It’s a story that dreams are made of. Playing in his 250th game for Bromsgrove Sporting and with his team trailing 2-1 to higher level opponents in the Emirates FA Cup going into the final minute, Aaron Roberts goes forward and heads home an equaliser.
The 31 year-old defender, who played in the Rouslers’ first-ever game in 2009 and has subsequently turned out for them in every League that they have played in since, was already a hero amongst the supporters of the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central club, but this has only strengthened his legendary status even further.
He and his teammates head to Chelmsford City of the Vanarama National League South for the replay on Monday evening hoping to be able to finish the job off.
“To be totally honest, reaching 250 appearances was something I didn’t think I would achieve as I had been away from the club for just under four seasons and I didn’t see a viable route back here,” he admitted to us. “That changed when I spoke with the Gaffer in the summer and I jumped at the chance to return and I’ve chipped away at it since the season begun.
“I am extremely proud of this achievement and to mark it with such an important goal topped it off perfectly.
“I feel that with my aerial ability, I should always weigh in with goals from set-pieces and I think Saturday was my most important goal for the club, so it was a fitting time to get it and it will forever be a great memory whatever happens in Monday’s replay.
“The replay is going to be as tough as it gets at this stage when you factor in the travel, the higher level of our opponents and the turnaround in that its being played just two days after the original tie.
“We will be up against it, but as the team showed at the weekend, we are willing to put the work in and stick to our task in order to progress.”
So what are the highlights from over the past 250 games?
“The back-to-back promotions where we went from playing on parks pitches in the Midland Combination to Step 3 was a great journey for both me and the club,” he replied. “To have represented the club at every stage of that journey is special and I can’t wait to amass many more appearances and have new adventures with the club.
“I think that as a group we’ve made a solid start to the season. We have an excellent young Gaffer at the helm who is willing to give young players a chance to be part of his plans and I think we’ve started well considering the team has been rebuilt from scratch.
“We’re in one of the most competitive divisions there is at this level and our aim is to just keep picking up points and quietly climb the table.
“We’re looking to do that on a consistent basis and see where it takes us, but for now our focus in on getting into the next round of the best domestic Cup competition there is.”
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IMAGE: Bromsgrove Sporting FC
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