It was a campaign that went against all logic and reason. Yes, mad things happen in football, it’s all part of the appeal but while the events of May 7 proved completely astounding, it’s what had led Bristol Rovers to that point that was bewildering.
Joey Barton ripped up the copybook, rewrote it and reprinted it over the course of the campaign, and while the first draft was ropey to say the least, by the time the season turned from 2021 into 2022, a masterpiece was forming.
It was almost as if the Gas had given the rest of the league a head start (they didn’t, of course) and had the season been extended by another five games, you’d have to say Rovers would have more than likely finished as League Two champions.
But promotion was more than enough and as Gasheads exhale following a truly bonkers nine months it allows us to reflect and review and start to take a look as to what’s ahead. We spoke to five Rovers fans to try and find some sense from the season and what their initial thoughts are for the transfer window and beyond…
Firstly, have you gotten over the final day of the season and where does it rank among your best moments from supporting Rovers?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): Still watching it at least once a day! It’s a very strong second place for me, I can’t imagine anything beating the 3-0 win against City in 1990 in my lifetime.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): I only just keep watching videos from the day, and I'm enjoying watching play-offs without any stress.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): Just about! It certainly took a while to come down from the ecstasy that day created. It still feels somewhat surreal. I spent the following days reliving it through a mountain of pictures and videos. It was an exceptional time! I was with my 13-year-old son, and as we left the Mem I told him to hold onto the feeling, it’s what football is all about.
I’ve followed Rovers for 40 years - up and definitely down - and this is right up there with the very best. It’s always difficult to rank the great moments, as they are all ‘of the moment’ but it has to be one of my greatest times, up there with Lee Brown’s goal, the Wembley play-off win against Grimsby, which was, personally, very special, and the win at Twerton against City to get promotion. Having said that, to score seven and to secure promotion on goals scored, with the way the season began, probably makes it the best.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): I still can't get over the final day of the season because it was the first time in years I was able to watch the team I love get promoted from a distance, on iFollow. For me, watching live a game is a the closest I could get to the team and the excitement I experienced with Anderson's goal that day is something I will never forget.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): Sadly I wasn't actually able to attend the final day, so it was a day of mixed emotions. Whilst I was obviously ecstatic at the promotion, I couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy at the thousands of Gasheads celebrating down Gloucester Road. With that being said, I still have not quite comprehended the day fully, it was pure madness. It is right up there for me.
What was the most important factor behind Rovers' form turning around the midway point of the season?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): Two things for me: Obviously the signings of Elliott Anderson and James Connolly, but also the appointment of Kevin Bond to the back room staff seemed to ease the burden on Joey Barton.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): Changing to one holding midfielder and pushing Antony Evans and Sam Finley forward in front of Paul Coutts.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): Despite the early season form, there was a togetherness that existed between players and manager that was infectious. There were obviously some murmurings from fans, understandably, but the majority still seemed to be behind what Joey was trying to do.
The sheer bloody mindedness of Joey, keeping on with his determination that we would get promoted despite what looked forlorn. The Covid break didn’t do us any harm, the players were fresh and a couple of confidence building results, coupled with what turned out to be inspired signings in January, brought a new togetherness that grew and grew. We simply started playing with a belief that we wouldn’t or couldn’t be beaten, and even when the bumps came, the belief remained.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): For me, the union of the team, coaching staff and board in a totally adverse context due to poor results in the first part of the season is what made the Gas achieve promotion.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): For me it was the loan signings of Connolly and Anderson. I think if you look at the defensive solidity that sprung from Connolly's partnership with Taylor, something that had been holding back Rovers all year, it was vital to the upturn in form. I also think if you look at the contributions from Elliot Anderson in terms of important moments, he really moved Rovers from a play-off chasing side to one with real ambitions of the top three.
What is your verdict on the job done by Joey Barton this season?*
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): I'll confess that I thought he was finished after the defeat against Swindon, but football-wise he has totally turned it around, and brought back a lot of pride in the shirt and the club amongst the players. A good job so far.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): I've a lways been behind Barton and always thought he would get it right. He’s done a brilliant job on and off the pitch there seems to be a good connection between the club and the fans.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): It has been nothing short of remarkable. His belief that we would be successful from the very start looked somewhat bizarre at Christmas, but no one thinks it’s bizarre now.
Joey has done a fantastic job, he’s generated an incredible team spirit, in a team he has put together. The feel good feeling he has created permeates throughout the club and is wonderful to see. He’s given us back a club to be proud of that 12 months ago would have been hard to believe. For that alone he has to be congratulated, and celebrated.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): I think he's done very successful job. It's not easy to change all of a team and achieve promotion in a year. Like he said, it took only a couple of transfer windows to produce a good functioning team when at Fleetwood it took him two years. Just wonderful. A top-class manager in the making.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): I think you have to applaud the job he has done. It is no easy feat to effectively overhaul the majority of a pathetic squad, replace it and build such a fantastically spirited and gifted team. Yes, we had a poor season, but he always said he would get us immediately promoted, and he delivered on his word.
Excluding the final day, what was your highlight of the season?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): Oxford in the FA Cup replay - it proved we could play good football and hold our own against the better teams. Season-changing match, in my humble opinion.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): Has to be Rochdale away although I could of picked any away day out of the last four or five games.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): There are a number... I was at Port Vale. Winning 3-1 there felt like a real changing point. We were already on a charge but to make that kind of statement against a team flying high, was terrific. The atmosphere from fans and the reaction of the team at full-time will live long in the memory.
But, Rochdale away... I wasn’t there (son's football tour!) but was picking it up through social media etc. At 3-1 down I turned things off, even we weren’t coming back from that, season felt in the balance. I turned it back on at full-time to check the final score (the game hadn’t finished) and all hell broke out! That day it felt like destiny was pushing us on.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): The win against Oxford United in the FA Cup because it showed the team spirit that was starting to grow in the players and it gave us more confidence to face what was becoming an uphill season.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): Rochdale, for me. I think the fact that at various points in the day Rovers were in the top seven, then outside the play-offs made it so memorable. At 3-1 down with five minutes to go most Gasheads were fairly downbeat, but once the second goal went in the feeling of belief was palpable and the scenes when the winner went in are perhaps the best I have seen as a fan. Ryan Loft's goal at Vale comes close as well.
Who is your player of the season?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): James Belshaw - came to the club as a back up for Anssi Jaakkola, took his chance with both hands and ended up up there with Steve Phillips in the top three Rovers keepers I’ve seen in 45 years. Great organiser of the defence as well.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): Paul Coutts - since he got himself match fit he hasn’t put a foot wrong. A proper leader.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): Another tough one, so many candidates: Collins, Evans, Connolly, Taylor, Coutts, Anderson (both of them), but for me Belshaw takes it. He has saved us so many points, but mainly I think he typifies the positivity of the team.
He arrived as back-up, told us he was here to play, and boy oh boy did he. He took his chance so well and rightly earned the number one berth. His relationship with us fans, his determination and his attitude all round moves him just ahead of the rest of the team.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): Undoubtedly the player of the season is James Belshaw. He was a wall and help us to not lose more points. Without him this season would have been totally different. A true legend for the team and fans.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): I t is hard to look past Belshaw. He has been the bedrock of the Rovers defence all season and I think the type of character he is really benefits the squad.
What do you think the manager's transfer priorities should be for next season and why?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): First and foremost, getting Antony Evans to sign a contract. I would say a central defender and a left-back, also for Barton to use his contacts to secure the best young talent from the higher leagues.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): A pair of centre-halves given Alfie Kilgour and Nick Anderton are the only senior centre-backs we own.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): It would b e great to have the loan players back. Getting our players onto contracts is a priority. Central defence is an obvious gap that needs filling, and also a potential partner up front. Overall, we need to look at the depth of our squad to tackle League One. It’s a tough league, some big clubs in it and we need depth to deal with it.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): 1 ) Centre-backs - with Connolly, Taylor and Cian Harries leaving the club, its clear that we need to bring at least two or three centre-backs. I hope Connolly and Taylor could return, they were amazing together. 2) A right-back - I know it wasn't the idea of Joey to play with four at the back but Luca Hoole is the only natural right-back that we actually have. Another would be perfect to improve him and compete for the spot.
3) Winger - with Luke Thomas returning to Barnsley, I think that a new winger is needed. 4) Midfielder - we need to bring two more player to this area, especially with Elliot Anderson and Glenn Whelan leaving the club and the uncertainty of what is going to happen to Evans. I think that a attacking and a defensive midfielder are needed.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): I think with the potential of both starting centre-backs going (and not coming back), Barton obviously needs to reinforce this area of the team. I would also like to see him bring in a proven goal scorer to compliment Collins up top, but we all know how hard that is to do. Other than that, I would be keen to see him bring in cover for Hoole and maybe an upgrade in the left-back position.
What are your hopes for the Gas in League One next season?
Gary Marks (@garylmarks): The same as they were at the start of this season - a top 10 finish with a shout at making the play-offs. Anything else is a bonus, and will be until we have a decent stadium.
Craig Wood (@Wooder85): Top half and another late push for the play-offs.
Kevin Loud (@GasheadKev): Given the players we have, I would like us to be aiming for top 10. The bounce that comes from promotion needs to be utilised and maximised. There’s a feel good feeling that we need to use and can play in our favour.
Juan Battistin (@Juanbattistin21): I believe that, with a proper transfer window and with Antony Evans, Sam Nicholson and Trevor Clarke on the team, the Gas could make it to the play-offs.
Fred Welsman (@RoversReport): I think there is no reason we shouldn't be looking to push for play-offs with a few good additions. However, I would happily take mid-table obscurity.
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