ENGLAND'S number two David James let in six goals on Sunday and Liverpool lost Chris Kirkland for the rest of the season, yet the only goalkeeper people in Dagenham are talking about is FA Cup hero Tony Roberts.

The press box was buzzing in Norwich on Saturday, and journalists were proclaiming Roberts should be playing at a higher level. Some even went as far as printing that Roberts might be on the next train to Highbury, instilling fear into Daggers fans that they were going to lose one of their most valuable players.

Little did they know that Roberts had already pledged his future to the Daggers with a new two year contract, a fact which failed to be printed and one which Roberts was keen to clear up.

He said: "There was a reporter on Saturday who said Arsene Wenger was looking for keeper and if he came in for me would I go to Arsenal.

"I thought, 'are you having a giggle?' The chances of that are about 14 million to one. Of course I'd love a chance to play in the Premiership again and if I was asked to go tomorrow that would be my last shot at it.

"But that's not going to happen, it was a stupid question. Then before I know it, the papers have picked up on it and it looked as though I was looking to find a new club.

"I wouldn't go anywhere else, not even to a Division Two side, I'm not going to leave here unless I think it's to a better team."

The chances of Roberts leaving are slim while Garry Hill knows what an asset he has, and he had already secured his services for another two years on the night of the Plymouth replay. Roberts continued: "Garry offered me the new contract at the beginning of the season and it was just a matter of sitting down and having a chat.

"I was never going to leave here, I like it here and I think the club's going in the right direction and we're getting good players in all the time."

Roberts has recently found himself thrust into the spotlight and even starred as a Five Live studio guest answering fans' questions. But playing the extrovert has never been a tough task for the crazy keeper: "The media attention has been good so far. Who doesn't want to be in the papers when it's for the right reasons?

"The radio piece was a good laugh, it was nice to put a face to the name as I listen to the radio all the time. I was a bit embarrassed as my sister sent in a text and I thought she was going to say something stupid. The studio was only 20 minutes from my house so I went there and it was a bit of a giggle."

Now it's back to reality and looking towards Division Three: "Our main aim is to get into the play-offs. If we get into the situation where we've got to play one or two big games, we've got the experience now.

"Saturday's a big game in the FA Trophy, that's our FA Cup now and we should be winning it."

January 30, 2003 10:30