Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Roberts looks forward to Top Field return
Saturday, July 19 2003
Cambridge City provide the opposition for Hitchin's final home game of their pre-season programme next Saturday, and one Canaries old boy is keenly anticipating a return to Top Field.
Former Hitchin striker Gary Roberts is now in charge at the Dr Martens League outfit and looks forward to meeting old friends at the club. "I have fond memories of Top Field and enjoyed my spells there," he says, recalling a Hitchin career that began in 1987 and ended, after periods away, in 1996.
Roberts, an ebullient figure, moved to Cambridge City last season after leaving St.Albans. He was previously joint-manager at Baldock Town with Steve Cook.
His new club, like Hitchin, is aiming to make the Conference cut this season. "We're hoping to make the top 14," he says.
He anticipates a difficult game on Saturday. "Hitchin have made some good signings and are well into their pre-season planning. We're only just starting to play games," he said on the eve of the club's first game, a local derby with Cambridge United.
And he predicts that Hitchin may a good future ahead of them. "I have no doubt that under the current regime, Hitchin will be successful. I enjoyed my time at the club and would like to see it progress."
Roberts has signed former Bedford utility man Rob Miller, Lewis Baillie from Heybridge and Chris Keeble from Colchester. His priorities are to bolster up his defence in the coming weeks.
