Inigo Calderon makes Liverpool point as young Bristol Rovers fans attend open training session

Bristol Rovers hosted an open training session at the Mem on Tuesday with a significant turnout from younger supporters

Inigo Calderon has expressed his delight with seeing Bristol Rovers fans attend the club's open training session at the Mem on Tuesday, particularly younger supporters with the Easter holidays currently in session.

Gasheads had the opportunity to watch Rovers players train in the flesh ahead of their huge game at home against Exeter City this Saturday before then being able to meet the players afterwards alongside posing for pictures and getting autographs.

There was a notable attendance of young fans amid the school holidays and, for the Gas head coach, that was especially pleasing.

"I think it was good," Calderon reflected on the open training session. "It was a bit strange. Obviously, coming on a Tuesday morning to the Mem is not what you are used to but I like the feeling of being in the stadium. As a player, I loved to train in the stadium. As a coach, I like to coach in the stadium.

"Especially having the fans and especially most of them being kids, I think that’s really good because I always say that the connection with the fans is key and even for the players to feel the love from the kids I think is really good.

"I always say that, when you see a kid with a Rovers shirt, I love that because it would be easier to get the Man. City one or the Liverpool one. But no, they're coming here with the Rovers shirt. So for me, it is just to feel proud to be part of this football club."

Calderon and his players are in desperate need of the continued support of Gasheads ahead of five crunch matches to decipher which league Rovers will be playing in next season.

The Pirates are sat just three points above the relegation zone having played a game more than 21st place Burton Albion while their goal difference is inferior by a pretty significant seven goals.

Saturday's game against Exeter is set up to be the club's most important match since being promoted out of League Two in 2022 with Rovers in desperate need of putting an end to their worst run of the season, losing five games in a row.

"That's the strength of a fan base," the Spaniard continued. "It's not dependent on the results. Obviously, everybody wants to play in the Prem but it’s how proud you are regardless of where you are in the division or the tables and that's credit for the fans.

"As I say, it will be easier to support Liverpool now. Last year, Man. City. But no, they support Bristol Rovers, whatever happens, so that's really good. That, for me, is when you see the value of the fans."