Brian Stock began his career under AFC Bournemouth and played there under manager Sean O’Driscoll, making 145 League appearances for the club before joining Preston North End in 2006. When O’Driscoll was appointed manager of Rovers in September 2006, he made Brian his first signing, initially on loan. A gifted midfielder with vision and a great passing range, Brian soon established himself as a key member of the Rovers team and was part of an era of great success.
In April 2007 he was a member of the team that won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in a thrilling game against Bristol Rovers at Cardiff which Rovers won 3-2 after extra time. The following season, during which he took over the team captaincy from Graeme Lee, he made 40 League appearances. In May 2008 and helped Rovers to gain promotion from League One, taking the corner headed in by James Hayter for the only goal in Rovers’ Play-Off Final victory over Leeds United at Wembley.
Over the next four seasons, Brian was a key member of the Rovers team that performed outstandingly at times in the Championship, despite missing part of the 2009-10 season due to injury. In September 2009 he won the first of three full Wales international caps, all earned while with Rovers, in a World Cup Qualifying match against Russia. In August 2012, following Rovers’ relegation from the Championship, Brian joined Burnley and he later played for Havant and Waterlooville, helping them earn promotion to the National League in 2018. He now works as an academy coach back at his first club, AFC Bournemouth.
Rovers Debut: 12th September 2006, League One vs. Huddersfield Town (away) drew 0-0.
Final game: 9th April 2012, Championship vs. Burnley (home) lost 1-2.
Career: Football League: 190 appearances, 17 goals. All senior games: 216 appearances, 23 goals
Honours: Johnstone’s Paint Trophy winner 2006-07, League One Play-off final winner 2007-08.