Bristol Rovers: Paul Buckle was enthused by QPR free transfer pick-up and was proved right | OneFootball

7th of May is known as Lee Brown Day for a reason

There aren’t too many things that Gasheads would reflect on positively from Paul Buckle’s time in charge at Bristol Rovers – after all, he only managed 28 games in charge of the BS7 outfit before his sacking in January 2012 – but he can perhaps be best remembered for his signing of the then 20-year-old Lee Brown.

Brown is a name that will bring streams of happy memories flooding back for fans, who remember the former Rovers defender’s promotion-winning heroics.

He joined the Gas in the summer of 2011 after being released by QPR, with Buckle enthusiastic about bringing the left-back to the Memorial Stadium. The manager spoke of his impressions of the young prospect, having seen him previously, and of his delight at securing his signature.

Buckle said (via BBC Sport): “Lee is another exciting young prospect and I am delighted he has chosen to join Bristol Rovers. I have seen him play a number of times and have been very impressed.”

May 7th is Lee Brown Day for a section of Bristol Rovers supporters

Brown would go on to have an incredibly fruitful seven-season spell at the Gas with some fans even tagging the 7th of May as Lee Brown Day for his promotion-winning heroics back in 2016.

It was the 92nd minute in front of a packed house at a pulsating Memorial Stadium – the Gas were being held 1-1 by a resilient Dagenham and Redbridge. Chance after chance had gone begging, even hitting the woodwork or sending the ball the wrong side of the post by a matter of inches. Gasheads could be forgiven for starting to feel like it just wasn’t going to be their day.

That was until that man, Lee Brown, would find himself with the ball at his feet and a wide-open goal in front of him for a gentle stroke with his right foot that sent the ball rolling into the back of the net and the Rovers supporters into delirium. It would be a strange feeling at first, however, as Gasheads would still have an anxious wait for results elsewhere to be confirmed.

Soon after, though, the stadium would erupt, and a pitch invasion ensued as the Gas clinched promotion back to League One after a horrendous run of five seasons, which included the Pirates slipping out of the English Football League after 94 years.

Lee Brown would see his loyalty to Bristol Rovers rewarded

Brown remained loyal to Rovers despite being relegated with the club to the Conference and would quickly see that loyalty rewarded with immediate back-to-back promotions - Brown having the decisive say in 2016 and scoring his penalty in the Vanarama Conference play-off final shootout the season before.

When Brown was set to leave Bristol Rovers in 2018, another Gas Legend, Marcus Stewart – then assistant manager – talked up Brown and his position in club folklore.

Stewart told Bristol Live: “I’m going to be biased and say he’s probably one of the most important players that this club has had in its history in terms of the attitude he had to show to help get this club back on track and he opitimised what we needed at the time”

Brown would finish at the Gas having made 319 appearances, scoring 22 times with 44 assists.

Buckle therefore can at least be proud of that particular impact he had on Bristol Rovers and he can say he was proved to be right about this Gas hero.