Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce the signing of Alfie Kilgour from Mansfield Town.
The centre-back rejoins the Gas on a free transfer and has signed a two-year deal with the Club, after spending the last two-and-a-half campaigns with The Stags.
The 27-year-old started his career with Rovers at eight-years-old before playing professionally at The Memorial Stadium for seven seasons, between 2016-2023, making 119 competitive appearances.
“It feels absolutely amazing to be back,” Kilgour said. “I class Bristol Rovers as my home, so it’s good to be back home for sure. It’s a fresh start and it is new beginnings, and some might even say there is a bit of unfinished business.
“Bristol Rovers is a massive Club that was my home from the age of eight to 24. My family and I have a deep, underlying love for this Club, so to be back in the famous Blue-and-White Quarters is a dream and I’m very excited.”
Head Coach Darrell Clarke worked with a young Kilgour during their respective first stints with Rovers and is delighted to welcome the defender back to the Club.
Clarke said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Alfie back to Bristol Rovers.
“It was a little under ten years ago that I included Alfie in a Rovers squad for the first time, while he was still with our U18s. He has developed into an excellent player who still has room to get even better, and I am excited that he has come home, and we have the chance to work together again.”
Director of Football Ricky Martin said: “Alfie’s connection to the Club is well known and I have seen first-hand his passion at the prospect of returning to Bristol Rovers.
“As supporters will already know, Alfie is a strong and aggressive defender who exceeds in his one-on-one defensive duties and duels. At 27, he is at an age where he brings vast experience into our squad but also can develop even further.”
Born in Bath, Kilgour joined Bristol Rovers Academy aged eight and worked his way through the youth set-up, earning his first spot in a first-team squad in a League Two fixture away to Scunthorpe Unted in August 20216, at 18-years-old.
Short loan spells with Mangotsfield United and Cirencester Town gave Kilgour a taste of senior men’s football in the Southern League before a third loan with Hungerford Town saw the defender test himself in National League South.
Kilgour then joined Maidenhead United on loan in the National League in November 2018, featuring 17 times in all competitions, before being recalled to Rovers in March 2019. He would make his debut in the Blue-and-White Quarters in an away win against Gillingham Town on March 12 2019, making his first start in a 2-2 draw with Plymouth Argyle eleven days later.
His efforts saw him named the Development Squad Player of the Season for 2018/19 with the home-grown talent signing a new deal that August. He enjoyed a break-out campaign with the Gas, making 45 appearances in all competitions in a curtailed 2019/20 season, scoring three goals.
Another impressive season in 2020/21 saw the centre-back make 44 outings, including 35 in League One, before registering his 100th competitive appearance for the Gas in a 2-2 draw with Bradford City in October 2021.
A knee injury sadly limited Kilgour’s opportunities through the remainder of the 2021/22 season, although the defender’s efforts helped Rovers achieve promotion back to League One at the first time of asking, before his 17-year association with Rovers came to an end with a transfer to Mansfield Town in January 2023.
Kilgour made an outstanding start to life with The Stags, winning the club’s player of the month award in February, March and April 2023 after scoring four goals in 21 League Two appearances. Injury again restricted his availability in the 2023/24 campaign as Mansfield secured promotion to the third tier of English football.
Kilgour returns to Bristol Rovers having made 46 competitive appearances for Mansfield across two-and-a-half years.
Everyone at Bristol Rovers would like to warmly welcome Alfie back to the Club and wishes him every success for his time in the Blue-and-White Quarters.
