Rovers appoint Lee Tomlin as first-team coach

Bristol Rovers confirmed on Thursday that Lee Tomlin has joined the club as a first-team coach. The 37-year-old will work alongside manager Steve Evans and assistant coach Byron Anthony in the day-to-day training operations at The Quarters Training Facility.

Tomlin steps in to support the coaching staff while assistant manager Paul Raynor continues his treatment for bowel cancer. Evans stated that he took great care in selecting Tomlin after interviewing several candidates. The former manager noted that Tomlin was highly recommended by senior figures in the game and was a standout candidate.

Tomlin’s playing career included stints with Middlesbrough, AFC Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Peterborough United, and Bristol City. He made 60 appearances for the Robins during his time with the club. During his tenure at Nottingham Forest in 2019, Tomlin briefly played under Evans. Since retiring from professional football, he served as assistant manager at Morecambe and acted as joint-caretaker manager earlier this year. Prior to that role, he worked as a player-coach at Ilkeston Town and as the forward coach at Sheffield United.

Upon joining the staff, Tomlin said he knew Evans for 20 years and described the manager as a born winner. He expressed a desire to provide another perspective for Evans to consult with regarding the team's development. Tomlin also mentioned that he had been observing Rovers matches and speaking with staff member Ian Hutton about training standards. He noted that the players have maintained a high standard and that the coaching staff's goal is to keep those standards high.

Evans emphasized that Tomlin already understands the tactical requirements because he previously played for both Evans and Raynor. The manager said Tomlin is eager to learn and develop his coaching career while focusing on the hard work on the grass.

In other news, Rovers' Under-18 team advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday, October 27. The squad defeated Forest Green Rovers 3-2 at The Mem. Jacob Hammonds, Kazim Salahi-Ali, and Carson Fowler scored the goals for Rovers. The team will host the winner of the match between Oxford United and Hereford in the next round. The Football Association has set all ties to be completed by Saturday, November 21.

The Rovers Women's team, known as the Gas Girls, will travel to Moneyfields for the second round of the 2026/27 Women's FA Cup. The match is scheduled for the weekend of Sunday, November 15. Moneys currently sit in second place in the FA Women's National League Division One South West, which is the fourth tier of the English football pyramid. They are five points ahead of Rovers, who are positioned three places lower in the table. In the opening round, Nathan Hallett-Young's side defeated Abingdon United 6-0. Libby Davies scored twice, while Annys Turner, Nia Rees, Lilia Dempsey, and Lashai Mcnama also found the net in that match.