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The 2007–08 season was the 125th season of football played by Bristol Rovers, and their 81st in the Football League. During this season Rovers played in Coca-Cola League One of the Football League, the third level of football in England, and had a remarkable cup run which saw them equal a club record by reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The Pirates were newcomers to League One this year, having been promoted from League Two at the end of the previous season via the Playoffs. Although the season began slowly, much like the last season, a fine run of results in January and February saw them within touching distance of the playoffs. Unfortunately, the good form evaporated following elimination from the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage, at the hands of West Bromwich Albion. Doncaster Rovers were the only team to beat the Gas between Christmas 2007 and the FA Cup defeat on 9 March 2008, but after that game they wouldn't win again for another month and a half. After the FA Cup defeat they would win just once more in the remainder of the season, resulting in a 16th place finish in the league.

The club's run of one win in their last 16 games saw them drop from a position where they would be in a play-off position if they won their games in hand to finishing 23 points below 6th place.

Squad[]

Thirty-six players were in the first-team squad during the course of the 2007-08 season, three of whom were loanees. Of the thirty-six, twenty-six of them made it onto the pitch for at least one first-team match. Ten players made their Rovers debuts this season, these were Andy Williams, David Pipe, Danny Coles, Anthony Pulis, Tom Parrinello, Matt Groves, Josh Klein-Davies, Charlie Reece, Wayne Andrews and Charlie Clough.

No Nat Name Pos League FA Cup Carling Cup JP Trophy Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1 Eng Steve Phillips GK 46 0 8 0 2 0 1 0 57 0
2 Wal Ryan Green Def 12 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
3 Wal Joe Jacobson Def 40 1 7 0 2 0 0 0 49 1
4 Eng Sammy Igoe Mid 21 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 28 0
5 Eng Craig Hinton Def 24 2 8 3 0 0 1 0 33 5
6 Eng Steve Elliott Def 33 3 3 0 2 0 1 0 39 3
7 Sco Stuart Campbell Mid 46 0 7 0 2 0 1 0 56 0
8 Eng Andy Williams Fwd 41 4 8 1 2 1 1 0 52 6
9 Eng Rickie Lambert Fwd 46 13 8 6 2 0 1 0 57 19
10 Eng Richard Walker Fwd 24 4 4 0 2 0 1 0 31 4
11 Eng Chris Carruthers Def 17 0 4 0 2 0 1 0 24 0
13 Eng Mike Green GK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Wal David Pipe Mid 40 2 7 0 2 0 1 0 50 2
15 Wal Byron Anthony Def 20 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 23 1
16 Eng Danny Coles Def/Mid 24 1 6 2 0 0 0 0 30 3
17 Eng Andy Sandell Mid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Wal Anthony Pulis Mid 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
18 Eng Chris Lines Mid 27 2 8 0 0 0 1 0 36 2
19 Eng Sean Rigg Mid/Fwd 31 1 5 0 1 0 1 0 38 1
20 Eng Craig Disley Mid 44 6 6 2 2 1 0 0 52 9
21 Eng Tom Parrinello Def 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
22 Eng James Palmer Mid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 Wal Ryan Paddock Def 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 Eng Alex Kite Def 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 Eng Tom Godsell Def 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 Wal Lewis Haldane Mid/Fwd 32 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 38 1
27 Eng Matt Groves Fwd 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
28 Eng Adam Mahdi Mid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 Wal Josh Klein-Davies Fwd 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
30 Eng Charlie Reece Mid 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
31 Eng Charlie Clough Mid 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
32 Eng Aaron Lescott Def 34 0 7 0 2 0 0 0 43 0
33 Eng Steve Book GK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 Eng James Fraser Mid/Fwd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 Eng Wayne Andrews Fwd 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
- Nir Jeff Hughes Def/Mid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kit[]

Kit-2007-08

Bristol Rovers team kit for the 2007-08 season. Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.


The team kit for the 2007-08 season was manufactured by Errea, and the main sponsor was Cowlin Construction. The secondary shirt sponsor was Blackthorn, having replaced ALD Automotive on the backs of the players jerseys.

The away kit consisted of green shirts and black shorts, and no third kit was used.

Match results[]

Pre-season[]

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
20 July Bath City Away 5-2 1,233 Igoe (2), Lescott, Walker, Rigg
24 July Dunfermline Athletic Away 2-2 1,118 Lambert, Walker (pen)
26 July Cowdenbeath Away 2-1 293 Rose (trialist), Walker
28 July Airdrie United Away 2-2 1,646 Walker, Lambert
31 July West Bromwich Albion Home 3-3 3,221 Lambert (3)
4 August Plymouth Argyle Away 3-7 4,180 Lescott, Pipe, Hinton

Five matches were also arranged featuring a Bristol Rovers XI, consisting of reserves, youth players and trialists, all of which were played away from home. The opponents, results and scorers were as follows: Chippenham Town (lost 2-0), Weston-super-Mare (drew 1-1, Adam Mahdi), Newport County (won 4-2, Josh Klein-Davies (penalty), Sean Rigg (2), Danny Rose (trialist)), Bridgwater Town (lost 4-2, Josh Klein-Davies (pen), Charlie Clough) and Clevedon Town (won 2-0, Craig Hinton, Andy Sandell).

The match against Newport County was officially an away fixture, but was played at Clevedon Town's Hand Stadium. The game was originally due to be held at Gloucester City's Meadow Park, but had to be moved after the pitch was flooded.

Season[]

Date Competition Opponent Venue Score Goalscorers
Sat 11 August League One Port Vale Away 1-1 Williams
Tue 14 August Carling Cup Crystal Palace Home 1-1
4-1 pens
Disley
Sat 18 August League One Crewe Alexandra Home 1-1 Disley
Sat 25 August League One Oldham Athletic Away 1-0 Jacobson
Tue 28 August Carling Cup West Ham United Home 1-2 Williams
Sat 1 September League One Nottingham Forest Home 2-2 Anthony, Walker (pen)
Sat 8 September League One Luton Town Away 2-1 Lambert (2)
Fri 14 September League One Leeds United Home 0-3 -
Sat 22 September League One Carlisle United Away 1-1 Elliott
Sat 29 September League One Leyton Orient Home 2-3 Walker (2 pens)
Tue 2 October League One Southend United Home 1-1 Walker (pen)
Sat 6 October League One Brighton & Hove Albion Away 0-0 -
Tue 9 October Johnstone's Paint Trophy AFC Bournemouth Home 0-1 -
Fri 12 October League One Hartlepool United Away 0-1 -
Sat 20 October League One Yeovil Town Home 1-1 Elliott
Sat 27 October League One Gillingham Away 2-3 Lambert, Pipe
Sat 3 November League One AFC Bournemouth Home 0-2 -
Tue 6 November League One Northampton Town Away 1-0 Lambert
Sat 10 November FA Cup Leyton Orient Away 1-1 Lambert
Sat 17 November League One Millwall Home 2-1 Lambert (pen), Haldane
Tue 20 November FA Cup Leyton Orient Home Postponed - Waterlogged pitch
Sat 24 November League One Swindon Town Away 0-1 -
Tue 27 November FA Cup Leyton Orient Home 3-3
6-5 pens
Hinton, Lambert (pen), Disley
Sat 1 December FA Cup Rushden & Diamonds Home 5-1 Williams, Disley, Hinton, Lambert (2)
Wed 5 December League One Cheltenham Town Home Postponed - Waterlogged pitch
Sat 8 December League One Swansea City Home Postponed - Waterlogged pitch
Sat 15 December League One Huddersfield Town Away 1-2 Pipe
Sat 22 December League One Leeds United Away 0-1 -
Wed 26 December League One Luton Town Home 1-1 Lambert
Sat 29 December League One Carlisle United Home 3-0 Williams (2)[1], Hinton
Tue 1 January League One Southend United Away 1-0 Williams
Sun 6 January FA Cup Fulham Away 2-2 Coles, Hinton
Fri 11 January League One Tranmere Rovers Away 2-0 Williams, Lambert
Wed 15 January FA Cup Fulham Home Postponed - Dangerous playing conditions
Sat 19 January League One Walsall Home 1-1 Disley
Tue 22 January FA Cup Fulham Home 0-0
5-3 pens
-
Sat 26 January FA Cup Barnet Away 1-0 Lambert
Tue 29 January League One Crewe Alexandra Away 1-1 Ben Williams (og)
Sat 2 February League One Port Vale Home 3-2 Coles, Lines, Lambert (pen)
Tue 5 February League One Cheltenham Town Home 2-0 Hinton, Lambert
Sat 9 February League One Doncaster Rovers Away 0-2 -
Tue 12 February League One Oldham Athletic Home 1-0 Disley
Sat 16 February FA Cup Southampton Home 1-0 Lambert
Sat 23 February League One Tranmere Rovers Home 1-1 Disley
Sat 1 March League One Millwall Away 1-0 Disley
Tue 4 March League One Doncaster Rovers Home 0-1 -
Sun 9 March FA Cup West Bromwich Albion Home 1-5 Coles
Wed 12 March League One Northampton Town Home 1-1 Rigg
Sat 15 March League One Cheltenham Town Away 0-1 -
Tue 18 March League One Swansea City Home 0-2 -
Sat 22 March League One Huddersfield Town Home 2-3 Klein-Davies, Lines
Mon 24 March League One Swansea City Away 2-2 Lambert, Disley
Sat 29 March League One Yeovil Town Away 0-0 -
Sat 5 April League One Hartlepool United Home 0-0 -
Tue 8 April League One Nottingham Forest Away 1-1 Elliott[2]
Sat 12 April League One AFC Bournemouth Away 1-2 Lambert
Tue 15 April League One Walsall Away 1-0 Lambert
Sat 19 April League One Gillingham Home 1-1 Elliott
Tue 22 April League One Swindon Town Home 0-1 -
Sat 26 April League One Brighton & Hove Albion Home 0-2 -
Sat 3 May League One Leyton Orient Away 1-3 Lambert

Transfers[]

Eight players had been added to the first-team squad at the end of the 2006-07 season, with the promotion of seven scholars from the Bristol Academy of Sport, as well as former Bristol City youth player Josh Klein-Davies joining the club. Three more players were to join the club before the season kicked off. Joe Jacobson, who had been on loan at Rovers the previous season, made the switch permanent with a free transfer from Cardiff City. Some money was splashed out on Andy Williams and David Pipe, who joined from Hereford United and Notts County. All three of these newcomers signed three-year contracts, and shortly after the start of the season former England schoolboy international James Fraser also signed for the club.

Former Bristol City player Danny Coles joined Rovers on loan from Hull City before making the move permanent during the transfer window in January, and three more players arrived on loan before the end of the season – Anthony Pulis, Wayne Andrews and Jeff Hughes. All three of these players headed back to their parent clubs before the end of their loans however with season-ending injuries.

Legend
Permanent transfer
Loan signing
Players transferred in
Date Player Nation Previous club Contract Fee
5 July Joe Jacobson Wal Wales Cardiff City 3 years Free
5 July Andy Williams Eng England Hereford United 3 years Undisclosed[3]
10 July David Pipe Wal Wales Notts County 3 years £50,000
14 August James Fraser Eng England Worthing 6 months Free
1 November Danny Coles Eng England Hull City 3 months Loan
8 January Danny Coles Eng England Hull City 2.5 years Undisclosed
8 February Anthony Pulis Wal Wales Stoke City 3 months Loan
27 March Wayne Andrews Eng England Coventry City 2 months Loan
27 March Jeff Hughes Nir Northern Ireland Crystal Palace 2 months Loan
6 June Jeff Hughes Nir Northern Ireland Crystal Palace 3 years £120,000

During the course of the 2007-08 season six players left the club permanently and six were loaned out. Andy Sandell and James Palmer both went out on loan early in the season, to Salisbury and Tiverton respectively, and the same two players both parted company with the club shortly afterwards. Sandell stayed on at Salisbury, signing a three-year contract, and Palmer was released, later signing for Weston-super-Mare. Three of the younger members of the squad went out on loan later on, Josh Klein-Davies, James Fraser, Matt Groves and Sammy Igoe, who had already been told that he was to be released at the end of the season. When the season came to a close Chris Carruthers joined Igoe in being released at the end of his contract. Two more players were also released at the end of the season before ever making their debuts for the club; Tom Godsell and Ryan Paddock.

Players transferred out
Date Player Nation New club Contract Fee
17 August Andy Sandell Eng England Salisbury City 1 month Loan
17 August James Palmer Eng England Tiverton Town 1 month Loan
31 August Andy Sandell Eng England Salisbury City 3 years Undisclosed
10 November James Palmer Eng England Weston-super-Mare Unknown Released
16 November Josh Klein-Davies Wal Wales Yate Town 1 month Loan
28 December James Fraser Eng England Tiverton Town 3 months Loan
7 March Matt Groves Eng England Chippenham Town 2 months Loan
27 March Sammy Igoe Eng England Hereford United 2 months Loan
30 June Chris Carruthers Eng England Oxford United Released
30 June Tom Godsell Eng England Released
30 June Sammy Igoe Eng England AFC Bournemouth 1 year Released
30 June Ryan Paddock Wal Wales Weston-super-Mare Released

In addition to the players listed, coach Kevin Hodges was released from his position as Head of Youth at the club at the end of the season. The club cited Hodges' unwillingness to relocate to the Bristol area as a contributing factor in the decision.

Statistics[]

Goalscorers[]

The top goalscorer so for in the 2007-08 season is Rickie Lambert, who has a total of 18 goals in all competitions, and is the only player in double figures for the season

Name League Cups Total
Rickie Lambert 13 6 19
Craig Disley 6 3 9
Andy Williams 5 2 7
Craig Hinton 2 3 5
Richard Walker 4 0 4
Steve Elliott 4 0 4
Danny Coles 1 2 3
Chris Lines 2 0 2
David Pipe 2 0 2
Lewis Haldane 1 0 1
Byron Anthony 1 0 1
Josh Klein-Davies 1 0 1
Sean Rigg 1 0 1
Joe Jacobson 1 0 1
Own goal by opposition 1 0 1

The own goal was scored by Ben Williams, the Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper, in the 1-1 draw at Alexandra Stadium.

Discipline[]

Richard Walker Red YellowYellowYellow
Steve Elliott Red
Stuart Campbell YellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellow
Craig Disley YellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellow
Joe Jacobson YellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellow
Lewis Haldane YellowYellowYellowYellowYellowYellow
Chris Carruthers YellowYellowYellowYellowYellow
Steve Phillips YellowYellowYellowYellow
Danny Coles YellowYellowYellow
Ryan Green YellowYellowYellow
Craig Hinton YellowYellowYellow
Aaron Lescott YellowYellowYellow
Byron Anthony YellowYellow
Rickie Lambert Yellow
Chris Lines Yellow
David Pipe Yellow
Anthony Pulis Yellow
Andy Williams Yellow

League table[]

The final table for Coca-Cola League One is given below. Rovers finished the year in 16th position.

Coca-Cola League One 2007/08
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Swansea City 46 27 11 8 82 42 40 92
2 Nottingham Forest 46 22 16 8 64 32 32 82
3 Doncaster Rovers 46 23 11 12 65 41 24 80
4 Carlisle United 46 23 11 12 64 46 18 80
5 Leeds United** 46 27 10 9 72 38 34 76
6 Southend United 46 22 10 14 70 55 15 76
7 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 19 12 15 58 50 8 69
8 Oldham Athletic 46 18 13 15 58 46 12 67
9 Northampton Town 46 17 15 14 60 55 5 66
10 Huddersfield Town 46 20 6 20 50 62 -12 66
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 18 11 17 52 47 5 65
12 Walsall 46 16 16 14 52 46 6 64
13 Swindon Town 46 16 13 17 63 56 7 61
14 Leyton Orient 46 16 12 18 49 63 -14 60
15 Hartlepool United 46 15 9 22 63 66 -3 54
16 Bristol Rovers 46 12 17 17 45 53 -8 53
17 Millwall 46 14 10 22 45 60 -15 52
18 Yeovil Town 46 14 10 22 38 59 -21 52
19 Cheltenham Town 46 13 12 21 42 64 -22 51
20 Crewe Alexandra 46 12 14 20 47 65 -18 50
21 AFC Bournemouth* 46 17 7 22 62 72 -10 48
22 Gillingham 46 11 13 22 44 73 -29 46
23 Port Vale 46 9 11 26 47 81 -34 38
24 Luton Town* 46 11 10 25 43 63 -20 33

*AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town were both given ten-point deductions as punishment for going into administration.

**Leeds United deducted 15 points.

Awards[]

Player of the year[]

Young player of the year[]

Women's team[]

For full details of the women's team's season, see 2007-08/Women.

The women's team played in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, the top flight of women's football in England, and they ended the season with their best ever league placing in fourth. The majority of their success in the past has come in cup competitions, and this season saw disappointing performances as far as cup competitions go, falling at the first hurdle in the FA Women's Cup and losing at the second time of asking in the Premier League Cup. They did not enter the Gloucestershire FA Women's Challenge Cup this season, a competition that they had only failed to win on one occasion since the team's formation.

Reserves[]

For full details of the reserve team's season, see 2007-08/Reserves.

The reserves played this season in the Football Combination, Wales & West division. The team finished in eighth place out of ten teams, with five wins, four draws and nine defeats. At the end of the season the club decided to withdraw the reserve team from the league, and will only play friendly matches in future.

Notes[]

  1. One of Andy Williams's goals in the Carlisle United home game was originally credited to Chris Lines. Williams was the official goalscorer however.
  2. Rovers' goal in the away game against Nottingham Forest was scored by Steve Elliott, although it was initially credited to Rickie Lambert by the Press Association.
  3. Andy Williams was transferred for an undisclosed fee, which is known to have been a six-figure sum.
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