Having done the hard yards last season, Luke Wynne-Roberts literally grabbed his Step 3 chance with both hands at the weekend.
The talented goalkeeper was an ever-present for Redhill FC in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South last term, helping the club reach the play-offs following a third-place berth and keeping an impressive 22 clean sheets along the way.
It was the kind of form that had clubs from higher levels circling and in the end, Chertsey Town won the race for his signature, with his Pitching In Southern League Premier South debut ended in another clean sheet from a 2-0 away triumph at Tiverton Town.
“I loved every minute of it on Saturday,” he told us with a broad smile. “There’s nothing better than the new season starting with an away win and clean sheet.
“It’s a tough place to go to, as most are at this level, and during the first half we found ourselves up against the wind. The pitch didn’t help matters either, but we looked composed and solid at the back, whilst creating chances at the other end.
“Playing with the wind after the break, we gained momentum and looked a much better side. It was a deserved win in the end and a Southern League debut to remember for me!
“I can't wait to face the challenges that lie ahead this season; it’s going to be tough because there are some very strong teams and talented players in this League, but it’s a chance for me to show what I can do at this level.
“There will be highs and lows along the way, I know that, but let’s hope that the highs outweigh the lows! I am sure they will do, particularly if Saturday’s performance is anything to go by.
“Of course this is a big step up from where I was playing last season, but I’m relishing this opportunity and I feel that I am more than ready to make the most of it.
“We have a strong team, management and support behind us, so there’s no reason why we can’t push on and really compete this season and take that next step to be part of the group of teams in the upper half of the table.
“Going into any season, you should always aim high; winning things is what you play football for. Play-offs are an achievable target for us and it would be great to be able to show people that we can challenge for that.
“We want to be a difficult team to beat, whilst going forward we have the players who can create chances and score goals.
“For me personally, I would love to build on the amount of clean sheets I kept last year, but as long as the team are doing well and we keep winning games that’s a great achievement for me.”
Wynne-Roberts stands by for his home debut on Tuesday as Berkhamsted, who also won on the opening day, provide the opposition.
IMAGE: Surrey Live
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