RUFC - Roberts wants Promotion

Rotherham United loanee, Gary Roberts has admitted that he fell off the rails a little but says his gambling days are over.

Speaking to David Beddows of The Advertiser, the twenty-two year old admitted 'I fell off the rails and I'd be lying to you if I said otherwise.'

At the start of his career Roberts was touted as a £1 million player and he captained England at U17, U18 and U19 level and it looked to all like he was destined for great things. He played over a hundred games for Crewe Alexandra signing a three year contract in September 2006 and was a key player in their promotion bid that season. But things started to go astray and he went out on loan to Yeovil Town before signing a permanent deal in October 2008. The following August, after turning up for training still drunk from the night before, Roberts was released. After admitting to himself and his family that he had a problem he visited the Sporting Chance Clinic.

'I lost my way through gambling,' the defensive midfielder said 'Footballers get a lot of free time but that's no excuse and the whole experience made me realise what I'd lost. I had no-one to turn to but my family and I owe it to them, as well as myself, to progress.'

Rotherham United Manager, Ronnie Moore has given Roberts a second chance and Roberts has said he's turned his life round. 'I don't gamble anymore. I just want to get on with my football and get back to where I was when I was sixteen and seventeen.

'I've never won anything - not even at gambling - and it would be nice to win promotion back into League One. But, that's now down to me, no-one else.'

Roberts is on a months loan with the Millers with a view to extend it to the end of the season if all works out. He came off the subs bench against Torquay last Saturday and started the game on Tuesday night against Lincoln at Don Valley.

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