The 2015–16 season was the 133rd season in Bristol Rovers' history and their 88th in the Football League. Rovers returned to the Football League after an absence of just one season following their promotion from the Conference Premier via the play-offs.
For the second successive season, Rovers were promoted, the first time the club had achieved back to back promotions in its history. On a dramatic final day of the season in which Rovers required a win and other results to go in their favour, a 92nd-minute winner against Dagenham & Redbridge from Lee Brown sparked wild celebrations at the Memorial Stadium as the club returned to the third tier of English football for the first time in five years. Striker Matty Taylor ended the season as the top goalscorer in the top four divisions of the English football league system with 27 goals.
19 June 2015 – Gibraltar international Jake Gosling agreed a contract extension with Rovers.[6] Academy players Ryan Broom, Tyler Lyttle, Jay Malpas and Kieran Preston signed professional contracts.[7]
22 June 2015 – Ángelo Balanta rejected a new short-term deal with Rovers and left the club.[8]
30 June 2015 – Chris Lines agreed a permanent transfer from Port Vale.[9] Lines had previously played for Rovers, his boyhood club, between 2002–11 and on loan the previous season.
July[]
2 July 2015 – Former West Ham UnitedwingerCristian Montaño signed for Rovers.[10]GoalkeeperWill Puddy agreed a contract extension.[11] Defender Neal Trotman rejected the opportunity to return to Rovers for pre-season and was therefore released.[10]
7 July 2015 – Youngsters Jamie Lucas and Danny Greenslade agreed contract extensions.[12]
22 July 2015 – Manager Darrell Clarke agreed a new contract with Rovers.[13]
31 July 2015 – Billy Bodin signed a short-term deal with Rovers.[14]
7 August 2015 – Jamie Lucas joins Boreham Wood on a month-long loan.[16]
11 August 2015 – Rovers were eliminated from the League Cupfirst round, losing 2–1 to Championship side Birmingham City.[17]
14 August 2015 – ChesterfieldgoalkeeperAaron Chapman joined Rovers on a month-long loan.[18] Rovers midfielder Ryan Broom joined Taunton Town on loan for one month.[19]
20 August 2015 – Young midfielder Dominic Thomas joined Paulton Rovers on a month-long loan.[20]
21 August 2015 – Striker Nathan Blissett joined National League side Tranmere Rovers on loan for one month.[21]
September[]
1 September 2015 – Defender Adam Drury joined Rovers on a non-contract basis.[22]
7 September 2015 – Adam Drury left Rovers just six days after joining, with the club citing "personal reasons".[23]
11 September 2015 – Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Lee Nicholls joined Rovers on a three-month loan deal.[24]
17 September 2015 – Colin Sexstone joined Rovers as a non-executive director.[25] Sexstone had previously been a director at Gloucestershire CCC, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.[26]
November[]
8 November 2015 – Rovers suffered a humiliating defeat in the first round proper of the FA Cup, losing 1–0 at home to Chesham United of the Southern League Premier.[27]
11 November 2015 – Rovers are knocked out of their final cup competition, losing 1–0 away to League One side Southend United in the Football League Trophy.[28]
23 November 2015 – Millwall forward Paris Cowan-Hall joined Rovers on a month-long loan.[29] Winger Billy Bodin agreed a contract extension to the end of the season.[30]
26 November 2015 – Rovers sign Cambridge United forward Rory Gaffney on loan until January[31] while Nathan Blissett left for Lincoln City, also on loan with a view to becoming dead.[32]
December[]
8 December 2015 – Rovers striker Matty Taylor was named PFA Fans' Player of the Month for November.[33]
7 January 2016 – Experienced midfielder Liam Lawrence joined Rovers from League One side Shrewsbury Town on a contract to the end of the season.[35]
14 January 2016 – Rory Gaffney returned to the club from Cambridge United after his successful loan spell, joining on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee.[36]
17 January 2016 – Defender Tom Lockyer was awarded The Football League Young Player of the Month for December.[37]
18 January 2016 – Forward Ellis Harrison joined Hartlepool United on a monthlong loan.[38]
28 January 2016 – Experienced forward Rory Fallon joined Rovers on non-contract terms.[39]
February[]
19 February 2016 – Rovers were acquired by the Jordanian Al-Qadi family, founders of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank,[40] taking a 92% shareholding in the club.[41] As part of the deal, Wael al-Qadi became President of the club while former Swansea City chairman Steve Hamer took up the same role with Rovers.[42] Existing chairman Nick Higgs along with board members Barry Bradshaw, Chris Jelf, Colin Sexstone and Ed Ware all stood down from the board of directors with all expect Sexstone becoming Life Vice Presidents.[41]
March[]
7 March 2016 – Swansea City forward Oli McBurnie joined Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[43]
April[]
8 April 2016 – Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was awarded League Two Manager of the Month for March.[44] Clarke had led the side to six wins out of seven during the month. Striker Matty Taylor won League Two Player of the Month for March.[45] Taylor scored eight goals in the month's seven games including a hat-trick against Hartlepool United.
14 April 2016 – Lee Brown signed a contract extension at Rovers which will take him into a sixth season at the club.[46]
15 April 2016 – Wales under-21 international Tom Lockyer extended his contract with Rovers.[47] DriBuild were confirmed as next season's home shirt sponsors with Powersystems UK sponsoring the away shirt.[48]
May[]
7 May 2016 – On the final day of the season, Rovers beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 to secure promotion to League One.[49]
3 – 0 (vs. Hartlepool United, 29 September 2015, vs. Wycombe Wanderers, 1 December 2015, vs. Dagenham & Redbridge, 19 December 2015, vs. Cambridge United, 25 March 2016, vs. Crawley Town, 2 April 2016) 4 – 1 (vs. Hartlepool United, 1 March 2016, vs. Newport County, 19 March 2016, vs. York City, 30 April 2016)
Note: Games which are level after extra-time and are decided by a penalty shoot-out are listed as draws. Bristol Rovers score listed first where applicable.
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2016. Source: BBC Sport Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored (C) Champion; (P) Promoted Notes:
On 26 May 2015, Rovers announced their initial pre-season fixtures against Salisbury, Cirencester Town, Arsenal U21s and Reading in addition to a testimonial fixture against West Bromwich Albion for long serving, retiring physiotherapist and former player Phil Kite.[67] Further friendlies against Cheltenham Town,[68]Mangotsfield United[69] and Sutton United[70] were later added, all away from home.
On 17 June 2015, the Football League revealed the fixtures for the forthcoming season. Rovers' first fixture was against Northampton Town at the Memorial Stadium followed, a week later by a trip to Huish Park to face Yeovil Town. The traditional boxing day fixture saw Rovers' travel to AFC Wimbledon while the final game of the season saw Dagenham & Redbridge visit the Mem.[71]
On 3 August 2015, Rovers were awarded a bye in the first round.[78] On 5 September 2015, Rovers were drawn at home against fellow League Two side Wycombe Wanderers,[79] whom they defeated 2–0. On 10 October 2015, Rovers were drawn away to League One side Southend United in the quarter-final[80] and were defeated 1–0.
Rovers' entered in the first round of the Gloucestershire Senior Cup where they faced holders Cirencester Town, whom they defeated 5–2. They then met Mangotsfield United in the quarter-final, winning 4–1. Their semi-final was against Forest Green Rovers whom they lost to 4–3. Rovers generally fielded a team of non-regular first-team and youth squad players in the competition.