Macauley Southam-Hales knows exactly what it takes to have a successful season in Sky Bet League Two and is sure Bristol Rovers’ fortunes will turn after a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign.
The right-back moved to the Pirates in the summer from Stockport County, where he played 119 times in all competitions across five seasons and gained two promotions to help the Hatters move from the National League to Sky Bet League One.
Rovers will be looking to collect their first victory of the season after back-to-back defeats in the fourth tier were followed by a defeat to Cambridge United in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Speaking to the media before the trip to Chesterfield, who have won both of their fixtures in Sky Bet League Two without conceding, Southam-Hales admitted last season's disappointments will still be in the thoughts of players, but has urged his team to use it as motivation in the future and to give everything for the Club.
“It’s always going to be in the back of people’s minds but it’s a new group and new staff trying to build a new culture here,” he said. “It’s hard to say myself after not being here [last season], but you want to erase that as quick as you can but still use it as a driver in the same sense.
“You don’t want to fall back on that and use it as an excuse, but we have to really liven up and show a good account of ourselves week in and week out. I think the fans want to see people put on that badge and do the best for the badge and try. The results will come. We’ve got full belief in that with the boys around the gaffer. We’ve got full belief that it will turn, but it takes time, and we will need everyone on our side to get that done.
“The bare minimum as a professional is to give 100 per cent to give the fans something to get behind. It’s obviously not nice getting the reception now and again, but it’s sometimes deserved, and it’s on us as players and as a Club to give the fans something to get behind and really, because I've heard stories of when they do that, it’s a tough place to come and visit. That’s the main priority for us: to give them something to get behind. When they are that 12th man, I’m sure they’ll be brilliant.
He later added: “There are a lot of points to play for. The Club has had success out of this league before, and I have as well. You’re one run away from really challenging at the top again. So, I think when that first win comes, we build on that confidence and tick off the next week and keep ticking off games. Come Monday, every week is a project towards the next game and that’s the idea we’re going with.”
Southam-Hales was one of Rovers' earliest summer additions and was the third of ten players who have moved to the Pirates this summer. However, despite playing a role in pre-season, he had to wait until Rovers' Carabao Cup match against Cambridge to make his competitive debut.
The defender was delighted to make his first appearance and is looking to build his fitness in the coming weeks.
“It was brilliant for me to make my debut, but in hindsight, you want to come away with a win, and unfortunately, we didn’t do that,” said Southam-Hales.
“I had an injury at the back end of last season, which ran over into the off-season, so coming here was always going to be stop-start at the start. It was frustrating for me, but over the next couple of weeks, I’ll build up fitness and keep getting minutes where I can.”
Southam-Hales really endured the highs and lows of football during his time at Stockport. On the pitch, two promotions with the Hatters show plenty of success, but the 29-year-old had plenty of difficult times as well.
The defender suffered a career-threatening injury against Harrogate on February 3 2024, where he suffered a full patella tendon rupture and spent an extended period on the sideline. Reflecting on his time out, Southam-Hales confessed he learnt a lot during his tough time and is working hard to stay on the pitch.
“I had a lot of ups and downs through that journey, and to be told it was a one-in-ten-year injury was a bit of a blow, but I’ve learnt a lot coming from that, and hopefully that’s in the past now and I can move forward,” he said.
“It was a full patella tendon rupture. So, you’re looking at ten to 12 months out in the best case. It’s quite rare in football; you get more common ones like ACLs and things like that, but this injury only happens in major incidents.
“I learnt a lot about myself in that time, and I came out of the other side stronger.
He later added: “Touch wood, that’s me done. I continue to work on myself and continue to work in the background to stay as fit as I can. Hopefully, my days of injury are done. You can never know what is around the corner, but I’ll do everything I can to stay fit and stay ready and available.”
