Post by QPR Report on Feb 23, 2009 14:21:48 GMT
For Dagenham
Congratulations to our former goalie/former goalie coach
BBC - Roberts reaches Daggers milestone
Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Tony Roberts said he was "very proud" to reach his 400th Daggers appearance.
Roberts, 39, marked his landmark game by saving a penalty in the 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
Following the game, he told BBC Essex it was a moment he would treasure for a long time to come.
"I came here nine years ago and I remember my first game was Leigh RMI away, and now I've got my 400th and am very proud of what I've done," he said.
The former QPR and Wales keeper joined the then non-league Essex club as a semi-professional in 2000, after a finger injury had forced him to retire from the professional game.
Following the Daggers' promotion to League Two in 2007 he was forced to re-sign as a professional but still spends four days a week coaching with the youth side at Arsenal.
He told BBC Essex he had enjoyed every moment of Dagenham's rise up the football ladder.
"I've seen the club grow from training twice a week to full time, and we've had all the cup runs and the play-offs," he said.
"So I've seen the club go from strength to strength and luckily I've been a part of it."
And Roberts explained the reason he had been able to prolong his career was a specially designed glove, which has "splints" in it to protect his damaged finger.
"I wouldn't train or play without it because I was told otherwise I would lose my finger," he said.
"I'd rather keep all of my fingers for the rest of my life than worry about looking a bit funny."
Congratulations to our former goalie/former goalie coach
BBC - Roberts reaches Daggers milestone
Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Tony Roberts said he was "very proud" to reach his 400th Daggers appearance.
Roberts, 39, marked his landmark game by saving a penalty in the 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
Following the game, he told BBC Essex it was a moment he would treasure for a long time to come.
"I came here nine years ago and I remember my first game was Leigh RMI away, and now I've got my 400th and am very proud of what I've done," he said.
The former QPR and Wales keeper joined the then non-league Essex club as a semi-professional in 2000, after a finger injury had forced him to retire from the professional game.
Following the Daggers' promotion to League Two in 2007 he was forced to re-sign as a professional but still spends four days a week coaching with the youth side at Arsenal.
He told BBC Essex he had enjoyed every moment of Dagenham's rise up the football ladder.
"I've seen the club grow from training twice a week to full time, and we've had all the cup runs and the play-offs," he said.
"So I've seen the club go from strength to strength and luckily I've been a part of it."
And Roberts explained the reason he had been able to prolong his career was a specially designed glove, which has "splints" in it to protect his damaged finger.
"I wouldn't train or play without it because I was told otherwise I would lose my finger," he said.
"I'd rather keep all of my fingers for the rest of my life than worry about looking a bit funny."