Bristol Rovers loan star pens goodbye as he begins fight for Stoke City berth

Connor Taylor has left his mark at Bristol Rovers, departing this week as one of the most popular loanees in the club’s modern history after their remarkable promotion.

The 20-year-old, brought on a season long loan from Stoke City, was a consistent figure in their promotion winning side, earning their place back in the third tier at the first time of asking.

Making 47 appearances across all competitions, he kept an impressive 17 clean sheets, as well as scoring three goals, including one on the final day against Scunthorpe United.

Dealing with a change in centre-back partner with Alfie Kilgour being injured and Mark Hughes leaving in January, he alongside fellow loanee James Connolly, got the Gas up the league table, adding solidity to a reliable back four.

After the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign and a spell out in Dubai with the players to toast their success, Taylor has packed his bags and is returning to Staffordshire.

In a parting message to show his gratitude for his spell at the club, he penned an emotional message to supporters and everyone involved at the club.

“I can’t thank everyone associated with @Official_BRFC enough, what a year it’s been,” he tweeted.

“Fantastic club with great people all across the board. Rollercoaster of a season but together we achieved our goal in the end. GASHEADS.”

Whilst a second season on loan would be the preferred option at Rovers, there is a belief from the player he could use this season as a platform to break into the first-team at the bet365 Stadium.

Playing alongside the likes of Glenn Whelan, who was a long-term servant at Stoke City has been of a benefit to his development as a player.

Whilst there was also praise reserved for

"Coming here has made me realise what first-team football is all about," he said to BBC Radio Stoke in an interview last week.

"You won’t get a promotion every year so you’ve got to enjoy this, but I fully believe in myself to come back, whenever I do, and stake a claim.”

He could return to the Memorial Stadium however, albeit for the opposition.  A friendly match has been arranged between Rovers and Taylor’s parent club for Tuesday, July 19, which is 11 days before the 2023/23 League One season begins.

As well as Taylor, there was also a short message from winger Luke Thomas, who sent a short message to his followers.

Thomas, a player that Barton has expressed publicly that he would like to keep at the club, tweeted a simple ‘Thank you’ accompanied with a picture of him in a Rovers shirt.

Thomas, who was in and out of the side after enduring a difficult start to the first part of his loan, finished with five goals in 28 league appearances, mainly coming off of the bench in the promotion run in.