Bristol Rovers are following a useful Bristol City pathway once more: View | OneFootball

With the signing of Taylor Moore Bristol Rovers continue to grow their links with Bristol City

Highlights

It’s a controversial topic for many Gasheads, but that’s not stopped Bristol Rovers from opening the gates once more this summer to individuals who have links to their arch rivals from across the City of Bristol. Ashton Gate, home to Bristol City, appears to have indirectly become a favoured breeding ground for the Gas.

By design or by accident, it’s had mixed success and has become a source of tongue-in-cheek banter between neighbours with some City (and Rovers) fans labeling the Gas as “City Rejects”.

Bristol Rovers confirm signing of ex-Bristol City defender Taylor Moore

With Bristol Rovers recently confirming the signing of former Bristol City defender Taylor Moore, the 27-year-old Englishman became the latest in an ever-growing list of Rovers signings who have crossed the Blue and Red divide.

In recent seasons, the Gas have repeatedly recruited players with links to the Ashton Gate side. Whilst not recently direct transfers between the clubs, players including Chris Martin, Jack Hunt and James Wilson, have all at some point in their careers been on the books of Bristol City.

And you can go back through history to find numerous former Gas players who have also previously played for Bristol City, including Gas favourites such as Jason Roberts and Steve Phillips. Both had memorable careers with Rovers following their time with the Ashton Gate outfit.

Chris Martin, Jack Hunt and James Wilson proved critical last season

Last season, of course, Chris Martin was invaluable to Rovers finishing 15th, having struck an important partnership with star midfielder Antony Evans and scoring 16 goals.

Jack Hunt and James Wilson, who both spent a significant period of time with Bristol City, were both vital to Rovers’ squad depth last campaign as the team was plagued by injury. Hunt was also able to contribute goals and assists in his campaign last time out.

The Gas have also recruited David Horseman to their backroom staff this summer, who spent 10 years at the Robins across two spells. He joined Bristol Rovers with another former Bristol City coach, Jamie McAlister, going in the opposite direction out of Bristol Rovers.

The transfers are often met with a mixed reaction considering the deep-rooted rivalry between the two Bristol clubs, but there is often a simple reality to these moves. Some players tend to stay within a certain distance of families and will make their choice based on practicality. Staying in the same region reduces the upheaval of relocating, and reduces the burden on families. For others, it's about being at different stages in their career or perhaps feeling familiar with the fanbase.

All That Really Matters

Some in the Bristol Rovers fanbase will say that once a player joins the enemy, they should never play for Rovers. Many others simply see the pragmatic side and believe it’s how they perform at Bristol Rovers that really matters.

With Bristol City now having spent several years at a higher level in the Championship, while the Gas have bounced between League's One and Two, even spending one year in the National League, the insight and experience these players bring with them can be invaluable to Bristol Rovers’ development.

So it would be fair to say that many of those signings have proven useful and beneficial to the club. It can only now be every Gasheads hope that those insights and higher standards translate into higher aspirations.