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Ben Roberts Retires!
- Thread starter Wilka
- Start date
thedonkeycentrehalf
Moved back to wear the gloves (again)
- Jul 7, 2003
- 9,344
After watching training this morning, Blayney looked like a solid keeper - more so than Shabaan.
Doubt if we would be in a position to buy him though if he is any good as I'm sure that Saints would want money for him.
Doubt if we would be in a position to buy him though if he is any good as I'm sure that Saints would want money for him.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
On the Left Wing said:Four!!
Ben Roberts
Simon Rodger
Dean Blackwell
who is the fourth? I must have slept through it!
John Piercy.
Theatre of Trees
Well-known member
Piercey
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
thedonkeycentrehalf said:
I guess the fact that he is third choice down there could count in our favour.
Also we have 2 very good keepers coming through, seemingly.
227 BHA
Well-known member
Piercy
Best of luck Ben
Superb keeper - sadly this news comes as no surprise. Didn't think I would ever see him play for us again
Best of luck Ben
Superb keeper - sadly this news comes as no surprise. Didn't think I would ever see him play for us again
Edward Scissorhands
New member
- Feb 20, 2005
- 6,979
http://www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/LatestDetail/0,,10433~645525,00.html
Roberts Retires
By Tim Dudding
Ben Roberts has decided to retire from professional football at the age of 29 after failing in his battle to overcome a persistent back problem.
After ending last season on a high with the Play Off victory over Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium, this year has a been a season of anguish and heartache as the back injury has denied Roberts from making a single first team appearance.
Thought to be disc trouble in his lower back, the injury has meant that Roberts has rarely been able to make it onto the training pitch, and the former Middlesbrough and Charlton stopper has spent much of the year in the treatment room.
Roberts told seagulls.co.uk, "Every time I go back into training I feel like I did going back as far as last July. My back problem seems to settle down with rest and then as soon as I go back into goalkeeping work its basically no better. I'm left with no alternative really.
"It has become soul destroying. You build up every day, you train and work hard with the thought that you're going to get back in training.
"Then literally as soon as I've got back into training - it's not like I even managed a good couple of weeks - as soon as I get back into training the problem remerges."
Ben Roberts
Albion boss Mark McGhee expressed his disappointment at the news, and admitted that he had hoped to have had Roberts back for the end-of-season run-in.
"The injury has just beaten him," McGhee said. "It's a recurrent back injury that we can't get to the bottom of, and therefore he just feels he can't go on.
"It's a terrible blow for him, and it's a blow for us. I thought he would be back in contention for a place in the first team now, but it's not to be."
Roberts will continue to see a specialist and the Albion medical staff over the next few weeks, and he has nothing but praise for the support he has received over the last nine months from his colleagues and Albion fans in general.
"It's a difficult period when you can't play and it's hard mentally when you can't do the job you love to do.
"Everybody associated with the club has been really supportive; the medical staff; the staff at the club; the fans wishing me well when I've seen them out; just everyone has been really supportive and that has made life that little bit easier this year."
Roberts is the fourth Albion player to hang up their boots this season. Midfielders Simon Rodger and defender Dean Blackwell both decided to retire after failing to overcome cruciate ligament damage, while midfielder John Piercy was forced to call it day though illness.
Roberts Retires
By Tim Dudding
Ben Roberts has decided to retire from professional football at the age of 29 after failing in his battle to overcome a persistent back problem.
After ending last season on a high with the Play Off victory over Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium, this year has a been a season of anguish and heartache as the back injury has denied Roberts from making a single first team appearance.
Thought to be disc trouble in his lower back, the injury has meant that Roberts has rarely been able to make it onto the training pitch, and the former Middlesbrough and Charlton stopper has spent much of the year in the treatment room.
Roberts told seagulls.co.uk, "Every time I go back into training I feel like I did going back as far as last July. My back problem seems to settle down with rest and then as soon as I go back into goalkeeping work its basically no better. I'm left with no alternative really.
"It has become soul destroying. You build up every day, you train and work hard with the thought that you're going to get back in training.
"Then literally as soon as I've got back into training - it's not like I even managed a good couple of weeks - as soon as I get back into training the problem remerges."
Ben Roberts
Albion boss Mark McGhee expressed his disappointment at the news, and admitted that he had hoped to have had Roberts back for the end-of-season run-in.
"The injury has just beaten him," McGhee said. "It's a recurrent back injury that we can't get to the bottom of, and therefore he just feels he can't go on.
"It's a terrible blow for him, and it's a blow for us. I thought he would be back in contention for a place in the first team now, but it's not to be."
Roberts will continue to see a specialist and the Albion medical staff over the next few weeks, and he has nothing but praise for the support he has received over the last nine months from his colleagues and Albion fans in general.
"It's a difficult period when you can't play and it's hard mentally when you can't do the job you love to do.
"Everybody associated with the club has been really supportive; the medical staff; the staff at the club; the fans wishing me well when I've seen them out; just everyone has been really supportive and that has made life that little bit easier this year."
Roberts is the fourth Albion player to hang up their boots this season. Midfielders Simon Rodger and defender Dean Blackwell both decided to retire after failing to overcome cruciate ligament damage, while midfielder John Piercy was forced to call it day though illness.
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On the Left Wing
KIT NAPIER
Blimey I had forgotten about Piercey .. seems like last season now!
Can we also count getting rid of David Lee as a forced retirement!!!??
as for Ben ... sadly missed, I was one of a few who rated him more highly than FDM
Can we also count getting rid of David Lee as a forced retirement!!!??
as for Ben ... sadly missed, I was one of a few who rated him more highly than FDM
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Curious Orange
Punxsatawney Phil
Sad to see yet another Albion retire this season. Ben won't be forgotten for either the superb stops he used to make, or for the occasional sorties out of his area that gained him his "Coco" nickname.
A hero in the penalty shoot-out against Swindon, and at the Millennium Stadium shortly after.
All the best Ben.
A hero in the penalty shoot-out against Swindon, and at the Millennium Stadium shortly after.
All the best Ben.
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Superseagull
Well-known member
- Jul 8, 2003
- 2,123
Roberts, Blackwell, Rodger and Piercy - 4 experienced quality players who we have really missed this season
Strike
Sussex Border Front
Yep I was another one who rated Roberts more than Kuipers, very disapointed about the news. Best of luck for the future Roberts.
Ex Shelton Seagull
New member
He was an excellent keeper in both his spells here. Kept clean sheets in 7 out of the last 8 games last season. To think that one of our strong points at the start of the season was the fact that we had two excellent keepers.
The Ben Roberts moment for me however is one of his mistakes. We were leading Boston 1-0 in the LDV trophy 2nd round with a minute to go. Me and my old man were just about to go back home for a curry when Roberts went on one of his expeditions outside the box. He promptly had the ball nicked off his toes by a Boston player who then equalised, meaning the two of us had to sit through another half hour of football.
The Ben Roberts moment for me however is one of his mistakes. We were leading Boston 1-0 in the LDV trophy 2nd round with a minute to go. Me and my old man were just about to go back home for a curry when Roberts went on one of his expeditions outside the box. He promptly had the ball nicked off his toes by a Boston player who then equalised, meaning the two of us had to sit through another half hour of football.
Silent Bob
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
- Dec 6, 2004
- 22,172
Roberts in pictures
Remembering the playoffs semi still sends shivers down my spine.
Remembering the playoffs semi still sends shivers down my spine.
Marshy
Well-known member
Good luck Ben.
Gritt23
New member
Sadly, it did look inevitable that he would have to retire prematurely from that back problem. A dreadful shame that it had to come this early though.
If it's any consolation Ben, when playing football in the garden or the park my 3 year old ALWAYS names the 'keeper as "Ben Roberts". However, if he's not in goal he'll say ..."Right, I'll be Leon Knight, you can be Ben Roberts. How's your back Ben?"
That may say a lot. Ben played in goal at the only game I've taken my son to (Crawley), and seeing Ben right in front of us has clearly had a lasting impression. Little did I know it would be the last time I saw Ben in an Albion shirt.
The Play-off Final was a top day, and you Ben were a large part of us getting there. Cheers fella, all the best.
If it's any consolation Ben, when playing football in the garden or the park my 3 year old ALWAYS names the 'keeper as "Ben Roberts". However, if he's not in goal he'll say ..."Right, I'll be Leon Knight, you can be Ben Roberts. How's your back Ben?"
That may say a lot. Ben played in goal at the only game I've taken my son to (Crawley), and seeing Ben right in front of us has clearly had a lasting impression. Little did I know it would be the last time I saw Ben in an Albion shirt.
The Play-off Final was a top day, and you Ben were a large part of us getting there. Cheers fella, all the best.
Fourteenth Eye
Face for Radio
Such a shame.
His last professional game ....picking up a winners medal in cardiff
Good luck ben
His last professional game ....picking up a winners medal in cardiff
Good luck ben
Donny Osmond
New member
- Jul 6, 2003
- 618
The save at Bradford what Turkey has already mentioned and the play-off semi penalty save are my personal highlights of Ben's short Albion career. Quality keeper, great shot stopper and commander of the defence.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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The Wookiee
Back From The Dead
Has Piercy retired