Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers F.C. is the oldest professional football team in Bristol, England.
It was formed in 1883 as The Black Arabs, and renamed Bristol Rovers in 1897 after briefly being called Eastville Rovers and Bristol Eastville Rovers. The club joined the Southern League in 1899, and were founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920. They currently play in Football League Two.
The team traditonally draws support from north and east Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Its colours are blue and white quartered shirts, white shorts and blue socks. Away colours for the season 2002/03 are black shirts with a diagonal gold sash and black shorts - reflecting the original Black Arab kit of 1883. This marks the club's 120 year existence.
The club's official nickname is "The Pirates" - reflecting the maritime history of Bristol. A pirate features on both the club badge and the badge of the supporters club. The local nickname of the club is "The Gas", (from the gasworks next to the old Eastville Stadium)and hence Rovers fans are known as "Gasheads".
The song which is synonymous with Rovers - sung by fans in support of (and often commiseration with!) the team is "Goodnight Irene", originally written by Leadbelly.
Opinions differ as to how this came about but it is thought to have become popular in the 1950's when a version of the song was in the British charts - the line "sometimes I have a great notion to jump in the river and drown" - seemed to be particularly apt when rovers lost (The Bristol Frome flows next to the old Eastville ground).
Home games are played at The Memorial Stadium, Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, a ground they share with Bristol rugby club.
Honours
- Football League Third Division (South) champions 1952-53
- Football League Third Division champions 1989-90, runners up 1973-74
Watney cup Winners 1972