Bristol Rovers have announced Richie Smallwood has joined the club on loan until the end of the season on their official website.
The midfielder comes with bags of experience. Something Steve Evans has been wanting to add to the squad.
Smallwood joins from Tranmere Rovers who sit 17th in League Two and are eight points above the Gas as things currently stand.
Tranmere named him club captain at the start of the season. He reunites with Steve Evans saying: “We had a great time together at Rotherham and I know what he’s all about.”
Smallwood came through at the Middlesbrough academy and spend four years in the north of England. He left Middlesbrough in 2014 going out on loan to Rotherham in January.
The holding midfielder scored the winning penalty in the shootout at Wembley, helping Rotherham win promotion. He joined Rotherham permanently in 2014. Smallwood won Rotherham’s player of the season for his efforts during the season.
Smallwood fell out of favour with new manager Alan Stubbs and ended up on loan at Scunthorpe making only 18 appearances for the club. He opted to turn down a new contract with the Millers and joined Blackburn in 2017.
Blackburn gave him a home for three years where he made 83 apps scoring 3 times.
Smallwood left Blackburn moving to the east of England in Hull. The 5ft 11 centre-mid left Hull in 2022, moving to Bradford City.
Smallwood made over 150 apps for Bradford getting promoted with them in the final season with them.
After his promotion, and with his contract up, the Yorkshireman ended up at Tranmere where things haven’t worked out for him.
He has only played 90 minutes in one of Tranmere’s last eight games playing in their last win, a 2-0 victory over League two strugglers, Harrogate.
He joins the Gas with promotion winning experience and the ability to improve Bristol Rovers in the closing months of the season.
