Bristol City defender Ryley Towler admits he’s benefitting from playing alongside Bristol Rovers legend Lee Brown, with the pair having bonded over shared experiences of the West Country during their time together at AFC Wimbledon.
Towler is on a season-long loan at Plough Lane, having moved on transfer deadline day, and has made four appearances for the Dons, becoming a part of Johnnie Jackson’s back three and has brought ball-playing ability from deep and composure in possession to the team.
Alongside him in defence is Brown, now 32 and still revered in the north part of Bristol for his last-minute winner against Dagenham & Redbridge which took the Gas into League One at the end of the 2015/16 season.
As a former pupil of Mangotsfield School, Towler grew up in a predominantly Rovers-supporting area of the city and has previously joked how most of his childhood friends are Gas, with the 20-year-old having been part of the Robins academy since he was seven.
Brown isn’t the only legendary figure from West Country football providing guidance for Towler during his stay in south London as Yeovil Town icon Terry Skiverton is Jackson’s No2 and works daily with the defensive unit.
“I’ve spoken to him (Lee Brown) about Rovers and where he lived when he was there. I think he scored a goal to take them up a few years ago,” Towler told afcwimbledon.co.uk. “He’s quality, he’s always helping me out, he’s always talking to me and he always gives me little bits of advice, he’s been brilliant.
“Terry has been brilliant with me; helped me straight away with my communication, being lounder, demanding the backline to get up, winning tackles, winning headers, just little advice, keeping them on the outside as a defender and not showing them inside.”
Towler has played both as a left-sided centre-back and in the middle of a three but is yet to taste success in a Dons jersey as they prepare to host Colchester United at Plough Lane this weekend
It’ll mark Towler’s Saturday debut at the south London venue having made all his appearances on the road or midweek, which included an initiation ceremony in which he performed karaoke to Biggie Smalls’ 'Juicy' - a performance he insists was “a good little rap - went down well”.
“I haven’t played at home on a Saturday yet,” Towler added. “Hopefully it’ll be three points in the bag and then we can celebrate with the supporters again. I’ve been really enjoying the games. I think I’ve done well. We haven’t got the results we’ve wanted just yet but I’m telling you – they’ll be coming soon.”
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