Sad Day For Rovers

Last updated : 20 May 2006 By Matthew Jones
Tranmere Rovers' Welsh international left-back Gareth Roberts will join fellow Coca-Cola League One side Doncaster Rovers on July 1st 2006.

Roberts, who has spent seven seasons on the Wirral with Tranmere has decided not to persue interest from Championship clubs and sign for Yorkshire side Doncaster Rovers on a free-transfer.

Originally signed on two-month trial from Greek side Panionios, where he played in the UEFA Cup Quarter Final, Roberts secured a three year deal in the 1999/2000 season and was part of the famous Rovers team who made it to two F.A. Cup Quarter Finals and the Worthington Cup Final in two straight seasons between 1999 and 2001.

During his time on the Wirral, Roberts played 280 league games as well as 44 cup matches for the club, scoring 12 goals in the process, including fantastic long range strikes against Wrexham and Chesterfield which won him the goal of the season award in consecutive seasons.

Gareth's consistency and importance to the side is outlined by the amount of games he has missed for the club over the past three seasons since Brian Little took over.

Between the 2003/04 and 2005/06 season, the left-back missed only eight league games, just underlining his personal fitness and how valuable he was.

Since moving to Prenton Park, Roberts has gone on to win nine caps for Wales, mostly at left-midfield and left-back, which are his two most comfortable positions along with left-wing-back.

Having heard the news of Gareth informing the club he is set to depart, Jason McAteer said "Gareth has been a great servent for the club for seven years.  But he has chosen to pursue his career elsewhere which opens the door to Carl Tremarco."

Just to outline how much the fans loved Gareth Roberts, you had to look at their reception to him when he played his final game for the club, ironically against the team he is set to join, Doncaster Rovers.

One banner in the Kop unravelled by a group of fans had "Thank You Gareth" writen on it whilst at the end of the game the whole of the lower tier of the Kop were bowing down to their hero as he, along with the rest of the squad, performed their lap of "honour".

I myself was proud to get my yellow away shirt with "3 Roberts" on the back signed by Gareth, shake his hand and wish him good luck for the future whilst one proud fan managed to catch his training shirt.

I'm sure I am amongst all Tranmere fans when I say this is a very sad day for Tranmere Rovers Football Club and we as fans thank Gareth for his tremendous loyalty, commitment and work-rate shown for Tranmere Rovers over the past seven seasons.

We wish Gareth all the best for the season and whilst we are little dissapointed he hasn't moved up a division to a Championship club, we still hope it works out for him at Doncaster.

Good luck Gareth and thank you so much for the memories.  You are a Tranmere Rovers Legend.