At 49 years of age, the remarkable career of Barrington Edward Hayles rolls on. More than three decades on from his first senior appearance for Willesden Hawkeye, Barry still laces up his boots on a Saturday for his 15th club.
But one place means more; the place where he smashed through the glass ceiling after eight years in the part-time game.
"Rovers gave me my chance in the Football League and I had a great time there. I’m a Gashead through and through," Hayles told Bristol Live this week.
"It was a fantastic period for me personally. I scored 26 goals, got the golden boot and we made the play-offs. I think we were favourites to get relegated and we switched that 360 and we nearly made the play-off final.
"When that season finished, Bristol City put an offer in and the club came and put it forward to me and said it would be good for the club if I speak to City. But, I was like 'No. I couldn’t do it. I can’t join City'.
"I said to Rovers that I wouldn’t even speak to them and I remember (chairman) Geoff (Dunford) saying financially for both of us, it would work. But I couldn’t have done it."
That season Hayles refers to was the Division Two campaign of 1997/98, when Hayles spearheaded a menacing front three alongside Peter Beadle and Jamie Cureton – which he compares, in style only, with Liverpool's Champions League and Premier League-winning triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
It was a rare beast and they were good old days, all scoring at least 13 league goals each as Ian Holloway's high-octane football took Rovers to the verge of the second tier.
But it was Hayles who was the main man, a ruthless finisher blessed with speed and the rare ability to stare a defender down and beat him one-on-one.
Holloway had seen Hayles in action a year before he signed from Stevenage Borough and tried to sign the future Premier League forward. Negotiations broke down but the Gas boss was not letting this hidden gem be unearthed by someone else.
"When he first tried to get me from Stevenage, they couldn’t agree a fee," Hayles recalled. "He contacted me and said, if I’m there the next year, then he’s definitely going to come back for me and true to his word, he did come back.
"We forged our relationship from there and he said he’d build a team to get me goals, which worked out for me and the club.
"He wanted players fit. He wanted us to work hard and attack and outscore teams so for a striker it was great. If you’ve got a high press and a front three that will work hard and score goals then you definitely have a chance in each game."
Hayles' time at Rovers lasted a superb 76 games across less than a season and a half, showing his impressive durability to turn up for every game. It's no wonder he is still capable of popping up with a goal as his 50th birthday nears.
A narrow loss to Northampton Town in the play-offs ended Rovers' realistic hopes of keeping Hayles for the long-term, and he admits he likely would have stayed at the Mem had they made it into Division One that season.
A £2million move to upwardly mobile Fulham was too good to turn down for Rovers and Hayles, who later played for three seasons in the Premier League.
It pains him to say, as a Tottenham fan, that Sol Campbell was his toughest opponent, though Cureton remains among his favourite teammates; some accolade considering the hundreds, possibly thousands, of players Hayles has come across over the years.
And in many ways they are kindred spirits, both playing well into their forties in non-league after making their breakthroughs at Rovers.
Hayles is now player-assistant manager at Merstham in the third step of the non-league pyramid. He hints this could be the last year before he hangs the boots up for good.
He said: "First game of the season I came on. I’m not looking to play, but I came on. I’m still in fairly good shape.
"I still look forward to matchdays and taking part in the games. I’m concentrating more on the coaching and managing side of things but if needs be, I can come on and help the team.
"I could definitely do at least half a game. I just love playing and being on the pitch. But there will come a time when inevitably I will have to hang them up.
"I’ve always taken it year to year. This could be my last one, but I will just have to see how it goes."
For all the great days with the Gas, one of the worst moments of Hayles' career came in a Rovers shirt.
At Wisbech Town in the FA Cup in 1997, the striker was victim of racist abuse from the stands.
Hayles is pained to concede such discrimination remains "rife" and believes it will never stop.
"It will never be eradicated because people have their own views and opinions," he said. "But for me, in the build-up to that game I remember reading about it in Les Ferdinand’s book and he said that was the worst place that he got racially abused.
"When I kicked off and heard it. I remember going in at half time and someone told me to jog out not walk out. The score was 0-0 and I was frustrated because we hadn’t scored yet.
"So I jogged out and a banana flew past the side of my head. And I’ve thought ‘What the f***?’. It’s not a happy place to be in.
"But scoring the winner and silencing the racist mob, that was pleasing enough."
Hayles and a friend watched the Euro 2020 final together this summer, both agreeing it was sadly inevitable Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were to be targeted by neanderthals on social media after missing in the penalty shootout.
But he believes the country is lucky to have young black men of such class and dignity. "They’re role models," he said. "And that’s what we need at the moment, positive role models."
That awful experience at Wisbech will never tarnish Hayles' memories of Rovers; the blue and white quarters mean a lot to this man.
And he will wear those colours again on Sunday for a Gas legends XI in the Martin Belsten Memorial Match at Mangotsfield United Football Club.
More than £15,000 has already been raised ahead of the event, which is being held in aid of Bristol Rovers Community Trust. Advanced ticket sales have ended but supporters can pay on the day.
"It’s for a fantastic cause, and it’s a pleasure to be invited down again," Hayles said. "I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the games I have played in. It’s good to catch up with old teammates as well and to see the Rovers fans because they hold me in such great esteem.
"It always feels good to wear the blue and white quarters."
The Martin Belsten Memorial Match takes place at Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground this Sunday with Gas icons such as Darrell Clarke, Rickie Lambert, Steve Phillips and Lee Mansell taking part against a supporters' XI. Tickets are available as pay on the day with £5 entry fee but Under-5s go free. Gates open at 12:30pm with kick-off at 3pm.
