-08-21 |format=HTML] 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 a high-scoring one, 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 2 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. Richard Walker scored two of the goals and Sammy Igoe scored the other.

The Carling 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.

Chronological list of events

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2006–07 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section.

*28 July: Played a pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle wearing pink shirts. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~874153,00.html Walker strike sinks pilgrims] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006]
*22 August: Knocked out of the Carling Cup at the first round by Luton Town on penalties, having drawn the match 1–1. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~886648,00.html Penalty heartbreak for Rovers] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006]
*15 September: The club submit plans for a new 18,000-seat stadium to Bristol City Council. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/5348130.stm Club submit revised stadium plan] BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2006]
*27 September: Rovers record their first win in a home midweek evening game for almost two years. The 2–1 win over Hereford United was the first since beating Chester City 4–1 on 7 December 2004. This was also the first game this season where Rovers scored more than one goal in the match.BBC Radio Bristol, 7 October 2006]
*6 October: Chairman Geoff Dunford announces that he will step down from his position at the end of April 2007, but intends to remain as a director of the club. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/5412336.stm Rovers chairman to leave position] BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2006]
*7 October: Back to back home wins recorded for the first time since May 2005, thanks to a 1–0 win over Boston United following on from the victory over Hereford United the previous week.
*9 October: Kevin Hodges is appointed as head of youth football. He also takes charge of the reserve team as part of his duties. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~909208,00.html Hodges joins to head up youth] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2006]
*16 October: Rod King is appointed to the club's board of directors. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~913007,00.html The new King of the board] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2006]
*17 October: Former player Carl Saunders is appointed as the club's Community Liaison Officer. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~913078,00.html Welcome back Carl Saunders] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2006]
*11 November: Sean Rigg suffers a broken jaw after being punched by James Cotterill during an FA Cup first round match at Barrow. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6141196.stm Barrow launch probe into 'punch'] BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2006.]
*10 January: Rovers receive £50,000 as part of the deal taking Scott Sinclair to Chelsea [ [http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~738992,00.html Chelsea compensation figures confirmed] The Football League. Retrieved 2 February 2007.] after he makes his debut for the London club. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6236711.stm Wycombe 1-1 Chelsea] BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2007.]
*17 January: Bristol City Council grant planning permission for a new 18,000 capacity all-seater stadium to be built on the site of the Memorial Stadium. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6272765.stm Memorial Stadium given go-ahead] BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2007.]
*27 January: Rovers knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Derby County. [ [http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6282171.stm Derby 1-0 Bristol Rovers] BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2007.]
*27 February: Rovers reach the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy by beating rivals Bristol City 1–0 on aggregate over the two legs of the southern area final. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6397375.stm Bristol Rovers 1-0 Bristol City] BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2007]
*29 March: Rovers announce that Ron Craig will succeed Geoff Dunford as chairman of the club from 2 April 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/6506009.stm Rovers appoint Ron Craig as chairman] BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2007.]
*1 April: Rovers are beaten 3–2 (after extra time) by Doncaster Rovers in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6514043.stm Bristol Rovers 2-3 Doncaster AET] BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2007]
*21 April: Byron Anthony signed a new 2-year contract with Rovers, tying him to the club until the end of the 2008-09 season. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1014047,00.html Byron gets new two-year deal] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2007]
*30 April: Steve Phillips signs a two-year extension to his contract, which was due to expire in summer 2008. This keeps him at the club until 2010. [ [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=464111&CPID=12&clid=96&lid=6&title=Phillips+signs+new+deal&channel=& Phillips signs new deal] Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2007]
*5 May: Rovers finish the season in 6th place, earning a spot in the playoffs. [ [http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1021432,00.html Super Rickie does it again] bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2007]
*11 May: Mike Green and James Palmer were offered new contracts. [cite web |url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1024052,00.html |title=One deal, two offers, three leave |accessdate=2007-05-11 |format=HTML |work=bristolrovers.co.uk ]
*16 May: Stuart Campbell signs a new two-year contract. [cite web |url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1026116,00.html |title=Campbell agrees extended stay |accessdate=2007-05-16 |format=HTML |work=bristolrovers.co.uk ]
*17 May: Rovers beat Lincoln City 5–3 at Sincil Bank to win 7–4 on aggregate and reach their second major final of the season, the League 2 play-off final. [cite web |url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1026896,00.html |title=We're Going to Wembley |accessdate=2007-05-19 |format=HTML |work=bristolrovers.co.uk ] It was their first appearance at the new Wembley Stadium. Rovers became only the second club to play at both the Millennium Stadium and Wembley in one season behind Chelsea who played the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium on 25 February 2007 and played the FA Cup final on 19 May 2007.
*26 May: Rovers beat Shrewsbury Town 3–1 in the Football League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium to clinch promotion to League One. Richard Walker scored two goals and Sammy Igoe one after having gone 1–0 down. A record crowd for a League Two playoff final of 61,589 watched the game. [cite web|url=http://home.skysports.com/matchreport.aspx?fxid=319378&CPID=12&channel=|title=Pirates set sail for League One|work=Sky Sports|accessdate=2007-05-27|format=HTML]
*5 June: The club announce that the first team will play their home games at Whaddon Road in Cheltenham while the Memorial Stadium is being redeveloped. The move is due to happen in December 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1032901,00.html|title=Whaddon Road to become home|accessdate=2007-06-05|format=HTML|work=bristolrovers.co.uk]
*21 June: Steve Elliott signs a new three-year contract, running until June 2010. [cite web|url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10328~1056021,00.html|title = Three more years for Steve|work = bristolrovers.co.uk|format=HTML|accessdate=2007-06-21]

Match results

Bristol Rovers played a total of 62 competitive matches during the 2006–07 season,cite web|url=http://www.bristolrovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/Squad/Fixtures/0,,10328~2006,00.html|title=2006-07|work=bristolrovers.co.uk|accessdate=2007-06-30|format=HTML] 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.

In the cup competitions, Rovers were knocked out of the Carling 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 Johnstone's Paint Trophy, in which they reached the final for the first time since the 1989–90 competition. They were beaten by Doncaster Rovers after extra time at the Millennium Stadium.

Legend

FA Cup

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. [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=388|title=Bristol R 2006/2007 player appearances|work=Soccerbase|accessdate=2007-05-25|format=HTML]

Goalscorers

Fourteen different players scored for the Rovers first team in 2006–07. The team scored 74 goals in all competitions during the course of the season. The top goalscorer was Richard Walker, who finished the season on 23 goals.cite book |last=Rollin |first=Glenda |coauthors=Rollin, Jack |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007-2008 |year=2007 |publisher=Headline |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-1664-9 ]

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.

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. [cite web|url=http://home.skysports.com/column.aspx?lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Chris_Kamara&hlid=465861&cpid=12&channel=|title=League 2 play-off preview|work=Sky Sports|accessdate=2007-06-28|format=HTML] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10326~1024172,00.html|title=Barker narrowly misses out|work=Hartlepool United Official website|accessdate=2007-07-28|format=HTML] 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.

ee also

*2006-07 in English football

References

succession box
before=2005-06
title=Bristol Rovers seasons
years=2006-07
after=2007-08