By Chris MacMillan
August 8 2002

FOOTBALL: PUB TEAM GAVE ME A NEW START Aug 8 2002 Now Roberts is planning to prove his worth: Taken from the Daily Record By Gordon Parks

MARK ROBERTS turned to his local pub team as a stepping stone to a taste of the big time - but it's Scottish football that is giving him a hangover.

The 26-year-old has just completed a month which included Champions League action, facing up to Roy Keane in a glamour tie and a run-out with the Brass and Granite pub outfit.

The striker was one of the victims of the death of old Airdrie and he spent a sobering nine weeks without pay before accepting a month's deal with League of Ireland side Shelbourne.

He said: "I was one of many players whose summer was ruined by the cash problems in Scottish football.

"After being released by Airdrie it was a nightmare. I found myself playing for my local pub team one week and facing Manchester United the next.

"I walked out in front of 12,500 fans alongside Roy Keane, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ryan Giggs for a friendly and thought, `my God what a turnaround'.

"It was a jump to go from a public park to a packed house but it restored my appetite because you feel a better player when you face guys of that calibre."

A 91st-minute goal by Maltese side Hibernians knocked Roberts' new club out of a Champions League qualifier.

But the player, who spent eight years at Kilmarnock, said: "We drew 2- 2 in Malta and the club took us over there for a week to acclimatise, which was great.

"In the return leg it was a sickener to go down 1-0 to a late goal in a match we deserved to win.

"I suppose it's ironic that I'm one of very few Scots who will appear in the Champions League this season."

The former Raith and Falkirk star finished seventh in last season's First Division scoring chart but it wasn't enough to save him from the dole. He said: "I thought I performed well last season and scored 16 goals in 36 games but I had to train alone in the summer.

"I had no money coming in and had to live on my savings. Things have been tough but somehow you get through it.

"I had offers to train at Inverness and Ross County but I felt so low I was surprised clubs wanted to take me. It's been difficult and even when I was at Airdrie I was only on half wages."

Roberts broke through at Rugby Park as a highly-rated youngster but a change of manager saw a decline in his fortunes.

He said: "When I started out at Killie things started well with Tommy Burns as the manager.When he left, Alex Totten arrived and, despite featuring initially, I gradually fell out of things.

"If I look back, I wouldn't change anything but I'm desperate to return home and prove my worth."

Roberts' contract at Shelbourne ended last week and he's keeping his options open with regard to his future.

He said: "I've loved it in Ireland and I am currently discussing the possibility of returning.

"The European experience was great and I've taken a lot of confidence from it. My preference would be to find a club at home but I'll just have to wait and see what happens."

What will it take to bring him back??????