Roberts: "Reasons To Be Excited"

Written by Josh Cole

Phil Roberts says there is reasons to “get excited” at Margate this season and adds that pre-season has been “really good” after the Blues eased to their first win of the new campaign with a 4-0 victory over Canterbury City.

“I feel really good, I thought the team played well, glad to see the strikers scoring and us keeping clean sheets, I think pre-season has been really good so far and I hope we can build on the performances throughout the rest of pre-season.”

“There is stuff to get excited about heading into the new season”.

Roberts admits he is still “a bit off it” in terms of fitness levels, but hopes to build on that with the busy pre-season ahead.

“I feel I’m still a bit off it, it’s early days and probably because I am getting a bit older now, but the runs we have been doing were timed and everyone got in, so I know I’m not far off”.

“It was a shame to end the season last year with an injury so this year I’m massive on keeping myself fit for the season.”

Roberts played a starring role in Tuesday night’s win playing in his new role and he says he has always been “more of a number ten” as opposed to a striker, where he was utilised last season.

“I would say I’m naturally a ten anyway, but having strikers like Steve Cawley and Harvey Smith, it’s nice to be able to roam about a bit more and let some of my best attributes show through, so I feel the new role for me will be very interesting.”

Roberts can’t wait for the season to start and establishing a partnership with Cawley and Ben Greenhalgh, and adds that the energy is “trending in the right direction”.

“All the energy is trending in the right direction and there’s no easier way to win a game than score lots of goals, I don’t expect to score four every game but its nice to start building confidence and allow everyone to play freely without any pressure.”

Phil Roberts stayed with the ‘Gate in player/coach role this summer and says that “it’s nice” to have an input on how the team plays.

“Its going well so far, I’ve nearly completed my UEFA B licence which I started in the summer, so its nice to have an opportunity to have an input on how the team plays especially going forward, I think Ben’s a brilliant forward mind as well as Reece so its nice to be able to hopefully start a new chapter in my career and help Margate push to the top.”

Phil Roberts is sponsored home and away by Alan Swinnock for the 2023/24 season.

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