During 2011 and 2012, Bristol Rovers Football Club participated in League Two, the fourth level of English football. It was 129th season of football played by Bristol Rovers, and their 85th in the Football League. The previous saw Bristol Rovers end a four-year tenure in League One. Despite initial optimism of an instant return, the campaign proved disappointing as Rovers struggled for much of the season under new manager Paul Buckle before being replaced by Mark McGhee who brought about an upturn in fortunes to finish 13th.
20 May 2011 – Bristol Rovers announce that 17 players will be released at the end of their contracts at the end of June.[2] Striker Will Hoskins is transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.[3]
30 May 2011 – Paul Buckle is appointed manager of Bristol Rovers, after leaving the manager position of Torquay United.[4]
3 January 2012 – Manager Paul Buckle was sacked as manager of Bristol Rovers with the club 19th in League Two. Buckle left the club having won just six league games out of 24 and winless since October in the league.[47]
6 January 2012 – Bristol Rovers extend Andy Dorman's loan for another month.[48]
7 January 2012 – Aston Villa beat Bristol Rovers 3–1 in the third round of the FA Cup in a match broadcast live on ESPN.[49]
18 January 2012 – Bristol Rovers appointed Mark McGhee as the club's new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[51]
27 January 2012 – Aaron Downes, Andy Dorman and Cian Bolger all had their loans at Bristol Rovers extended until the end of the season. Goalkeeper Michael Poke has his loan extended by a further month.[52]
14 April 2012 – Bristol Rovers hammer Burton Albion 7–1, the first time Rovers have scored 7 past anyone since 1973. It was also manager Mark McGhee's biggest victory of his managerial career so far.[68]
27 April 2012 – Youngsters Eliot Richards and Ollie Clarke sign contracts extensions at Bristol Rovers of two years and one year respectively.[69]
May
4 May 2012 – Conor Gough signed for Bristol Rovers on an emergency seven-day loan from Charlton Athletic. Rovers had already agreed to sign Gough permanently in the summer.[70]
5 May 2012 – Bristol Rovers' season finished on a disappointing note, losing 4–0 to Dagenham & Redbridge. They finished 13th in the league table having picked up 57 points.
^"MANAGER ON DONS". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^"TONIGHT'S GAME OFF". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 10 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^"DANNY WOODARDS JOINS ROVERS". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^"POST MATCH WYCOMBE". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^"NORBURN EXTENDS HIS LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
^"DORMAN EXTENDS LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
^"KUFFOUR JOINS GILLINGHAM". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
^"ROVERS SIGN LUND ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
^"REECE JOINS TAMWORTH ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
^"ROVERS SIGN PATERSON". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
^"ROVERS SIGN PARKES ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
^"BYRON JOINS HEREFORD ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
^"CRONIN JOINS EBSFLEET ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
^"POKE EXTENDS HIS LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
^"LUND EXTENDS HIS LOAN". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
^"KEEPER IN LINE FOR DEBUT". Bristol Rovers Official Website. bristolrovers.co.uk. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.