Former striker looks back on his time at Town and Watford
- Striker was held in high regard by Huddersfield Town and Watford fans
- Iwan Roberts looked back on growing up at Watford
- Roberts on his years as a Terrier
Iwan Roberts had a fantastic career and is fondly remembered by both Huddersfield Town and Watford fans!
The striker made 142 appearances for Huddersfield Town between 1990 and 1993, scoring 50 goals, but began his career with Saturday’s hosts Watford.
“I had five years at Watford, and it was the best club that I could have joined as a young lad,” Roberts recalled. “I had a fantastic manager in Graham Taylor who everyone looked up to and wasn’t afraid of giving young lads an opportunity in the first team if they were good enough and had earned it.
“The youth team manager there was Tom Walley, who was a Welsh speaker from Caernarfon. As soon as I met Tom, I thought the club was a perfect fit for me.”
Roberts made his First Team debut for the Hornets in the 1985-86 season and scored his first goal in professional football in a 1-0 win against Manchester United at Vicarage Road.
“I made my First Team debut against Ipswich and then scored my first league goal for the club coming off the bench against Manchester United during my first season at Watford as an 18-year-old. It was one of the best moments of my career. To get your first league goal in a 1-0 win at home against Manchester United as a Liverpool supporter it didn’t get any better. It’s true what people say, you don’t sleep a wink because the adrenalin is still going - I think it was about six o’clock in the morning before I fell asleep.”
Roberts spent three seasons at Huddersfield Town and was the Third Division’s joint top-scorer in the 1991/92 season with 24 goals.
“We just missed out to Peterborough in the Play-Offs. We were leading twice at their place and ended up with a 2-2 draw before they eventually beat us 1-0 at Leeds Road. Sadly, we missed out. I scored 34 goals that season - the best tally of my career - so that was definitely the highlight in my time with the Terriers.”
Roberts left the club to join Leicester City in 1993 but has fond memories of the time he spent with the Terriers.
“It’s a top club. I found it hard to begin with, but once I won the fans over, they were a great bunch to play in front of. The old Leeds Road Stadium was a proper old school stadium with a fantastic atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed my three-and-a-half years there.
“It was a long time ago, but I still keep in contact with people I lived close by to and the players I played with. When you go back to a former club and you get a warm welcome from the staff and supporters who might remember you playing for the club, it shows you did something right in your time there.”
