Roberts hopes to draw on experience (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

Roberts hopes to draw on experience

6:41pm Monday 18th June 2012 in Headlines By Andy Warren

Roberts hopes to draw on experience

NEW signing Gary Roberts believes his experience of the League One promotion race could prove vital in Swindon’s quest for Championship football.

The winger has spent the last four seasons at Huddersfield Town, where he lost a play-off final to Peterborough in 2011 before being part of the squad which beat Sheffield United on penalties at Wembley in May.

The 28-year-old has had a taste of Championship football during his time at Ipswich, and is hoping his experiences over the last four years will help him get back to the second tier with Swindon.

“With Huddersfield over the last couple of years we have pushed on and missed out a couple of times, and to get back the winning feeling is important,” he said.

“I weighed my options up and I think this is the club which is going to match my ambitions again.”

“Swindon had a good season last season and were promoted, and I will work hard to help with a bit of experience.”

“What I have experienced over the last couple of years will hopefully help the boys around me, but it is good to bring a winning mentality to what is already here.”

Roberts spoke to a number of clubs before eventually deciding to move to the County Ground, and was convinced by the vision boss Paolo Di Canio has for the Robins.

“When you come to the end of a contract you always have a few clubs sniffing around, and there are a few things you need to consider when you are thinking about where you are going to sign,” he said.

“The first is the manager, and what he will bring and if he is going to help you as a player and get you where you want to be.

“I spoke with Paolo and he just poured out the passion about what he wanted to do and that sold it more than other clubs, and even though I had a couple of meetings with other managers this was always going to be the place I was going to play next year.”