Before the end of the season representatives of the Supporters Club, Clive Marshall and Keith Brookman, along with Chairman of the Former Players Association Tony Mills, were invited to The Quarters to present what have become known as legacy caps to a number of the first team squad. Essentially, the Supporters Club are committed to presenting a cap to every player who has made a league appearance for Rovers.
Today we feature two of the loan signings who received their caps and who joined us in the January transfer window, namely Kofi Balmer and Richie Smallwood.
25 year old central defender Kofi was born in Newtonabbey, County Antrim and a quick resume of his career shows that he’s previously played for Ballymena United (professional, 01/05/2017) [80 games, 8 goals]; 19/04/2021 Larne [35, 3]; 11/08/2022 Crystal Palace; 15/07/2023 Port Vale (loan) [8+3,0]; 31/01/2024 Wimbledon (loan); [17,1]; 11/06/2024 Motherwell [17+8,0]; 12/01/2026
He arrived on loan from Motherwell and before the season’s end had scored twice in 22 league matches, both goals coming in the spectacular bracket. Indeed, his first goal, a left foot strike against Walsall, was voted Goal of the Season by the Supporters Club
The Northern Irish defender had international honours for his country at U-19 level, playing five times in 2018, and at U-21 level, having won 20 caps and captained his nation at both age groups; he had been called up to the full squad twice, in 2022 and 2025.
He had scored in a 1-1 draw on his League bow away to Coleraine in April 2017 and he was Ulster Young Player of the Year for 2018/19. His time at Ballymena included cup final defeats in the 2018 County Antrim Shield against Crusaders, the 2018 Northern Ireland League Cup against Dungannon Swifts and the 2020 Irish Cup against Glentoran and also included Europa League experience.
With Larne, he appeared in the Conference League and enjoyed greater cup success, being part of the side which defeated Linfield 1-0 in the 2021 County Antrim Shield Final.
Three Premier League games on the bench at Palace in October 2022 prefaced 33 Premier League 2 appearances and he also appeared in their long Premier League 2 Cup run. Loan spells with Port Vale, where a hamstring injury sustained against Peterborough United kept him out for six weeks, and Wimbledon, appearing alongside John-Joe O’Toole and Harry Pell, gave him experience of lower league English football.
A Motherwell teammate of Sam Nicholson and the subject of transfer enquiries from St Mirren and the Danish side Kolding, Balmer arrived at The Mem having just five Scottish Premier matches that season to his name.
He had previously played at The Mem on two occasions, once in a Football League Trophy game in October 2022 when, despite Glenn Whelan’s red card, Rovers had defeated Palace’s U-21 side 2-0, and as a half time substitute when Port Vale lost 3-0 in October 2023.
Richie, a 35 year old midfielder from Dormanstown, Redcar, Cleveland has the following clubs on his CV; Redcar Town; Middlesbrough (professional, 05/06/2009) [36+24,apps 3 goals]; 23/01/2014 Rotherham United (loan); 19/08/2014 Rotherham United (£175,000) [116+11,3]; 31/08/2016 Scunthorpe United (loan) [6+10,1]; 20/06/2017 Blackburn Rovers [75+3,2]; 11/08/2020 Hull City [63+6,2]; 22/06/2022 Bradford City [127+3,6]; 14/07/2025 Tranmere Rovers [20+6,0]
Hugely experienced as a holding central midfielder, he joined Rovers in the final moments of the January transfer window. As a teenager he had shown real promise, being selected for the England U-18 match against Austria in April 2008, a fixture which was won 2-0 at Victoria Park, Hartlepool.
A Middlesbrough début against Nottingham Forest in October 2010 and a first goal in the 3-0 victory over Cardiff City in May 2011 appeared to herald the start of a long and successful career.
Playing alongside George Friend and Josh McEachran, his reputation was forged and he was to score the decisive spot-kick, his first penalty in professional football, as Rotherham defeated Orient on penalties to win the 2014 League One play off final.
He went on to become Rotherham’s Player of the Year for 2014/15, playing alongside Tom Hitchcock. There followed a loan spell at Scunthorpe which included a goal against Southend United in September 2016, a 4-0 win in which he was a teammate of goalkeeper Luke Daniels.
It was during his spell at Ewood Park that Smallwood first crossed paths with Rovers, for he was an ever present as Blackburn gained promotion from League One in 2017/18, playing twice against The Gas that season.
He also played alongside Tom Eaves at The Mem with Hull City in October 2020, as the Tigers surged to the League One title under his captaincy. Three successful years with Bradford City included his last minute penalty at Grimsby Town on Easter Monday 2024, as he captained the Bantams to promotion from League One, with Sam Walker also in their side; it took a stoppage time goal against Fleetwood Town on the final day to secure their dramatic promotion and Smallwood was named Player of the Year.
He began this season with Tranmere Rovers and played for them, at The Mem in October 2025, bringing up his 500th League appearance shortly before arriving in Horfield on the same day as Tommy Leigh, his former Bradford City teammate.
Both played their part in hauling Rovers away from the relegation places long before the season ended and were members of the squad that went nine games undefeated towards the end of the campaign, a run that include eight consecutive wins. Reports/rumours indicate that both may return to The Mem in permanent deals next season, though as yet that isn’t confirmed. Based on the evidence of their relatively short loan spells with us to date, permanent deals would be welcomed by supporters.
Photos courtesy of Bristol Rovers FC
