After getting a taste of EFL football last season, Keenan Gough wants more during his loan spell at Bristol Rovers.
The midfielder has moved to BS7 from Sky Bet Championship team Charlton Athletic, where he played three times and also appeared in the squad several times.
The 20-year-old is now making his first switch away from the Addicks, signing for the Pirates on loan for the 2026/27 campaign. After learning plenty of lessons last term, he is ready to take another step forward.
Speaking to BRTV for the first time, Gough is looking forward to getting going in the blue-and-white quarters and wants to play as much as possible.
So, Keenan, welcome to Bristol Rovers Football Club. How does it feel to be here?
"It feels really good to be here. It's my first day here, the sun's out, and I'm feeling good."
And what were the first conversations with Steve like?
"It was good. He told me about what he wants to do with the club and where he wants to take it. So, I think it's exciting. I think it's exciting places to go.
Alongside the manager, how did you know that Bristol Rovers is the right step for you?
"I think it's a massive club. I realised how big it is for the league it's in, and how massive its fanbase is, too. So, I think it's going to be a really good challenge for me to help the club get promoted.
It's your first professional loan, so how excited are you for that?
"Yeah, I'm a bit nervous, but really excited to be fair. Excited to get going. It's a big step for me, but yeah, I'm ready."
You've made a couple of appearances for Charlton as well. What have they been like in senior football?
"Good, to be fair. Good challenge at a good level. But you learn a lot, and you learn a lot fast, but I think it's really helped me."
Does that give you the taste to want even more this season?
"Definitely. I'm really excited to get a good run of games and play consistently."
And for the fans, what type of player are you?
"When I'm in the middle of the field, I'm someone who breaks up play, someone who intercepts play and simplifies it. I love a duel, I love a battle, so I never back down from them. And then with the ball, I'd say I'm technically good, and I read the game and communicate well too.
Coming from a Championship club, what did you learn from there?
"I learned a lot playing at that level, and the games I did play, one of the things would probably be the intensity of it and making mistakes — you'll get punished. So yeah, I think they're two big things."
As the U21s captain there as well, what responsibility did that give you?
"It was really good. I really enjoyed being the captain for the U21s. I think I took that in my stride and helped players beside me and helped us grow as a team. But I enjoy it. I enjoy leading by example, and I enjoy encouraging others to do better."
From a personal standpoint, what are your aims for this season?
"From a personal standpoint, I want to play consistent games. I want to get in and around it. I want to win games and help others and myself develop and get better."
And pre-season is well and truly over, but how excited are you to start playing competitive football here?
"I'm really excited. Obviously, everyone wants to win even in pre-season, but once the season starts, that's when it really matters. So, I'm really excited to get going."
Stepping out at The Mem — are you excited for a nice big crowd to go out in front of?
"Yeah, definitely excited. I've heard people don't like playing there, so I'll definitely enjoy playing there."
