THE INTERVIEW
Paul Roberts
Powerful striker Paul Roberts was a fan’s favourite during his time at Gayfield. The 35-year-old, man of many clubs, is still plying his trade with Junior outfit, Yoker.
Paul Talks to Karen Fleming about his time at Arbroath and events since.
Can you give us a potted history of your playing career?
I started off at Clyde, and then went to Morton. They put me out on loan and that was when I had my first spell at Arbroath. After that, I went to East Stirling, and then I got a chance to play in the first division when Stirling Albion took me on. I was there for about two and a half seasons then I came back to Arbroath, went to Forfar, and finished my senior career at East Fife. After that I went to Kilbirnie, Larkhall, Lanark and have spent the last few seasons with Yoker. I dread to think how many managers I've played under at all these clubs. In my times at Arbroath alone, Ian Gibson, Walter Bothwick and Mike Lawson were in charge in the first spell and it was John Brogan who brought me back.
Do you ever come across any of your ex-Arbroath teammates in the opposition at Yoker?
One of my closest friends is Jim Hamilton, who I played with at Arbroath, Stirling Albion, Clyde, Forfar, Lanark and we’re now teammates at Yoker. I can’t get away from him he keeps following me! There are quite a few still playing, but not in the same league. The only one who I see regularly is Jon Crawford who plays for our nearest rivals, Clydebank. That makes for fun in derby games! He tries to kick me, and bully me because I've got more hair than him and I’m better looking. I also played against John McAulay in a cup-tie at the very beginning of the season. It was actually his first game for Pollok.
You suffer from Crohns disease. Does this affect your football at all?
I was diagnosed about six and a half years ago and to be fair for the first six years it didn't really bother me at all, except for feeling tired and weak after games now and again. However, in April I had my first real flare up which stopped me playing altogether. My joints were all swollen, I couldn’t go to work, I couldn’t get out and in the car and I lost loads of weight. I was really looking forward to coming up for John McAulay`s Testimonial and I was housebound. I remember it was a beautiful day and I was thinking about you all up at Gayfield, then Craw told me what a great day it was, just to rub it in. I'm on the mend now though.
You are a bit of an entertainer. How did that all start?
It actually started in the dressing room. In every one there’s a larger than life character that gets everyone going and it’s usually me. I would be singing and dancing around and I just gained the confidence to try it professionally when someone suggested it. Most weekends I have something on. In fact I come up and do a spot at the Forfar FC Ladies Dinner almost every year.
What was the highlight of your Arbroath career?
That's difficult. I think the whole of my second spell at Gayfield was fantastic. I was probably at my fittest and playing quite well. I was actually playing on the right side of the midfield, John Brogan was the only manager to play me there, everyone else played me as an out and out striker. I really loved my time at Gayfield. It was a great bunch of guys and the staff really looked after us all. If I had to pick out one game it would be the game in Aberdeen to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the 36-0 World record game against Bon Accord. We had to wear the old-fashioned strips and were playing against Alex McLeish, Willie Miller and the likes; I think I scored three or four. That was a real buzz and a great laugh. A very memorable day.
Finally, anything you’d like to say that I haven’t asked?
Just that I really appreciated my time at Gayfield. The club still means a lot to me and it’s still one of the first results I look for at full-time on a Saturday. I'd like to thank all staff that were there at the time and helped look after us all so well. Margaret even used to buy my smokies for me to take back home. Also, look out for Jim Hamilton and I as we've started doing a bit of coaching, which is going well. We seem to get a good reaction from the team. We have 30 years of experience in the game between us, and when we've stopped playing, management is something we’d like to try. In the Junior ranks first, but if we make a success of that maybe we’d get a chance in the league.