Midfielder Chris Lines on Bristol Rovers’ expectation levels
MAYBE it’s time for Bristol Rovers supporters to take stock of just how far they’ve come in such a short space of time.
That’s certainly the opinion of midfielder Chris Lines, who is part of a Pirates side that are currently more stuttering than swashbuckling.
Before this weekend, Rovers had lost eight of their last nine in all competitions and, in midweek, the club were forced to deny that manager Darrell Clarke’s position had become untenable.
But perhaps some perspective is needed…
It’s as recently as 2015 that the Pirates were navigating the choppier waters of the National League.
After back-to-back promotions, last season they recorded their highest finish in the Football League – 10th in League One – for 17 years.
And, as he and his teammates strive to turn things around this term, Lines – who is currently enjoying his second spell with the club – hopes the Memorial Stadium faithful will keep the bigger picture in mind.
“I think that some people, especially our home fans, forget where we were three or four years ago,” said the 31year-old.
“You sometimes have to look and think: ‘This time three or four years ago, we were playing against Conference sides. Now we’re going to teams like Blackburn and Wigan’.
“It’s been nothing but success over the last few years.
“The expectation levels have got really high now because the fans have been used to seeing us win more often than not. It hasn’t been much fun for the fans to watch us this season and we need to make sure they enjoy watching us week in, week out.
“But it’s still early days and we’ve got a little knack of coming good after Christmas.
“Personally, I’m not panicking.
Intriguing
“As players, we’ve just got to step up to the plate and get back to what we were doing last season.”
A boyhood Rovers supporter, Lines signed for the club as a 19-year-old back in 2005 and was part of the side that won the League Two play-offs in the 2006-07 season.
His eventually signed for Sheffield Wednesday for £50,000 before then joining Port Vale.
In March 2015, he reached the most intriguing crossroads of his career.
The opportunity arose to return to Rovers on loan, but it meant dropping down to NonLeague.
Lines took the plunge. Though his side finished second in the National League, he scored to help Clarke’s men overcome Forest Green in the play-off semi-finals before notching in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley as the Pirates beat Grimsby.
A swift promotion from League Two followed and, having played his part in restoring Rovers to their former heights, the midfielder’s call for perspective appears justified.
“It was a bit of gamble at the time, dropping down from League One to the Conference, but I wouldn’t have done it for any other club,” said Lines, who penned a new contract in March.
Difficult
“It was the club I supported when I was a young lad. So, if anything, I wanted to come back and help them get back to where they are now.
“Since I was four or five, I’ve been to watch the games and, right up until 17 or 18, I was still on the terraces.
“It could have gone completely the other way. Hopefully, I’ve won a few people back over again.
“I’m enjoying it. I’m feeling fit, so hopefully I can carry on playing for another five or six years.
“It’s difficult to get such a long contract once you get over that 30 barrier, but I’m happy.
“I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.”