Eastville played friendly matches initially and moved from ground to ground. They began to play competitively in 1892, when they joined the Bristol and District League, the forerunner of the Western League. Five years later, they moved to Eastville Football and Athletic Ground, which they purchased for £150 from Bristol Harlequins Rugby Club.
Rovers turned professional in 1897/98 and changed their name to Bristol Eastville Rovers. One year later the 'Eastville' part was dropped and the club became known as Bristol Rovers.
The club joined the Southern League and adapted well, winning the Championship in 1905. They joined Division Three (South) in 1920 and finished 10th in their first season in the Football League.
They changed their kit to blue and white quarters in an attempt to impose their opponents, but were forced to seek re-election to the League on the eve of World War II.
In 1953, Rovers won the Division Three title for the first time and took their place in Division Two. They thrashed the Busby Babes 4-0 in a 1956 FA Cup third round tie. They were relegated back to Division Three, but Geoff Bradford became the only Rovers player to date to be capped by England while with the club.
Don Megson managed the club from 1972 to 1977 and he took Rovers back into Division Two, where they were to spend the remainder of the 1970s. They were relegated in 1980/81 and a year to forget was worsened by a fire that destroyed the changing rooms and club records at Eastville.
Rovers ground-shared with rivals Bristol City at Ashton Gate until they decided to move to Bath's Twerton Park, 13 miles east of Bristol.
Manager Gerry Francis assembled a quality side including Nigel Martyn, Ian Holloway, Devon White, Gary Penrice and Geoff Twentyman. They reached the play-offs in 1989, but lost out to Port Vale. The following year, they won the title, pipping City by two points. They also reached the Leyland Daf final at Wembley, where they lost to Tranmere.
Gerry Francis departed for QPR and Ian Holloway joined him a year later. Things got worse in 1990, when a group of mindless City fans set fire to the main stand at Twerton Park, which destroyed the stand and the social club.
In 1993, the club were relegated back to Division Two, finishing eight points from safety after accumulating 41 points from their 46 games.
Rovers finally moved back to Bristol in 1996, when they joined Bristol RFC at the Memorial Ground. They remained in Division Two until 2001, when they dropped to the basement.