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Black Arabs

Bristol Rovers FC were founded in September 1883 under the unusual name Black Arabs FC.

The following year they changed their name to Eastville Rovers and in 1892 they joined the Bristol & District League.

In 1897 the club turned professional and became Bristol Eastville Rovers, and the following year "Eastville" was dropped and they adopted the current name.

Founder Member of Division Three

Rovers joined the Southern League in 1899 and, in 1920, became founder members of the Football League Third Division.

In March 1940 the club, faced with financial problems, sold their Eastville Stadium to the Bristol Greyhound Company and thereafter rented the ground.

Division Three Champions

In 1953 they won the Third Division (South) and were promoted to Division Two where they remained until relegation in 1962.

They were promoted in 1974, but made little impression at the higher level and in 1981 they were back in Division Three.

Ground Share with Bath City

By this time, faced with mounting debts, the club had left Bristol and were ground sharing with Bath City at Twerton Park.

Despite this far from ideal situation, Gerry Francis led the team to promotion in 1990, only for them to be relegated again three years later.

Return to Bristol

In 1996 Rovers entered a ground sharing agreement with Bristol Rugby Club and finally returned to their home city.

A few years later they were able to buy out the rugby club's interest in the ground.

In 2001 Rovers dropped into Division Three and, during the next few years they narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference on a number of occasions.

In 2007 they gained promotion to League One via the playoffs.

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