'Mum and Dad will cheer for both teams' - brothers meet in FA Cup

Weston's Keiran (left) will face brother Luke and his Bristol Rovers side for the first time in the FA Cup

Despite growing up playing endless hours of football together, Saturday will be the first time brothers Keiran and Luke Thomas have ever faced each other in a competitive match when their sides Bristol Rovers and Weston-super-Mare meet in the FA Cup first round.

Luke, 25, plays as a winger for League One side Rovers while his older brother Keiran, 29, is a right-back for non-league side Weston, who play in the National League South.

The Thomas family, from the Forest of Dean, will find their allegiance split whichever way the result ends up going.

"Really excited, really proud day for the family. Mum and Dad will be there, not quite sure who they'll be supporting," Luke Thomas told BBC Points West.

"I think it might be the first time where they celebrate both teams scoring."

Keiran Thomas said: "I don't think I'm going to get a better draw for the first round, it's what dreams are made of. We'd like to be on the same team but to play against each other is just as good."

For Keiran, who has never played in the FA Cup before and works as a carpenter, hearing sixth-tier Weston get drawn away to his his brother's team was "emotional".

"I was listening to it in my van," he said. "I was out trying to get some stuff for work and when it come through my heart was pounding.

"I really wanted Rovers and when it come through I was just speechless. It was a bit emotional, one of them really, it was really nice."

Luke said: "He rang me, I completely forgot about it. I was over the moon when he said we were playing each other. I'm really looking forward to it, can't wait."

The Thomas brothers grew up with a love of football, with both Keiran and Luke - and third sibling Liam - all in Cheltenham Town's youth academy.

While Luke went on to sign professionally with Derby, before moving to Coventry, Barnsley, Ipswich and Bristol Rovers - initially on loan in 2021-2022 before a permanent move last year - Keiran forged a career in the non-league game.

Their careers did cross paths - albeit briefly - during a spell at Gloucester City in 2017.

"We have always grown up playing with each other but he's a few years older than me so I never got the chance to play with him at a young age," Luke said.

"We did have a season at Gloucester on loan together for a few games. He played right-back and I played right-wing so the link-up was there."

Keiran said: "I've always supported Luke and I want him to really push on and I believe he can push on even further than what he's doing now.

"When he played at Wembley for Barnsley [in a League One play-off final], I said that's one of the proudest moments I've ever had. I'm really proud of what he's achieved."

Luke Thomas joined Rovers from Barnsley permanently in 2023 after joining the club on loan in 2021

The brothers always wish each other good luck before every game they play and if they are both selected to start, when 15:00 GMT comes around on Saturday there will continue to be no animosity or attempts to psyche each other out.

"I'd just wish him good luck, I'm sure he'd do the same with me," Luke said. "I'll be concentrating on the game and I know he will be to."

Keiran added: "May the best team win and we'll go from there."