A promising summer for Bristol Rovers

The Gas go into the new season with a record signing in attack

Jul 26, 2024

Friday 26 July 2024

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STOCKPORT COUNTY PREDICTION GAME 2024-25: Predict County’s top scorer, final league position, cup performances etc. £10 to enter. 40% of the pot to the winner, 30% to second, 20% to third, and 10% to Mentell. If you’d like to enter, drop us a message or an email.

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Bristol Rovers supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Jack Davies joins us today as we take a closer look at Bristol Rovers ahead of the new season.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Covent Garden Café. A big thank you to Mark and Becca.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £1,966

Total completed streets so far: 399 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Bristol Rovers have broken their transfer record this summer with Promise Omochere joining for a fee in the region of £500,000 (Photo credit: Bristol Rovers FC)

Last win at our place: Saturday 20 December 2008, League One, 3-1

Last win at their place: Saturday 25 November 1995, Division Two, 3-1

Today’s Sky Bet title/promotion odds: Us – 20/1 11/2 Them – 50/1 14/1

Top story in the local news today: M5 drivers warned over ‘weekend of woe’ amid summer getaway congestion fears

The general election is finally over and done with. What’s happened in Bristol? And which person at your football club do you think would make the best prime minister?

Bristol is not only blue and white… it's Green! A sprinkle of new Labour added as well, with the Tories sent the way of Joey Barton.

The PM would have to be our striker Chris Martin. No nonsense, knows his targets and hits them.

Nigel Farage has had cement and a milkshake chucked over him recently. If he was to do a lap of the Memorial Stadium on a Saturday afternoon, what would Bristol Rovers fans be most likely to throw at him?

I would say cider but there's no chance of our fans wasting such a precious commodity. Maybe the plastic cups once the cider is thoroughly down the hatchet.

If you had to compare the ownership and daily operations of your club to a political party, which would it be?

In recent years many would say it's been the Monster Raving Loony Party. But this summer feels different. A record signing, a lot of additions and stadium expansion possibilities – the change Labour promised.

On and off the pitch, what do you think your club’s manifesto should say for the next 12 months?

Challenge that top half as a bare minimum. Many fans will want and expect more, and more is certainly possible, but as a promise that can be delivered, challenging the top half is achievable. A nice cup run would not be sniffed at either.

Right, that’s enough political stuff. Next question. “We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you…?”

We’re that bloke down the pub who may seem like he'll ramble on and better left alone until you get to know him and you realise he's alright and worth a drink with.

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

Northampton or Birmingham. Our rivalry with Northampton has continued following our famous 7-0 win a few seasons ago, pipping them to automatic promotion on the final day. Birmingham because we've had to watch them spend £15m whilst we celebrate spending £500,000 for the first time in our history.

Which Bristol Rovers player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?

A lot of new additions make this trickier than it should be but Isaac Hutchinson looks the real deal. Excellent last season and will hopefully kick on for us.

County haven’t been to Bristol Rovers in the league since March 2010. In just one paragraph, sum up everything that’s happened at your place since then.

I promise you one paragraph doesn't really cut it, but I'll do my best in summary. Relegated to League Two, relegated to non-league by a team wearing our own away kit, then miraculous back-to-back promotions. Best striker sold to our biggest rivals. Relegated again before instantly winning promotion following a seven goal haul on the final day. It could be a novel.

Bristol Rovers away. I think of cider, Ian Holloway, and Bristol City’s smaller cousin. Do I need to educate myself further, or is that fairly accurate?

Cider and Holloway, yes. A better family analogy would be two brothers. One spoilt by family riches and the other kicked out aged 16 for not finding a job.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Stockport County?

Perhaps the only side with a crazier story than us in the last 15 years or so. An incredibly sad drop before an incredible recovery, and fans that have been richly deserved for sticking with the club through the hard times.

Rotherham play at the New York Stadium. NFL star Tom Brady is involved at Birmingham. Wrexham are plastered all over Netflix or Nickelodeon or whatever it is. League One has a bit of an American flavour this season. What’s the most American thing about Bristol Rovers?

The complaints that the hot food has ran out by half-time would be the only likeness to our friends across the pond I think!

I’ve been watching Football Cops on Channel 4 recently, featuring Sunderland fans kicking down barriers at Coventry, and loads of little Crewe rapscallions playing up at home to Walsall. On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty are Bristol Rovers fans these days, and how safe will our lot be when we make the trip to Bristol this season?

We have a reputation that is perhaps unfair. By and large we’re a very friendly bunch, especially as hosts. There have been incidents – following our relegation, the derby at Bristol City, our association with a disgraced former manager – but we’re often praised as entertaining and happy hosts.

Who or what needs to be top of Bristol Rovers’ shopping list before the new season starts in August?

For perhaps the first time in several years, a lot of our transfer work has been completed early. A dozen have joined already and only a few places realistically remain. Of the players linked, Will Evans of Newport would be pretty high on most people's list.

What’s your early predictions in terms of the promotion and relegation places?

I'm always naively optimistic but I feel like the recruitment has left me looking correct for this season. Top half pushing towards play-offs would be my aim.

Click on the links below to read the other 2024-25 season previews we’ve published so far.

Birmingham / Blackpool / Bolton / Cambridge / Charlton / Crawley / Exeter / Huddersfield / Leyton Orient / Lincoln / Mansfield / Northampton / Peterborough / Reading / Rotherham / Shrewsbury / Wigan / Wrexham / Wycombe

In need of a buffet?

Lots of The Scarf My Father Wore readers own their own business. If you’re ever in need of a buffet for an event, or if you’re welcoming clients, or even if you’re simply treating your staff to lunch one afternoon, get in touch with Covent Garden Café.

Their classic buffet costs just £8 per head, which includes a selection of sandwiches on fresh bakery bread, savoury pastries, crisps, cakes and fruit.

Or you can opt for their deluxe buffet at £12 a head, which also includes open/closed sandwiches and wraps on artisan breads, potato salad, pasta salad and bottles of still and sparkling water.

Covent Garden Café also offer a bespoke buffet service for you to create your own selection for any occasion.

For further information please call 0161 477 2665.

Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

It’s 14 weeks since County fans have seen a game at Edgeley Park, on the day we lifted the League Two championship trophy against Accrington. Tomorrow, we get to step inside the old place once again, with Stoke coming to town for a pre-season friendly.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Inside Out 2 (U) at 12.45pm, and Deadpool & Wolverine (15) at 3pm, 5.45pm and 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJs

CRAMP’d at AMP (SK1). DJ set by Jackie V. Free entry.

Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.

🍔 Food and drink

Treat yourself to lunch at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). One course for £7, two courses for £11. 12pm - 2pm.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as The Petersgate Tap (SK1), Thread (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5), The Railway (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Shady Oak (SK7), The Three Tunnes (SK7), The Railway (SK9), Flute & Firkin (SK12) or The Friendship (SK13).

🎵 Karaoke

Karaoke and DJ at The Marple Tavern (SK6). 7pm.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#74 – Vale Park, Port Vale

Last visit: August 2022. Our first game in the Papa John’s Trophy since returning to the Football League. A certain Chris Hussey scored the only goal of the game in the 64th minute.