The 2011-12 campaign was a season of dramatic, mid-season turnaround for Bristol Rovers as The Pirates, newly relegated from League One, battled their way to a respectable 13th-place finish in League Two. The year was defined by an early struggle under manager Paul Buckle, whose January departure led to the arrival of Mark McGhee, steering the club away from a looming relegation battle and bringing about a crucial upturn in fortunes. Spearheading the attack was the clinical Matt Harrold, whose 16 crucial goals proved instrumental in securing the club's status and stabilizing The Pirates back in the professional ranks.