As Tommy Rowe gets set to make the 600th appearance of his professional career this weekend, we’ve taken a look at some of his biggest and best moments in a Rovers shirt since arriving at the club, initially on loan, in 2016.
March 19, 2016:
Rowe joined Rovers on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the 2015/16 campaign, in a move that saw him link up with boss Darren Ferguson for a second time.
Signed and sealed, and straight into the squad. Rowe came off the bench at half-time against former club Peterborough United at the Eco-Power Stadium, but couldn’t prevent Rovers from slipping to a 2-1 defeat.
April 19, 2016:
He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield. Rowe sneaked around the back of the Spireites defence to volley home from a Gary McSheffrey corner, with his first of three goals in three games towards the back end of that campaign.
May 18, 2016:
After relegation to Sky Bet League Two was confirmed on the final day of the campaign, many expected Rowe to move on and head for pastures new.
But Rovers set out their intent when he signed a three-year deal, less than two weeks after the season had come to an end.
Rowe was followed through the door by the likes of Matty Blair, Mathieu Baudry and John Marquis among others that summer as Ferguson’s side went on the hunt for an immediate return to the third tier.
August 6, 2016:
Rowe scored Rovers’ first goal of the 2016/17 season away at Accrington Stanley, but teething problems were obvious as they were beaten 3-2 at the Wham Stadium.
October 29, 2016:
The No.10 got on the end of a ball in from James Coppinger to find the back of the net against Wycombe Wanderers, which made it three goals in three games, and took his tally for the season to six.
January 5, 2017:
A superb volley in front of the Sky Sports cameras helped Rovers extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, with a 3-1 win over Portsmouth on home soil.
February 25, 2017:
Rowe moved into double figures for the season with a goal in a 2-2 draw against Accrington Stanley, which was the fourth time in the space of six games that they had to settle for a point.
April 8, 2017:
Rovers went into the game against Mansfield knowing they were on the verge of securing promotion with five games still to play after that.
As often was, and still is the case, Rowe was the man for the big occasion as he scored the winner against the Stags, heading home from a James Coppinger corner 16 minutes from time to win send his side up.
He ended the season with 13 goals, behind only John Marquis in the scoring ranks.
December 3, 2017:
Two goals from Rowe against former club Scunthorpe saw Rovers book their place in round three of the Emirates FA Cup.
That made it four for him in the competition that season, having also bagged a brace in the previous round at Non League outfit Ebbsfleet United.
March 30, 2018:
A Good Friday double at Blackpool helped Rovers edge towards securing their League One safety with eight games still to play.
A goal either side of half-time at Bloomfield Road took Rowe to nine for the season, and he would go onto play three more games that campaign before it was ended prematurely through injury.
August 3, 2018:
Following the appointment of his former team mate Grant McCann as Rovers manager earlier in the summer, Rowe was named as Rovers captain prior to the 2018/29 Sky Bet League One season getting underway.
August 4, 2018:
A day later, Rowe repaid the faith shown in handing him the armband by scoring what turned out to be the winner on the opening day of the season at Southend United.
November 17, 2018:
After more than two months out with a hamstring problem, Rowe made a goalscoring return against AFC Wimbledon. A great strike from distance secured all three points just four minutes shy of the 90.
April 13, 2019:
Rowe’s goal against Plymouth Argyle set Rovers on their way to a fourth straight victory on their way to the Sky Bet League One play-offs.
May 17, 2019:
His final goal of his first spell with Rovers came at the Valley against Charlton in the play-off semi-final second leg. Rovers were denied a place in the final after Rowe and John Marquis both missed from the spot in a penalty shootout decider.
June 23, 2021:
Having spent two years in the Championship with Bristol City, Rowe returned to the Eco-Power Stadium on a two-year deal.
September 18, 2021:
After scoring his first goal since returning against Wigan Athletic a week earlier, Rowe got up highest from a corner to score the winner and secure Rovers their first victory of the campaign against Morecambe.
November 6, 2021:
Rowe was once again the man on hand from a set-piece to secure Rovers’ passage in the Emirates FA Cup, with a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe United.
February 5, 2022:
Arguably one of his best goals in a Rovers shirt came in one of the biggest venues. A volley with his right foot at the Stadium of Light turned out to be the winner against a Sunderland side who would go on to win promotion via the play-offs.
February 26, 2022:
With Rovers 2-0 down at fellow strugglers AFC Wimbledon, Rowe grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with two goals inside four second half minutes to secure a point for his side.
June 10, 2022:
Despite Rovers’ relegation to Sky Bet League Two, Rowe’s commitment was never in doubt as he penned a new contract with the club last summer.
August 13, 2022:
Rowe’s only goal so far this season came against a familiar opposition. A brilliant strike from distance at Wimbledon set Rovers on their way to another comeback from 2-0 down, with Ro-Shaun Williams’ late leveller sealing a point in the capital.
September 3, 2022:
In the first of two major milestones achieved this term, the home game against Mansfield saw Rowe rack up 200 appearances in a Rovers shirt.
April 1, 2023:
Rowe is set to reach 600 career appearances when Rovers take on Crewe Alexandra, in a career that has seen him play for Stockport County, Peteborough United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol City, as well as Rovers.