Meet the Rovers PLayers

Profiles of the Rovers 1st team squad

WILLAND ROVERS – Player by Player – The 1st team squad as at August 1st 2010 

Aaron Doble - midfield/utility - Teenager Aaron arrived at Silver Street for the 2010 pre-season after his release fromm Truro City. It did not take Rovers Boss Clive Jones too long in the pre-season games to recognise that the youngster would be a good addition to the squad and he signed the lad up.

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Jake Wannell - signed for Rovers in the summer of 2010 having spent the previous season at Tiverton Town. Jake is a product of the Exeter City Youth systme where he spent much of his younger footballing days and, when he left City he was quickly snapped up by the Tivvy Boss Martyn Rogers. Jake looks set to be the regular number two at right back in the 2010/11 campaign.

BEN MAMMOLA – Central Defender: Ben played throughout the 2009/10 season and was acknowledged by his team mates with the season's Player of the Year award. During the summer of 2010 he was invited to train with nearby Tiverton Town from the Zamaretto League but, after one session with the higher league side he decided he wanted to stay with Rovers. An outstanding defender who is at home either in the air or with the ball on the ground

BRIAN CANN – Goal Keeper: Vastly experienced stopper who has been with the club for well over a decade. Also plays cricket for his home village of Feniton in the Devon County Cricket League. ‘Canny’ who is an excellent shot stopper and also kicks down field as far as any glovesman in the top flight, is a big Manchester United fan and is a popular figure in and out of the Rovers dressing room. He has won the Western League safe hands award a number of times - doing so TWICE in the 2009/10 season. Most season's now 'Canny' says: "One more campaign' - he has said it again at the start of the 2011/11 season but don't be surprised if he is being written about again here next summer!

CARL CLIFF-BROWN – Striker: Signed for Rovers early in the 2009/10 season and instantly became a big favourite at Silver Street. Is there a better target man at this level? That's doubtful, for Carl is certainly capable of playing two, and even three, levels higher. On his day, his ability to lead the line is second-to-none. His areal power and his ability to play, and receive a pass, be that over five yards or fifty yards, has to be seen. Arguably the most popular player on the Rovers books with the supporters who hope that in 2010/11 his goal count will go some way to seeing the club to bettering even the magnificent season it had last time round.

* FASCINATING FACT ABOUT 'CCB' - When Carl Cliff-brown scores in a Rovers shirt they NEVER lose!

DANNY BAILY – Striker:  After missing out on every kick since the sart of the 2009/10 season he made a VERY welcome return to acion coming on as a 79th minue sub at Hallen on March 6th for what was his FIRST action of any sort last term. The 2010/11 pre-season has seen 'Bailo' been one of the most consistent trainers and looked very sharp and indeed 'hungry' in the pre-season games and great things are expected from him in the season ahead as he looks to end his recent injury woes with a consistent run in the side - if he stays fit then expect a very respectable goal count from the Farway based farmer.

Ian was signed from Barnstaple in the closing days of March 2010. He is now in his second spell with the club. A utlity player who can play in either defence or midfield. The picture we carry of him here was taken shortly after he returned from a week in Mexico!

DEAN STAMP – Striker - Dean is a local lad who began his footballing life as a youngster with neighbouring Cullompton Rangers in their youth system. From there he progressed to Exeter City where he made his way through the Grecians Youth system. He fell out of favour at St James’ Park and made a £10,000 switch to ambitious Cornish outfit Truro City. From the Duchy side he moved to try his luck in Belgium before returning to Silver Street at the start of the 2009/10 season. He ended the season as second top scorer and has looked very sharp in the 2010/11 pre-season.

GEORGE ROGERS – Midfield/Utility: The youngest member of the Rovers 1^st team squad, young George nailed down his 1^st team squad this place after impressing in the 2008/09 season for the Rovers Reserves as they won promotion into the Premier Division of the Devon & Exeter League. The son of the Tiverton Town Manager and former Exeter City player, Martyn Rogers, young George is considered by many to have an excellent future in the game.

JAMES ANSELL – Midfield/Utility: Former Taunton Town player James is in his second spell with the club. He is most certainly the sides complete utility player and has already played in three or four different positions this season. James is one of those invaluable players who can do a job as a standard full back or as a striker – and he is often tasked with a variety of jobs for the side! James scored five goals, most of them the important variety in what was a very succesful 2009/10 season for him. A similar campaign is expected from his this term.

JOEL HAWES – Striker: Joined Rovers from Exeter Civil Service during the summer of 2009. A seriously hard working front runner who quickly made himself a favourite with team mates and Silver Street supporters with his hard work ethic. He ended his first season with Rovers as the sides leading scorer - no mean feat for a team that also had the likes of Dean Stamp and Carl Cliff-Brown in its number! Joel struck 22 in League and Cup last season and is looking for more this term.

PAUL POCOCK – Midfield/Utility: The versatile player missed a large part of the first two months of the 2009/10 season when he suffered a broken foot playing in a pre-season friendly for another side. This left him needing extensive rehabilitation but he returned to play in the Rovers Reserves in late September, scoring in his first two games for the second string. Recalled to the First team for the FA Vase game at Longwell Green in mid November and it was his introduction at the start of the second half that began the fight back after Rovers trailed 1-0 at then break. 'Pocky' is one of those players who can quite comfortably, and confidently, slot into any given position although his best berth seems to be in an attacking role from either flank of the mid field.

ROB NORRISH – Midfielder: The Rovers skipper and most certainly ‘the heartbeat’ of the side. To many Rovers followers it is a mystery why he has not been snapped up higher up the football pyramid – although the Rovers faithful are actually very happy he still pulls on the clubs colours! Never one to shirk a tackle in what ever area of the pitch, the skipper is one of those players you would always prefer to have on your side and with you rather than against you. His strength is his remarkable engine and his ability to see a game out from first minute to last and seemingly giving every ounce of effort he can muster throughout! Rob became a Father for the first time last season, the day after the 2-0 win over Brislington when his partner Bryony gave birth to a little boy, Jack. Rob scored his first goal of the 2009/10 season in the FA Vase 4th Round tie against Causeway when he was quickest to react to a saved penalty and fired home the rebound. Robbie gets his fair share of goals for the side and if you were tasked with suggesting how many he''d notch in the season ahead - you'd go with 6-10 - and he'd better that!

DANNY JEE – Midfield: With the 2010 summer departure of David Steele, Danny assumes even greater importance as a key player in the Rovers midfield. He gets up and down the pitch superbly and is very cultured on the ball. His father, Martin was an outstanding player himself and he his a regular Rovers watcher these days. Danny gets his fair share of goals for the side and is one of the team penalty takers.

SHAUN GOFF – Defender/Midfield: Another locally based player who was terribly unlucky with injuries in the 2009/10 season. Early in the 09/10 campaign it was his formidable presence at sweeper that was gelling the solid back four into the sort of unit it has become. But Shaun is equally happy in front of the back three or back four and is another of those players who is a ‘Managers dream’ as he can fit comfortably into a number of different roles. It had been feared that a bad knee injury would keep him out for the entire 2010/11 season but he turned out in pre-season games, looked the part, and is very much fit and ready for action for the season!

SIMON HILL – Defender: ‘Hilly’ is the Rovers version of ‘Mr Reliable’. Comfortable in any defensive position he is asked to play and he can also do a job further up the pitch as well. A strong tackler he is also competent in the air and he can always be found ‘in the thick of things’ as and when his presence is required! A local lad, Simon hails from Cullompton. His Father, Stan is the Vice-Chairman at local rivals, South West Peninsula League Premier Division outfit, Cullompton Rangers.

*HILLY FACT - Simon is the one player in the Rovers side who genuinely does NOT like being photographed - we caught him on camera though i the pre-season game with Cully Rangers!

The Rovers boss has surely 'seen it all' in his long service to the cause of Willand Rovers Football Club. Clive was a fine player in his playing days, an articulate and intelligent mid-field player who certainly knew how to pick, and play, a pass! He has been Manager, probably for more years than he cares to remember but the simple fact is that 'Chinky' is the heartbeat of the Rovers Team, a more passionate and knowledgable football person you are unlikely to meet. Would tell you that he still has much to achieve with the current Rovers side, but he is one who advocates needing to see, and have seen, year on year, season on season, progress, both off and on the Silver Street pitch.

Clive was named the Toolstation League Manager of the Year for 2009/10 - this after he lifted no fewer than FOUR of the seperate Monthly awards in the clubs record breaking season.

Assistant Boss Gary McCauley was appointed to the role in early August 2010. 'Macca' had been a player - a regular too - in many a Rovers side over the previous ten ten years before injury saw him miss the best part of two years. Manager Clive Jones invited him to take on the number two job and the Axminster based defensive stalwart said yes!