Richard Smallwood

Following his move to Bristol Rovers, Smallwood's current-season form is level with last season (Season 24→24), while his Rating held around 11. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 45).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Bristol Rovers · 7th	3	0	0	6.87	11	24
2025/26	Bristol RoversLoan	15	0	1	7.09	—	—
2025/26	Tranmere · 21st	41	0	2	6.95	11	24
2024/25	Tranmere	1	0	0	7	—	—
2024/25	Bradford · 3rd	43	2	3	7.05	15	37
2023/24	Bradford · 9th	42	1	2	7.08	16	29
2022/23	Bradford · 6th	47	3	6	7.28	21	43

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 12 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headDefensive midfielder

R. Smallwood is a 35-year-old defensive midfielder at Tranmere, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 2 assists in 41 appearances, a Season grade of 24. On long-term scout potential he's rated 10.5. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (71.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.76 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Smallwood.

On the season, Smallwood graded 24 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals, 2 assists and 3.759 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 24 → 24). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 11. At 35 Smallwood is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2021/22Holding levelBreakout: 2021/22Stepped up 2021/224 clubs

10.5

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

23.7

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

71.7%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.76

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Tranmere finished 21st of 24 · a lower-table side

Apps

3.76

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 41 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (21st of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 71.7% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Age curve. At 35, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 10.5 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %71.7%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900.061

Goal contribution / 900.061

Defensive actions / 903.759

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Cards / 900.212

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~2), then tapers with age. At 35, Smallwood sits on 0.6, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Smallwood's projected Rating — 10.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles77

Interceptions35

Blocks12

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards7

Red cards0

Transfer history

Bristol Rovers(on loan)Feb 2026 – now

TranmereJul 2025 – Feb 2026Free Transfer

BradfordJul 2022 – Jul 2025Free

Hull CityAug 2020 – Jul 2022Free

BlackburnJun 2017 – Aug 2020Free

Rotherham(back from loan)Jan 2017 – Jun 2017

SScunthorpe(on loan)Aug 2016 – Jan 2017

Rotherhamuntil Aug 2016

Middlesbrough(back from loan)Jul 2014 – Aug 2016

RotherhamAug 2014 – Jul 2014

Rotherham(on loan)Jan 2014 – Aug 2014

Middlesbroughuntil Jan 2014

About R. Smallwood

Richard Smallwood is a 35-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Bristol Rovers, born on December 29, 1990 in Guisborough, standing 180 cm tall. He is from England. Bristol Rovers currently sit 7th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, R. Smallwood has made 3 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 166 minutes.

R. Smallwood's next match is on September 5, 2026, when Bristol Rovers face Rotherham at home in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates R. Smallwood at 10.5 with a Season form score of 23.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the League One. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 17 recorded seasons, R. Smallwood has totalled 531 club appearances with 16 goals and 19 assists for 9 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 47 appearances for Bradford.

R. Smallwood's career has also included time at Tranmere, Bradford, Hull City, Blackburn, Rotherham, SScunthorpe and Middlesbrough.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.