Bristol City send out goalkeeper to help out Bristol Rovers legend - makes winning start

Bristol City have loaned out goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards to Gloucester City until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been on the bench eight times this season for the Robins this season, standing as back up for Daniel Bentley and Max O’Leary.

Wiles-Richards will now play for the Tigers from now until the end of the 2021/22 National League North campaign after Jake Cole, former Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Liam Armstrong and Archie Matthews were all sidelined with injuries.

Should there be any injury issues to Bentley or O'Leary then the club does have an option to recall the player and he will be eligible to feature in any further City squads.

"We are delighted to have Harvey on board until the end of the season," commented Lee Mansell to their official website.

"He is extremely well thought of at Bristol City where they have high hopes for him. We thank Nigel Pearson, Pat Mountain and Bristol City for allowing this to happen."

"With Jake out for a considerable amount of time with his calf, Liam still not right with his groin and our previous loan signing Archie being ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury sustained at Bradford, we felt this was a vital position to be strong for the run in."

The young shot-stopper has been a regular feature in the under-23’s side which are battling with Ipswich Town for the Premier Division title, but now Mac Boyd is expected to see out of the season.

Wiles-Richards was thrown straight into the action after arriving at New Meadow Park and kept a clean sheet. On-loan midfielder Lucas Tomlinson, who is on loan from the Gas, scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over AFC Fylde.

The win put them nine points above bottom-of-the-table Guiseley, relieving them of some pressure as they look to preserve their sixth tier status.