He also took positions as a postman, baker, and on the maintenance staff at Eastville. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'ftblcult_com-leader-4','ezslot_4',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-leader-4-0'); Few will have heard of the great Ronnie Clayton, but in Lancashire, especially Blackburn, the man is a hero. He said: "Ive been supporting Bristol Rovers all my life. Football Related Chat. However, despite being appointed club captain on his return, Biggs could not prevent his home-town club from being relegated back to third-tier football. [1] Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Bristol, who play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system, as of the 2022-23 season. Famously, their side full of stars were humbled 4-0 at Eastville in the FA Cup, with Biggs scoring twice. After Geoff Bradford had opened the scoring, Biggs cut in from the right on fifty-nine minutes and shot low and hard into the net to seal victory. A few new signings would not go amiss if they are better than what we have, but we took another positive step. [3] Following the Second World War the Bristol Rovers board introduced a no-buy/no-sell policy, which remained in force until the abolition of the maximum wage in football in 1961; as a result some players in that era had a high number of appearances for the club. This time though that is not the case when we credit Bristol Rovers for a cracking game. Hes definitely one of the most creative players to wear the blue and white halves. Bobby Thomas - 4 The on-loan Burnley defender lost his man for the away side's first and a seemingly easy ball to deal with from a Plymouth defender ended up finding Hardie for Argyle's second. In the club's early history the appearance record was held by goalkeeper Arthur Cartlidge,[1] who played in 258 Southern League games between 1901 and 1909. Biggs would score once in each half to secure arguably the greatest victory in Rovers' long history. You dont need to be the best technically to be loved by the Ewood Park faithful, but if you give your all for the shirt, then youll be loved. After a spell with non-league Chesham United the forward arrived at Rovers in 2000 when he scored one league goal in 35 games. He and Bannister were both included in the inaugural PFA Team of the Year for Division Three for the 1973-74 season, the only . Often referred to as Braveheart, he showed bags of fight, hunger and determination during Blackburns 94/95 title-winning season. international players, List of Bristol Rovers F.C. Known for having one of the most spectacular Bristolian accents that youll hear on TV. The former Bristol City striker joined the Gas as a youth coach in 2012 before departing in 2016. "God bless Bristol Rovers , they're never going to win the cup, they're never going to win the championship, but I've had a fun ride along the way.". Barrow, a member of legendary band Portishead, has turned out for Rovers in charity matches in the past and recently shared his thoughts on Graham Coughlans departure on Twitter in his own inimitable style. They showed they have a good side and we hope that they will go on to have a positive season. Alfies Rovers career was only interrupted with a 15 month spell at Preston North End. We believe every hard work in Bristol is rewarded. Tony Pulis made 130 Rovers appearances in two spells from 1975 to 1981 and 1982 to 1984. He is by far one of the most naturally gifted players the Rovers Academy has ever produced. He was magical to watch and endeared himself to Blackburn fans almost immediately. Premier League Appearances:160if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_7',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_8',126,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-1-0_1'); .narrow-sky-1-multi-126{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. The goal came against Charlton in 2004 to level the scores. Upgrading your account means you can get additional access to: In an obituary on the forward, the Independent newspaper, Please screen record these chats and send them on to. He turned down the chance to join Manchester United the team he famously scored twice against in 2005 midway through his Rovers career to remain at Ewood Park. DF Defender; La Liga has had five in that time,, English Players to Have Won the Ballon dOr, English Footballs Most Memorable Day: Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal, 26 May 1989, The Stories of Every Premier League-winning Team, Kazuyoshi Miura: The Worlds Oldest Footballer. Eventually he even studied economics at UWE. 2022/23 match day threads. In order to use the live chat functionality you need to opt into live chat cookies. Alternatively, please email ifollow@efl.com - note that live chat is recommended for the quickest response on a matchday. Simply put he was world-class and I dread to think how much hed cost in todays day and age. Just sitting on the motorway with cars whizzing past. "My family support Bristol Rovers, that's their local team.". His presence in the heart of Blackburns defence for seven years was massively underrated. "Bristol born, 'The Baron' scored an incredible 197 goals in 463 appearances across two prolific spells with Rovers. On the picking Alfie Biggs for the Hall of Fame, Retro Rovers Podcast said, "The decision to induct Alfie Biggs into the Hall of Fame was a very easy one to make. Big Col, Big Col show us your ass. Yep, thats a chant Rovers fans would sing week in week out for their Scottish centre half Colin Hendry. He scored goals too, very good goals. Initially signed on loan from Arsenal, David Bentley went on to make over 150 Premier League appearances for Blackburn Rovers. Paul Trollope tried to sign him on a permanent deal but Heffernan instead joined Sheffield Wednesday. Martin Peters, goalscorer in the 1966 World Cup Final. The passion and rivalry has run deep between Rovers and City for decades but there are a surprising amount of players who have worn both blue, white and red in their careers. On the pitch, things were a different story, with 'Elbows' quickly becoming an alternative nickname based on his style of play. In these difficult lockdown times, we encourage supporters to pick up the phone, or zoom call family members to discuss his legacy. Coming from 2-0 down to trail just 3-2 going into the last 30 minutes they gave Chelseas back-up players a real run for their money. Find out about why the BRFPA was formed and what our constitution supports. He takes his name from Bristol's area code. WhenRyan Nelsenleft Ewood Park in 2012 things soon went downhill for the East Lancashire side. The 1950s was the most successful decade in the history of Bristol Rovers. Leaders: On stat grids. His commitment and performances, though, for the Lancashire club should not be forgotten. Birthplace. Many will argue he played the best football of his career at Ewood Park and to be honest, its hard to dispute that statement. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ftblcult_com-sky-3','ezslot_18',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-sky-3-0'); Premier League Goals:34if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'ftblcult_com-leader-2','ezslot_2',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-leader-2-0'); The greatest left foot to grace the Premier League. All rights reserved, Do you want to become famous one day? He had everything; strength, pace and the valuable knack of being able to score goals almost at will. Screen for heightened risk individuals and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks, Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology, The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs, The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Gas Guzzler. She said: "I went with Bristol Rovers because I am from Bristol. He recently appeared on TalkSport, paying a passionate tribute to the Gas when explaining the joys of supporting your local team. From an early age I have seen and heard some awful things in the crowds. Credit Bristol Rovers the League One side that pushed a reasonably strong Chelsea side to theedge. Please screen record these chats and send them on toalexslater@bristolrovers.co.uk, these will form part of videos to be used on social media and the big screen when the family of Biggs attend a game after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. One of the UKs most famous pornstars and she hails from little old Bristol. In case you missed it see whats in this section, Copyright 2023 Total Guide to Bristol. He finished the 2006/07 season as the Premier Leagues second top scorer with 18 league goals. He lives locally in Portishead and, whilst he is not exactly a regular at the Gas, he drew the winners of the club's sponsorship raffle in 2009 when the partnership with Cowlin Construction ended. This site is dedicated to, and provides support for, former BRFC players and team staff. No one from Blighty has claimed world footballs, In modern footballing discourse, conducted by faceless, 15-year-old Twitter users, it is widely accepted that Manchester Citys 3-2 win over, Since its inception in 1992, seven teams have won the Premier League. ". [2] They remained at Eastville Stadium for 99 years, before leaving in 1986 when financial pressures meant that they could no longer afford to pay the rent, whereupon they moved to Bath City's Twerton Park, a move that saved the club 30,000 a year. Another brief City loanee who delivered his best form in the blue and white quarters. Amongst the plethora of players who have represented Bristol Rovers across the years, there are a handful of names that stand out, one of whom is undoubtedly Alfie Biggs, a tall, strapping centre-forward, whose rumbustious style and never-say-die attitude epitomised Rovers halcyon days of the 1950s. It's unclear how it came about, but the two-time heavyweight champion of the world, who worked as a regular sparring partner for Muhammed Ali, played for the Gas in a charity game against Bristol City. He spent eight years at the club winning the Worthing Cup in 2002, during which he was named Man of the Match for his excellent display. BRISTOL ROVERS players have shaven their heads in support of team-mate Nick Anderson, who has an aggressive form of bone cancer. Predominantly a centre half Samba was occasionally deployed as a striker. The list Bristol Rovers F.C. Chris Lines made 314 appearances for Rovers in three spells between 2004 and 2019. Catley, like Witherspoon, took part in the Gas' charity game against Bristol City. FW Forward, List of Bristol Rovers F.C. He later worked for a business parcel delivery service and, from 1997, as a security officer at Bristol University. "He will be forever linked with one of the most famous days in Rovers history, as he struck twice in a 4-0 victory at Eastville over Manchester Uniteds Busby Babes. Signed from Liverpool on a free transfer Brad Friedel is one of Blackburns greatest signings of all time. The following article is a list of footballers past and present who have played for Bristol Rovers Football Club. Clarkson made the move down to Ashton Gate from Motherwell in 2009 for a reported fee of 800,000. Premier League Appearances:204if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_12',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-narrow-sky-2-0'); Big Col show us your ass. Alfie's Rovers career was only interrupted with a 15 month spell . Find out more about it hereand join, and support our organisation. This makes them the 12th most successful team in the country. Something went wrong, please try again later. GK Goalkeeper; Star of Game of Thrones, Maisie was born in Bristol before moving to Bath. He left Rovers under a cloud as he was sacked for gross misconduct at the age of 24. BRFPA | Registered as a Voluntary Association in England & Wales | Photographs are kindly supplied by members of the association - please request permission for their use via the contact page. JosieGibsons fantastic Bristolian voice was a fantastic addition to Big Brother 2010 and now a presenter on the hit morning show, This Moning. The club reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice, achieved their highest ever placing in the football pyramid, won a divisional title and had a player called up to the England squad. The BS7 side launched a fundraiser earlier this month, setting a target of 1,600. His debut for the club came against giants Manchester United in a friendly in 1953, and Biggs' performances in that same campaign played a big part in the Gas' ability to secure themselves in the second tier after promotion in the previous campaign. The club's first team have been English champions three times, and have won six FA Cups, one Football League Cup and one Full Members' Cup. If youve ever seen one of her movies, that becomes apparent immediately. Over the last few years Pedersen, who still plays in his homeland Norway, has been welcomed to train with the club on numerous occasions during his offseason. He made 63 appearances for City over three years, scoring 11 goals and also spending a short amount of time on loan at Brentford. Josser Watling becomes the tenth and final initial inductee to the Bristol Rovers Hall of Fame in partnership with the Retro Rovers Podcast! All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Tugaywas unbelievable, and the Ewood faithful absolutely loved him. Subsequently, Rovers qualified for Europe a few years later, and the New Zealand captain played a huge role in getting them there. Something went wrong, please try again later. Bristol Rovers total salary bill is 3,906,240 per year. Legendary Bristol DJ and producer Size has played alongside Barrow in Rovers charity matches. Alongside Portishead, Barrow is also a member of Beak and supergroup Quakers, also working as a film composer. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The greatest South African to play in the Premier League, Benni McCarthy was a goalscoring machine. When Morten Gamst Pedersen hit a ball, it stayed hit. Mickey Barrett becomes the eighth inductee to the Hall of Fame George Petherbridge becomes the seventh inductee to the Hall of Fame Bobby Thomas loan deal at Bristol Rovers has been terminated with immediate effect. ', Thousands have say on changing slavery-tainted university names, There are three events next week to discuss the controversial issue further, Mutilated greyhound found dumped down drain, A member of the public discovered the dog on New Year's Eve and contacted the RSCPA immediately, Bristol school looks set to close despite pleas to save it, Bristol City Council cabinet will be asked to approve the closure after a request from governors, Fight that left man dead was over '95K cannabis crop', court hears, CCTV showed vehicles at Avonmeads retail park, 'Fed up' community cut fence after floods left them marooned, They say they had requested an emergency exit in the fence before as it blocks their only exit route, Top UK food guide lists five Bristol restaurant in top 100, Five of the city's restaurants are listed in the top 100, All the First Bus changes coming in this week including new route, NHS workers and supporters will march through Bristol this weekend, Organisers are urging everyone who clapped for carers to join them now. Bristol Rovers's home form is average with the following results : 5 wins, 4 . He turned down an approach from fierce rivals Burnley as a kid to join the Rovers Academy and went on to become a club legend. Exactly what you want from a centre half. Born in 1989, Bristol's most famous snooker player has hit more than 450 century breaks during his career. Bristol Rovers Former Players Association. ', Thousands have say on changing slavery-tainted university names, There are three events next week to discuss the controversial issue further, Mutilated greyhound found dumped down drain, A member of the public discovered the dog on New Year's Eve and contacted the RSCPA immediately, Bristol school looks set to close despite pleas to save it, Bristol City Council cabinet will be asked to approve the closure after a request from governors, Fight that left man dead was over '95K cannabis crop', court hears, CCTV showed vehicles at Avonmeads retail park, 'Fed up' community cut fence after floods left them marooned, They say they had requested an emergency exit in the fence before as it blocks their only exit route, Top UK food guide lists five Bristol restaurant in top 100, Five of the city's restaurants are listed in the top 100, All the First Bus changes coming in this week including new route, NHS workers and supporters will march through Bristol this weekend, Organisers are urging everyone who clapped for carers to join them now. Might be onemost famous Bristolians of all time. Premier League Appearances:83if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'ftblcult_com-sky-4','ezslot_20',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-sky-4-0'); With Matt Jansen, its what might have been. Williams arrived at City the same time as Akinde and made more than 50 appearances for the club over three seasons but was released in January 2011, signing for Rovers. Harold Jarman becomes the ninth addition to the Hall of Fame, and the first living inductee. #1 rank is in light green. His statistics wont turn any heads, but youll do well to find a Blackburn fan who doesnt think Jansen was set to hit the big time before his crash. Another Gloucestershire cricketer is a fan of the Gas. He came from Real Madrid. In early 2017 Bristol Rovers Football Club helped kick start this new venture by encouraging a squad of volunteers to come together to form an official association. The inaugural meeting was held at the . Hollywood actor Kelsey Grammer watches a Bristol Rovers game (Image: Joe Meredith/JMP) 'Supporter' might be stretching it, but Frasier Crane himself attending a Rovers game deserves a mention. Ten days later, more than 25,000 has been raised to support the Gas' promotion hero . All Rights Reserved | Website by Geek. The finish may have been uncomfortable but with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ola Aina getting game time there was a brief indication that they are considered part of the squad even if only on a rotation basis. [4] After playing for ten years in Bath, the club returned to Bristol in 1997 when they agreed to share Bristol Rugby's Memorial Stadium. They are not doing well and are almost broke. This makes them the 12th most successful team in the country. Premier League Appearances:161if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'ftblcult_com-leader-3','ezslot_3',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-leader-3-0'); A man mountain at the back Chris Samba was signed for less than half a million from Hertha BSC and he proved to be a class signing. Access to real-time, reference, and non-real time data in the cloud to power your enterprise. The al-Qadi family bought Bristol Rovers in February 2016, with Steve Hamer becoming the club chairman. The thirty League goals he scored in 1963-64 represent the most recent occasion any Rovers player has reached this seasonal landmark, although Rickie Lambert came very close in recent years. Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers Joey Barton's Trevor Clarke verdict as Rovers defender gets UCL move Bristol Rovers Joey Barton reveals why Alfie Kilgour had to leave Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers transfer update as Joey Barton eyes magic number Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers confirm second transfer departure Size is an avid football fan and earlier this year contributed a mix to a Kick It Out exhibition about Nelson Mandela. Signed from Rangers for 1.3 million in 2001, the midfield maestro took the Premier League by storm. [5] The club's all-time leading appearance maker, Stuart Taylor, played in 546 League games between 1965 and 1980. Archer moved to Weston Super-Mare when just two weeks old and as a result spent his childhood supporting Rovers. A move to Hull City wasnt quite as successful as injuries and lack of football saw him return to the south west with Rovers, initially on loan and then sealing a permanent transfer. He bagged 26 goals in two seasons after breaking into the first team for good and became an instant fan favourite. Julian Dicks, voted Hammer of the Year on four occasions. He turned Blackburns leaky defence into one of the sturdiest in the league. Biggs exuded a friendly, personable demeanour and was invariably dress smartly. General Football Chat. These eight were Bobby Jones (421 appearances), Alfie Biggs (424), Ray Warren (450), Harold Jarman (452), George Petherbridge (457), Geoff Bradford (462), Jack Pitt (466), and Harry Bamford (486). "I'm a man who is used to losing," Archer joked. Still unconfirmed on who Banksy actually is, but a recent Daily Mail report has him supposively as a former pupil at the publicBristol Cathedral School. That's the joy of supporting your team. Famous Rovers Players. In addition to filtering, you can quickly COMPARE player stats or use the MULTI-PLAYER STAT VIEWER to view multiple player cards on the same page. DF Defender; Match Day Threads. 'Supporter' might be stretching it, but Frasier Crane himself attending a Rovers game deserves a mention in itself. Do you want to become famous one day? we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, In recent years, the Ballon dOr has become a thoroughly un-English affair. Lewis Gibson has the highest salary at Bristol Rovers, earning 7,000 per week. Thomas didn't provide much of a deterrent to stop the striker in a tough first half. Gas Guzzler. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Tony Cottee, 146 goals across two spells for West Ham United. As was his committed style of play. And the fans loved that. His versatility was crucial for the team. LONDON (Reuters) - New defence coach Kevin Sinfield says he has seen up close the hatred Scotland and others have for England but says his players can LONDON (Reuters) - Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS has formally entered into the Premier League soccer club Manchester United sale process, a spokesperson BERLIN (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund have signed Norway fullback Julian Ryerson to replace injured Thomas Meunier in defence, the German club said on (Reuters) - United States Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson, looking for passion and experience, appointed Davis Love III as one of his vice captains on Jose Maria Casais, who uses an oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, has seen his electricity bill almost triple during the energy crisis in Europe. Friedel is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in Premier League history and doesnt seem to get the recognition he deserves. And the following season he scored in the League Cup Final as the club secured a famous win over Tottenham at the Millennium Stadium. (Left to right) Lee Matthews, Christian Edwards and Jason Roberts. Searchers used drones and rappelled down a 200 metres deep gorge in Nepal's second-biggest city to search for two people unaccounted for after the country's deadliest plane crash in 30 years killed at least 70 people. His passion and willingness to give everything for the shirt was a huge factor. Age: 41. A regular snooker player at the Eastville Club throughout his time with the Gas and beyond, he continued to attend Rovers games following his playing years. players includes Scott Sinclair, Neil Etheridge, Bobby Zamora, Anwar Uddin and Josh Ginnelly. Ex-Spurs and Bristol Rovers. players (25-99 appearances) Jason Roberts was Bristol Rovers ' top scorer in the 1999-2000 season with 25 goals. What is Bristol Rovers's monthly wage bill in 2023? Ex-Spurs and Bristol Rovers. Some of the goals he scored were unbelievable. Born in Horfield he eventually became an American citizen in 1942. They still do. Theres only one team in Bristol as far as Im concerned. . However, a fractured arm on the final day of the 2004/05 saw him fall out of favour under Trollope and he was released the following summer before retiring from professional football. List of Bristol Rovers F.C. Credit Bristol Rovers For Pulsating EFL Cup Tie, RIP Gianluca Vialli First Italian To Manage In The Premier League, Chelsea Ticket Scams On Social Media Red Flags To Look Out For, Chelsea Ticket Scams How To Avoid Them When Buying Tickets. "It's a loyal and good club and people stick by it. Position key: Left foot, right foot, headers. Gasheads' memories of Akinde won't be particularly positive as, aside from his club loyalties, he also failed to score in 18 appearances. It was a match made in heaven. Andre Roberson, 31 December 04, 1991. The list of players below includes all team members who have played in at least 100 professional league games for Bristol Rovers, which includes games played in the Southern League (18991920), Football League (19202014 and 2015) and Football Conference (201415), and also includes substitute appearances. Bristol Rovers Independent Fans Forum. The highly-rated 22-year-old, who went from being a student without a playing contract to a member of the England Lions squad within 18 months, shows his colours with pride, with UTG in his Twitter bio. This was a cup tie that had it all for Chelsea fans, neutrals and the 4,000 travelling Bristol Rovers fans that made the long trip to London. Sir Geoff Hurst, scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup Final. Later that season, a 19-year-old Alfie Biggs would line up against another European behemoth in the form of Manchester United. Hailing from Avonmouth,he and his family left Bristol when he was 12 to move to Essex. Two stints at the club either side of a few years at Birmingham saw him amass over 200 league appearances for the club. The Football Club (FC) and the Supporters Club (SC) are working together to trace the closest relatives of players from 1920/21, through to the 1938/39. [3] Two years later they adopted their current name of Bristol Rovers when they became founder members of the Southern League. "Over the years I've supported Bristol Rovers and Somerset County Cricket Club. Leicester a "motivation" for all, says Rovers owner Newly-crowned English Premier League champions Leicester City provide "extreme motivation" for all lower league football clubs, the Middle Eastern owner of Bristol Rovers said on Wednesday.. He was capped more times for England than any other Bristolian footballer. Select Post; Deselect Post; Link to Post; Member. THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. Today Gallacher works for local radio as a Blackburn pundit for the majority of their Championship games. Phillips' car was vandalised when he made the move but he soon won Gasheads over, winning the Supporters Club's Player of the Year award in 2006/07 season as Rovers won the League Two play-offs under Paul Trollope. The comedian is originally from Glasgow and rose to fame as part of the Little and Large double act with Syd Little. He was the type of player that got you out of your seat. McCarthy ended his Rovers career with 37 Premier League goals making him the clubs 4th top scorer in the competition. Our league games are conveniently scheduled on Saturdays with practices held prior to games! Bristol Rovers players have already raised more than 1,000 to support Nick Anderton and his young family after his diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. His pace had gone, but everything else remained the same. It can be easy to patronise Football League teams when they bow out against Premier League opposition with flowery language about a brave battle. He forged a prolific partnership with compatriot Chris Sutton, and the duo would famously be referred to as the SAS.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ftblcult_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ftblcult_com-banner-1-0'); Ask any Rovers fan who is the best striker to don the famous blue and white halves, and theyll tell you, Shearer. Unsurprisingly, Rovers did not choose to turn his loan move into a permanent switch. He was up there with the best. Bristol born-and-bred and a popular defender for City over six years and 148 league appearances.