Pitchero Non League

The prolific marksman banged fifty goals as the Romans won the Alliance in 2003/04, bagging the league’s `golden boot` with thirty-seven along the way.

He returned for a loan spell in 2007, but has now signed on again full-time at Hillsfield.

Manager Dave Langston said: “It’d be great for him and the club if he could score goals like that again.

“With him, Craig Smith and Chris Sterling, we’ve got a strong-looking forward line ahead of the new season.” One player who will not be turning out for Rocester this season is Ben Fairclough.

The former Notts County man has signed for Blue Square Bet North outfit Eastwood Town — and Langston does not blame the pacy forward.

He said: “He agreed terms with Eastwood — they’re in the Conference and pay big money.

“With him coming from Nottingham, he couldn’t really turn it down.”

The squad at Rocester is now taking shape ahead of the new season. Langston is also happy with the club’s all-round development.

He said: “Our pitch is looking immaculate — it’s the best it’s ever been. Andy Sinton said it was Blue Square standard when he came down with AFC Telford United last weekend.

“It looks a lot healthier than last year in the squad too.

“We didn’t have a single striker on the books and now we’ve got three in Craig Smith, Chris Sterling and Paul McMahon — it’s a pretty good forward line and exactly what you need in the Alliance.”

With his sharper edge up front, Langston is targeting an improved performance in the league — but wants to see a cup run from his men before the final shake-up next May.

He said: “We’ve got to improve on last year in the cups.

“Our performance in the league was an improvement, but we need to do better in the cups.

“We went out of all of them early doors, mainly because we had no forward line and once we went behind, struggled to get back into games.

“This year I’m hoping to do better, against Wolverhampton Casuals in the FA Cup and Ellesmere in the Vase.

“I’m told Ellesmere are a bit of a bogey side as we’ve never beaten them, so now’s the time to change that.”

Tags: News | Rocester

• The Midland Football Alliance
• Division One
  • + Adams Still Undecided
  • + Fellows Steps Up
  • + Malvern`s Sad Loss
  • + Charity Event at Malvern
  • + Mills Quits Bridgnorth
  • + Burley Finally Gets His Coach
  • + Tipton Chairman Facing Fraud Charge
  • + Adams Wants to Stay with Studley
  • + Willenhall Celebrate 30th Anniversary
  • + Former Tipton Chairman Jailed
  • + Williams Facing More Fraud Claims
• • + Adders Broaden Their Horizons
• Division One
  • + McMahon Back With Romans
• • + Ten Commit to Gresley
• Division One
  • + Ex-Tipton Chairman Faces More Charges
  • + Clyde`s in it for the Long Haul
• • + Clyde Handed Bridgnorth Post
• Division One
  • + Trial Day a Big Success for Lockmen
• • + Alliance Accept Four New Clubs
  • + Adders Role for Barnes