List of Bristol Rovers F.C. seasons

Bristol Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club who were founded in Bristol, England in 1883. During a meeting organised by a schoolteacher named Bill Somerton at the Eastville Restaurant on Stapleton Road in September of that year, it was agreed that the new team would use the name Black Arabs F.C. – so-called after a local rugby team and the black shirts they wore.[1]
Bristol Rovers have gone by four different names since their formation: Black Arabs F.C. (1883–84), Eastville Rovers (1884–97), Bristol Eastville Rovers (1897–98) and Bristol Rovers (1898 – present).

Seasons
| Background colours | Cups | Other competitions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champions | PR | Preliminary round | AIC | Anglo-Italian Cup |
| 2 | Runners-up | Q[n] | [n]th qualifying round | ASC | Anglo-Scottish Cup |
| 3 | Third place | Int | Intermediate round | D3SC | Division 3 (South) Cup |
| ↑ | Promoted | R[n] | [n]th round | FAT | FA Trophy |
| ↓ | Relegated | Group | Group stage | FMC | Full Members Cup |
| QF | Quarter-finalists | GC | Gloucestershire Cup winners | ||
| SF | Semi-finalists | WC | Watney Cup | ||
| RU | Runners-up | ||||
| W | Champions | ||||
| (S) | Southern region | ||||
| Season | Division | League | FA Cup[A] | EFL Cup[A] | EFL Trophy[A] | Other | Top League Goalscorer | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Player(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 1883–84 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1884–85 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1885–86 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1886–87 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1887–88 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1888–89 | None | GC | ||||||||||||
| 1889–90 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1890–91 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1891–92 | None | |||||||||||||
| 1892–93 | Bristol & District | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 36 | 40 | 15 | Rogers, BillBill Rogers | 9 | ||||
| 1893–94 | Bristol & District D1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 30 | 30 | 12 | Horsey, BobBob Horsey | 8 | ||||
| 1894–95 | Bristol & District D1 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 46 | 40 | 24 | Horsey, BobBob Horsey | 17 | ||||
| 1895–96 | Western D1 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 57 | 22 | 29 | PR | Gallier, HowardHoward Gallier | 15 | |||
| 1896–97 | Western D1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 14[B] | Q3 | Gallier, HowardHoward Gallier | 8 | |||
| 1897–98 | B'ham & District | 3 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 84 | 34 | 44 | Q5 | McLean, JohnJohn McLean | 11 | |||
| 1898–99 | B'ham & District | 4 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 132 | 49 | 46 | Q3 | McCairns, TommyTommy McCairns | 32 | |||
| 1899–00 | Southern D1 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 46 | 55 | 25 | Q4 | Jones, JackJack Jones | 12 | |||
| 1900–01 | Southern D1 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 46 | 35 | 32 | R1 | Jones, JackJack Jones | 11 | |||
| 1901–02 | Southern D1 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 43 | 39 | 29 | R2 | Jones, JackJack Jones | 14 | |||
| 1902–03 | Southern D1 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 46 | 34 | 34 | Int | GC | Howie, JamesJames Howie | 11 | ||
| 1903–04 | Southern D1 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 64 | 42 | 42 | Int | Beats, BillyBilly Beats | 18 | |||
| 1904–05 | Southern D1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 74 | 36 | 48 | R1 | GC | Smith, AndrewAndrew Smith | 19 | ||
| 1905–06 | Southern D1 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 56 | 56 | 35 | R1 | Lewis, JackJack Lewis | 13 | |||
| 1906–07 | Southern D1 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 54 | 33 | R3 | Young, JackJack Young | 14 | |||
| 1907–08 | Southern D1 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 59 | 56 | 42 | R3 | Roberts, JohnJohn Roberts | 14 | |||
| 1908–09 | Southern D1 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 60 | 63 | 43 | R1 | Corbett, FredFred Corbett | 19 | |||
| 1909–10 | Southern D1 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 48 | 42 | R2 | Corbett, FredFred Corbett | 13 | |||
| 1910–11 | Southern D1 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 42 | 55 | 30 | R1 | Peplow, BillyBilly Peplow | 9 | |||
| 1911–12 | Southern D1 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 62 | 31 | R1 | Peplow, BillyBilly Peplow George Richards | 7 | |||
| 1912–13 | Southern D1 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 64 | 33 | R3 | Brogan, JamesJames Brogan | 11 | |||
| 1913–14 | Southern D1 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 46 | 67 | 31 | R1 | Crompton, EllisEllis Crompton | 13 | |||
| 1914–15 | Southern D1 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 21 | 53 | 75 | 31 | R1 | Davison, GeorgeGeorge Davison | 15 | |||
| League football suspended during World War I | ||||||||||||||
| 1919–20 | Southern D1 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 78 | 35 | R1 | Sims, StephenStephen Sims | 9 | |||
| 1920–21 | Division 3 | 10 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 68 | 57 | 43 | R1 | Leigh, SydSyd Leigh | 21 | |||
| 1921–22 | Division 3(S) | 14 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 52 | 67 | 38 | Q6 | Leigh, SydSyd Leigh | 15 | |||
| 1922–23 | Division 3(S) | 13 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 35 | 36 | 42 | Q6 | Lunn, FredFred Lunn | 10 | |||
| 1923–24 | Division 3(S) | 9 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 52 | 46 | 43 | Q5 | Phillips, WilkieWilkie Phillips | 23 | |||
| 1924–25 | Division 3(S) | 17 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 42 | 49 | 37 | R1 | Phillips, WilkieWilkie Phillips Ernie Whatmore | 9 | |||
| 1925–26 | Division 3(S) | 19 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 66 | 69 | 36 | R1 | Wilcox, JonahJonah Wilcox | 19 | |||
| 1926–27 | Division 3(S) | 10 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 78 | 80 | 41 | R3 | Culley, BillBill Culley | 26 | |||
| 1927–28 | Division 3(S) | 19 | 14 | 4 | 24 | 69 | 93 | 32 | R2 | Ormston, ArthurArthur Ormston | 15 | |||
| 1928–29 | Division 3(S) | 19 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 60 | 79 | 33 | R2 | Phillips, JackJack Phillips | 13 | |||
| 1929–30 | Division 3(S) | 20 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 69 | 93 | 30 | R3 | Phillips, JackJack Phillips | 24 | |||
| 1930–31 | Division 3(S) | 15 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 75 | 92 | 40 | R4 | Attwood, ArthurArthur Attwood | 24 | |||
| 1931–32 | Division 3(S) | 18 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 65 | 92 | 34 | R2 | Cook, ThomasThomas Cook | 17 | |||
| 1932–33 | Division 3(S) | 9 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 61 | 56 | 44 | R3 | Gibbins, VivViv Gibbins | 15 | |||
| 1933–34 | Division 3(S) | 7 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 77 | 47 | 51 | R2 | McCambridge, JimmyJimmy McCambridge | 17 | |||
| 1934–35 | Division 3(S) | 8 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 73 | 77 | 44 | R3 | D3SC: W | McNestry, GeorgeGeorge McNestry | 19 | ||
| 1935–36 | Division 3(S) | 17 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 69 | 95 | 37 | R3 | Woodman, JackJack Woodman | 15 | |||
| 1936–37 | Division 3(S) | 15 | 16 | 4 | 22 | 71 | 80 | 36 | R3 | Houghton, HaroldHarold Houghton | 14 | |||
| 1937–38 | Division 3(S) | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 46 | 61 | 39 | R1 | Iles, AlbertAlbert Iles | 14 | |||
| 1938–39 | Division 3(S) | 22[C] | 10 | 13 | 19 | 55 | 61 | 33 | R2 | Curran, FrankFrank Curran | 21 | |||
| League football suspended during World War II | ||||||||||||||
| 1945–46 | League suspended | R2 | ||||||||||||
| 1946–47 | Division 3(S) | 14 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 69 | 40 | R1 | Leamon, FredFred Leamon | 13 | |||
| 1947–48 | Division 3(S) | 20 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 71 | 75 | 34 | R4 | Lambden, VicVic Lambden | 11 | |||
| 1948–49 | Division 3(S) | 5 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 61 | 51 | 48 | R1 | Lambden, VicVic Lambden | 13 | |||
| 1949–50 | Division 3(S) | 9 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 51 | 51 | 43 | R1 | Roost, BillBill Roost | 13 | |||
| 1950–51 | Division 3(S) | 6 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 64 | 42 | 55 | QF | Lambden, VicVic Lambden | 20 | |||
| 1951–52 | Division 3(S) | 7 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 89 | 53 | 52 | R4 | Lambden, VicVic Lambden | 29 | |||
| 1952–53 | Division 3(S) ↑ | 1 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 92 | 46 | 64 | R3 | Bradford, GeoffGeoff Bradford | 33 | |||
| 1953–54 | Division 2 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 64 | 58 | 44 | R3 | Bradford, GeoffGeoff Bradford | 21 | |||
| 1954–55 | Division 2 | 9 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 75 | 70 | 45 | R4 | Bradford, GeoffGeoff Bradford | 26 | |||
| 1955–56 | Division 2 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 84 | 70 | 48 | R4 | Bradford, GeoffGeoff Bradford | 25 | |||
| 1956–57 | Division 2 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 81 | 67 | 45 | R4 | Ward, DaiDai Ward | 19 | |||
| 1957–58 | Division 2 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 85 | 80 | 42 | QF | Bradford, GeoffGeoff Bradford | 20 | |||
| 1958–59 | Division 2 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 80 | 64 | 48 | R3 | Ward, DaiDai Ward | 26 | |||
| 1959–60 | Division 2 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 72 | 78 | 47 | R4 | Biggs, AlfieAlfie Biggs | 21 | |||
| 1960–61 | Division 2 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 73 | 92 | 37 | R3 | R3 | Hooper, PeterPeter Hooper | 20 | ||
| 1961–62 | Division 2 ↓ | 21 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 53 | 81 | 33 | R3 | R2 | Jones, BobbyBobby Jones | 13 | ||
| 1962–63 | Division 3 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 70 | 88 | 41 | R1 | R4 | Williams, KeithKeith Williams | 17 | ||
| 1963–64 | Division 3 | 12 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 97 | 79 | 46 | R4 | R3 | Biggs, AlfieAlfie Biggs | 30 | ||
| 1964–65 | Division 3 | 6 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 82 | 58 | 55 | R3 | R2 | Hamilton, IanIan Hamilton | 20 | ||
| 1965–66 | Division 3 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 64 | 64 | 42 | R1 | R2 | Jarman, HaroldHarold Jarman | 16 | ||
| 1966–67 | Division 3 | 5 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 76 | 67 | 53 | R3 | R1 | Biggs, AlfieAlfie Biggs | 23 | ||
| 1967–68 | Division 3 | 15 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 72 | 78 | 43 | R3 | R1 | Mabbutt, RayRay Mabbutt | 11 | ||
| 1968–69 | Division 3 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 63 | 71 | 43 | R5 | R1 | Jarman, HaroldHarold Jarman | 14 | ||
| 1969–70 | Division 3 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 80 | 59 | 56 | R2 | R1 | Stubbs, RobinRobin Stubbs | 15 | ||
| 1970–71 | Division 3 | 6 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 69 | 50 | 51 | R2 | QF | Stubbs, RobinRobin Stubbs | 17 | ||
| 1971–72 | Division 3 | 6 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 75 | 56 | 54 | R3 | QF | Bannister, BruceBruce Bannister | 12 | ||
| 1972–73 | Division 3 | 5 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 77 | 56 | 53 | R1 | R4 | WC: W | Bannister, BruceBruce Bannister | 25 | |
| 1973–74 | Division 3 ↑ | 2 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 65 | 33 | 61 | R3 | R1 | Warboys, AlanAlan Warboys | 22 | ||
| 1974–75 | Division 2 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 64 | 35 | R4 | R2 | Warboys, AlanAlan Warboys | 11 | ||
| 1975–76 | Division 2 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 38 | 50 | 38 | R3 | R3 | Bannister, BruceBruce Bannister | 13 | ||
| 1976–77 | Division 2 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 53 | 68 | 37 | R3 | R1 | Warboys, AlanAlan Warboys | 11 | ||
| 1977–78 | Division 2 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 61 | 77 | 38 | R5 | R1 | ASC: group | Randall, PaulPaul Randall | 20 | |
| 1978–79 | Division 2 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 48 | 60 | 38 | R5 | R1 | ASC: group | Randall, PaulPaul Randall | 13 | |
| 1979–80 | Division 2 | 19 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 50 | 64 | 35 | R3 | R1 | Barrowclough, StewartStewart Barrowclough | 12 | ||
| 1980–81 | Division 2 ↓ | 22 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 34 | 65 | 23 | R4 | R3 | Mabbutt, GaryGary Mabbutt Aidan McCaffery | 5 | ||
| 1981–82 | Division 3 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 58 | 65 | 61[D] | R1 | R2 | Randall, PaulPaul Randall | 12 | ||
| 1982–83 | Division 3 | 7 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 84 | 58 | 75 | R2 | R2 | Randall, PaulPaul Randall | 20 | ||
| 1983–84 | Division 3 | 5 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 68 | 54 | 79 | R2 | R2 | SF (S) | Stephens, ArchieArchie Stephens | 13 | |
| 1984–85 | Division 3 | 6 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 66 | 48 | 75 | R3 | R2 | R1 | Randall, PaulPaul Randall | 18 | |
| 1985–86 | Division 3 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 51 | 75 | 54 | R4 | R2 | Group | Morgan, TrevorTrevor Morgan | 16 | |
| 1986–87 | Division 3 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 49 | 75 | 51 | R1 | R1 | Group | Mehew, DavidDavid Mehew | 10 | |
| 1987–88 | Division 3 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 56 | 66 | R3 | R1 | Group | Penrice, GaryGary Penrice | 18 | |
| 1988–89 | Division 3 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 67 | 51 | 74 | R2 | R1 | QF (S) | PO: RU | Penrice, GaryGary Penrice | 20 |
| 1989–90 | Division 3 ↑ | 1 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 71 | 35 | 93 | R1 | R1 | RU | Mehew, DavidDavid Mehew | 18 | |
| 1990–91 | Division 2 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 59 | 58 | R3 | R1 | FMC: R2 | Saunders, CarlCarl Saunders | 16 | |
| 1991–92 | Division 2 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 60 | 63 | 62 | R4 | R3 | FMC: R1 | Saunders, CarlCarl Saunders Devon White | 10 | |
| 1992–93 | Division 1 ↓ | 24 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 55 | 87 | 41 | R3 | R2 | AIC: group | Taylor, JohnJohn Taylor | 14 | |
| 1993–94 | Division 2 | 8 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 60 | 59 | 70 | R1 | R1 | R2 | Taylor, JohnJohn Taylor | 22 | |
| 1994–95 | Division 2 | 4 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 70 | 40 | 82 | R3 | R1 | QF (S) | PO: RU | Miller, PaulPaul Miller | 16 |
| 1995–96 | Division 2 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 57 | 60 | 70 | R1 | R2 | RU (S) | Stewart, MarcusMarcus Stewart | 21 | |
| 1996–97 | Division 2 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 47 | 50 | 56 | R1 | R1 | R1 | Beadle, PeterPeter Beadle | 12 | |
| 1997–98 | Division 2 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 70 | 64 | 70 | R3 | R1 | QF (S) | PO: SF | Hayles, BarryBarry Hayles | 23 |
| 1998–99 | Division 2 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 65 | 56 | 56 | R5 | R1 | R1 | Cureton, JamieJamie Cureton | 25 | |
| 1999–00 | Division 2 | 7 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 69 | 45 | 80 | R1 | R2 | QF (S) | Cureton, JamieJamie Cureton Jason Roberts | 22 | |
| 2000–01 | Division 2 ↓ | 21 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 53 | 57 | 51 | R1 | R3 | QF (S) | Ellington, NathanNathan Ellington | 15 | |
| 2001–02 | Division 3 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 40 | 60 | 45 | R4 | R2 | SF (S) | Ellington, NathanNathan Ellington | 15 | |
| 2002–03 | Division 3 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 50 | 57 | 51 | R2 | PR | R1 | Grazioli, GiulianoGiuliano Grazioli | 11 | |
| 2003–04 | Division 3 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 50 | 61 | 55 | R1 | R1 | R1 | Tait, PaulPaul Tait | 14 | |
| 2004–05 | League 2 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 60 | 57 | 60 | R1 | R2 | RU (S) | Agogo, JuniorJunior Agogo | 19 | |
| 2005–06 | League 2 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 59 | 67 | 60 | R2 | R1 | R1 | Walker, RichardRichard Walker | 20 | |
| 2006–07 | League 2 ↑ | 6 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 49 | 42 | 72 | R4 | R1 | RU | PO: W | Walker, RichardRichard Walker | 12 |
| 2007–08 | League 1 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 45 | 53 | 53 | QF | R2 | R2 | Lambert, RickieRickie Lambert | 13 | |
| 2008–09 | League 1 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 79 | 61 | 63 | R1 | R1 | R1 | Lambert, RickieRickie Lambert | 29 | |
| 2009–10 | League 1 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 22 | 59 | 70 | 62 | R1 | R2 | R1 | Kuffour, JoJo Kuffour | 14 | |
| 2010–11 | League 1 ↓ | 22 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 48 | 82 | 45 | R1 | R1 | SF (S) | Hoskins, WillWill Hoskins | 17 | |
| 2011–12 | League 2 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 60 | 70 | 57 | R3 | R2 | R1 | Harrold, MattMatt Harrold | 16 | |
| 2012–13 | League 2 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 60 | 69 | 60 | R1 | R1 | R1 | Eaves, TomTom Eaves | 7 | |
| 2013-14 | League 2 ↓ | 23 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 43 | 54 | 50 | R3 | R1 | R1 | O'Toole, John-JoeJohn-Joe O'Toole | 13 | |
| 2014–15 | Conference Prem ↑ | 2 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 73 | 34 | 91 | R1 | PO: W FAT: R1 | Taylor, MattyMatty Taylor | 20 | ||
| 2015–16 | League 2 ↑ | 3 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 77 | 46 | 85 | R1 | R1 | QF (S) | Taylor, MattyMatty Taylor | 27 | |
| 2016–17 | League 1 | In progress | R2 | |||||||||||
Notes
A.^ EFL Cup, EFL Trophy and Post-1900 FA Cup results from the Football Club History Database,[2] pre-1900 FA Cup results are from The FA.[3]
B.^ Eastville Rovers had two league points deducted in 1896–97 for paying a player.[4]
C.^ Club was re-elected to the Football League after finishing bottom of Division 3 (South).
D.^ Two league points deducted in 1981–82 for fielding an unregistered player.
References
- ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p. 27
- ↑ "Bristol Rovers". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ↑ "FA Cup: Past results". The Football Association. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ↑ Byrne & Jay (2003), p. 48
- Eastville Rovers Football Club History Database. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
- Bristol Eastville Rovers Football Club History Database. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
Bibliography
- Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club – The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.