A combination of a reunion with Darrell Clarke and the chance to wear the blue-and-white quarters made returning to Bristol Rovers an easy decision for Ellis Harrison.
The forward has rejoined the Gas, heading home to BS7 after starting his career at The Memorial Stadium, signing a one-year deal and becoming the Club’s eighth signing of the transfer window.
Having thrived at Rovers under Clarke, and again at Port Vale, the 31-year-old is relishing the prospect of a third stint working with the Head Coach as the Pirates get set for the start of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Speaking at The Mem after signing his new contract, Harrison explained to BRTV how excited he was to once again be back at Bristol Rovers…
Ellis, welcome back to Bristol Rovers. How are you feeling, being back here?
“It’s really good to come back to Bristol Rovers. Even when I used to come back here to play against Rovers, it was always nice to come back to The Mem. And it’s even better that I get to play for the gaffer again.”
You mentioned the gaffer there, Darrell Clarke. It seems like he is a coach that has always been able to get the best out of you, whether that’s at Rovers or at Port Vale.
“We trust each other. He’s done a lot for my career. I give 100 per cent for him and I always have and always will. When he gave the call about coming back to Rovers, it was an easy decision for me to come back and play for this Club again.”
What was it about coming back to Bristol Rovers right now, at this time, that made it the right move for you?
“To be honest with you, it was down to the gaffer. I will play for Darrell wherever he is. He’s back at Bristol Rovers now which is amazing because that’s where I want to be too. It’s a fantastic reunion in so many ways.”
When you look at your career, starting out at Bristol Rovers and achieving promotions, going on to other clubs and achieving big things too, is this move about unfinished business or about playing football?
“It’s about playing football again. The last couple of years have been a bit stop-start for me and I want to get back on the pitch, back to playing football every week and back to winning ways. That’s what I hope to do here.”
There are some very good options in attack here in Promise Omochere, Ruel Sotiriou, Shaq Forde and Ollie Dewsbury. They’re quite young players too. How excited are you to play alongside them and hopefully impart some wisdom and experience too?
“Obviously it’s the manager’s job to coach, alongside his coaching team, but I’ll help out in any way I can. If any of the lads take one thing from me that can help them, that’s great, but similarly if they don’t then that’s fine as well because they are all good players in their own rights”
As one of our own – a lad that came through the Academy – what is it about Bristol Rovers that makes this club so special?
“I came through the Academy as a young player and I was here for eight years as a pro, it was all I knew. I would watch the games and I would see the boys up front and I wanted to be in and around that. When you watch as a scholar, and you’re watching The Mem rocking, you want that chance and I was lucky enough to get a chance and a took it. That was special to me.”
How excited are you to step out at The Mem again?
“I’m always excited to play at The Memorial Stadium. Even coming back as an opponent, going against Rovers, I’m always excited. But to be back in the blue-and-white quarters, back in these colours, it’s going to be great.”
