Roe turns down higher level team to stay put

The left-back, who moved to the club midway through last season from Matlock Town, was subject to attention from other clubs at the end of the 2012/13 campaign. But despite his own stated desire to play at a higher level, the former Sheffield United prospect plumped for another season at Sandy Lane. “As soon as Shawy got the job he texted me straight away and said he wanted to keep me, so I thought I would be coming back,” he said. “I wanted to stay, we just had to sort out the details.” Before new Tigers boss Mark Shaw could secure the services of the youngster, other clubs attempted to prise him away. He revealed: “There was an offer from the league above, and a couple of clubs in the same league as Worksop.” “Signing for the Conference North team would have meant too much travelling.” “And I didn’t think the teams in this league would be as good as Worksop.” But he doesn’t feel like he’s taking a backward step to remain at Evo-Stik Premier club Worksop. Instead, Roe is focusing on developing the kind of form that will eventually lead to a big move. The 21-year-old told the Guardian: “I’m only 21, so if I can get Conference or League football then great, but you have to take it one season at a time and make sure you put in the performances at the level you’re playing at first – or you won’t get there.” It wouldn’t be a major surprise to Tigers fans if Roe did end up plying his trade at a higher level, given his impressive displays in the latter stages of last term. Reflecting on his form, after a move from Matlock, the full-back said: “I started slowly and picked up an injury, but towards the end of the season I got back to my feet and started to show some form.” “The injury was over a busy period, with a lot of games, so I missed three or four which I wasn’t happy about, but hopefully next season with a full season I can show more to the fans.” Although the Worksop side he will feature in next season will look a lot different to the class of 2012/13, Roe doesn’t expect the club’s ambitions to change. “We want to play good football, and the squad is full of young kids so we want have any fear.” “The play-offs are still a shout, any team can get to the play-offs in this league if they put a run together.” He isn’t alone in recommitting to Worksop Town however, with strikers Tom Denton and Leon Mettam having also re-signed for next term. He says their presence was a contributor to his decision to return. “That was a major factor in me re-signing for the club.” “And I knew Laurence Gaughan from Matlock as well.” “Mark Shaw has told me about the other lads he’s signing and it all sounds good.” And despite his tender years, Roe is hoping his experience with Retford United, Port Vale and Matlock will make him one of the dressing room leaders in Shaw’s new-look Tigers team. “I was there last season so I know the club a bit better than the new lads, it’s quite a young squad so I could be one of the more senior players next season.”