'This weekend is certainly not about myself' - Matt Taylor pays homage to Bristol Rovers ahead of 140 year anniversary

Matt Taylor will be in the dugout at the Memorial Stadium as Bristol Rovers manager for the first time this weekend as the Gas host Cheltenham Town in League One.

The 41-year old made it very evident that although Saturday will be a big day for himself, this weekend is about the club, as the fans celebrate its 140th birthday. "This weekend is certainly not about myself or even the opposition manager," said Taylor. "It's about celebrating what is all good about Bristol Rovers football club."

Rovers welcome back former legendary gaffer Darrell Clarke to the Mem. The 45-year old spent over four-and-a-half years at the club steering them to back-to-back promotions into League One during his tenure. Taylor added: "What they've been through the ups, the downs, the successes, the failures and the times where the club has been in a difficult situation. But it seems to be quite a strong place now and hopefully a stronger place moving forward and that should be something that the fans can really get their teeth into."

Following last Tuesday's departure in the EFL Trophy at the hands of Crawley Town, Saturday will be an excellent opportunity for Taylor to see the fans face-to-face for the first time. "I got to see the players up close and personal on Tuesday and then I kind of get to see the fans up close and personal one on this weekend. It's also a celebration for the football club so it's important we talk about that and the history of this football club, what makes it such a good football club and how long a history it has as well, 140 years."

Although the weekend's visitors sit rock bottom of League One, Taylor will know that the Robins will be no push over, especially with Clarke at the helm. "There is lots to look forward, maybe with part of the stand open I don't know if we have had confirmation of that, but it just feels like a big game of football and these are the games you want to be involved. These are the games why I came back out of it not a mini retirement, but a bit of time where I was not involved in football, for games like this and we want be on the right outcome of whatever is at the end of that, which hopefully is a positive performance and a results for us."

The former Rotherham United boss won't be worried by Tuesday's EFL Trophy exit as he believed the team performed well in spells. "In terms of the chances we created, it was the most amount of chances we've created this season," said Taylor. "That's not my doing it was just how well we played in certain parts of that game, but it's all about the results, all about how we have to respect that teams will have certain moments in games and when Crawley had their moment we weren't able to control ourselves and certainly control the space on the pitch. I learned a little bit more about the collective and some individuals within it as well and I'll be looking forward to seeing what they produce this weekend."