Latest news with #DarrellClarke
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bristol Rovers sign midfielder Howley after trial
Bristol Rovers have signed former Coventry City midfielder Ryan Howley on a free transfer after agreeing a two-year deal. The 21-year-old has been on trial with the League Two club, having been released by the Sky Blues this summer, and played in a pre-season match last appeared in eight games for Coventry and spent part of last season on loan with Scottish Championship side Ayr United - he has also had a spell with Dundee."It's been a good start, and I'm just happy to be here," Howley said. "Pre-season has been tough so far. We've been put through our paces, but you need that so early on in pre-season to get the fitness up and to get us where we want to be. That's what we've got to do."Howley has also represented Wales at Under-19 and Under-21 level and is Bristol Rovers' seventh signing this summer so far."He has a brilliant range of passing and likes to get on the ball, and our fans already got to see a glimpse of his potential in a Rovers shirt when we faced Chippenham Town," said head coach Darrell Clarke."We're looking forward to seeing even more from him."
Belfast Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland goalkeeper delighted to seal move to League Two side: ‘I feel it's a club that's matching my ambition'
The shot-stopper has signed a contract until the summer of 2027 with the EFL League Two outfit after linking up from Bolton Wanderers in the League above. The 27-year-old Oxford native originally rose through the ranks at Reading, spending time on loan with Bath City, Eastleigh, Hamilton Academical and Cheltenham Town before signing for the latter on a permanent basis in 2023. After being an ever-present between the sticks for Cheltenham, he arrived at Bolton in the summer of 2024 where he made 26 appearances in total and he is on the move once again to Rovers, who were relegated from League One following a 22nd-placed finish in the 2024/25 season. Former England youth international and 2017 Under-20 World Cup winner Southwood made his one and only senior appearance to date for Northern Ireland – for whom he qualifies through his grandmother – in a 3-1 friendly win away to Luxembourg in March 2022. Southwood is keen to push on at The Memorial Stadium and, upon confirmation of his move, commented: 'I am buzzing. I'm really happy to get it done, and I can't wait to get going. 'I've played against the club loads of times over the last few years, and the fanbase is brilliant. 'You can feel the passion, and I just feel like it's a club that's matching my ambition, and I want to get on board with it.' Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke, who previously worked with Southwood at Cheltenham, added: 'It is great to welcome Luke to Bristol Rovers. 'Having worked with him previously, I know first-hand not only the quality and calmness he possesses but the great personality he has, too. 'He is very good with his feet, a strong influence on the defensive line and a super shot-stopper, too. I am looking forward to working with him again this season.'
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bristol Rovers sign Bolton keeper Southwood
Bristol Rovers have signed goalkeeper Luke Southwood from League One side Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed 27-year-old Northern Ireland international has signed a two-year contract at the Memorial who started his career at Reading, made 26 appearances for Bolton last season after joining on a free transfer from Cheltenham Town."I've played against the club loads of times over the last few years, and the fanbase is brilliant," Southwood told the club website., external "You can feel the passion, and I just feel like it's a club that's matching my ambition, and I want to get on board with it." Southwood previously played for Rovers boss Darrell Clarke during his time in charge of Cheltenham."I know first-hand not only the quality and calmness he possesses but the great personality he has too," said Rovers will start their League Two campaign at home to Harrogate on Saturday, 2 August following relegation last season.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kilgour rejoins Bristol Rovers as Wilson leaves
Bristol Rovers have re-signed defender Alfie Kilgour on a free transfer following his release from Mansfield Town. The news comes as central-back James Wilson leaves the club by mutual consent. Kilgour, 27, joined the Stags from Rovers in January 2023 but much of his time at the club was disrupted by long-term injury after rupturing his Achilles tendon the summer after he made 46 appearances for Mansfield in total, with 17 during the last campaign awhen he was in and out of the Bath-born centre-half joined Bristol Rovers aged seven and went on to play 118 games after progressing from the academy to the first previously worked with boss Darrell Clarke during his first spell at the club. "It feels absolutely amazing to be back," Kilgour told the club website."I class Bristol Rovers as my home, so it's good to be back home for sure. "It's a fresh start and it is new beginnings, and some might even say there is a bit of unfinished business."Head coach Clarke added: "It was a little under 10 years ago that I included Alfie in a Rovers squad for the first time, while he was still with our Under 18s."He has developed into an excellent player who still has room to get even better, and I am excited that he has come home, and we have the chance to work together again." Wilson's departure follows a decision by the club to trigger a one-year extension in his contract last 36-year-old, who won a cap for Wales in 2013, played 80 times for Rovers after arriving from Plymouth Argyle in started all 46 of the club's League One matches last season and scored three goals for the club over his two-year spell. "Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to thank James for all his efforts during his time with the Gas and wishes him well in his future career," a club statement read.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rovers sign full-back Sparkes on two-year deal
Bristol Rovers have signed full-back Jack Sparkes from Peterborough United on a two-year deal. The 24-year-old made 28 appearances for Posh but spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two has twice been part of promotion-winning teams, first with Exeter City in 2021-22 where he began his career and again with Portsmouth in signed Sparkes on a free transfer with "performance-related contingency fees" agreed between the two clubs, a statement said. The defender, who becomes Darrell Clarke's first signing since his appointment in May, said Bristol Rovers was a "really good project" and speaking with the new head coach persuaded him to sign."He said the club has got high ambitions which, for me, is what you want to hear," Sparkes added that Sparkes brings a "real attacking threat" and an "impressive left foot"."Jack already has a lot of experience playing across the EFL but, at just 24, is still a player who has plenty of room to grow and develop," he said.
