By Sam Elliott
FEW 19-year-olds can say with any degree of certainty that they have already scored the most important goal of their life. Fewer still when it arrives in October, for a team mid-table in the National League.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, just what is the true value of Chester‘s James Roberts’ celebration after his goal against FC Halifax last Saturday?
It was his first game back since he started the unenviable process of rebuilding his shattered life, one pulled to pieces by a road collision near his Aylesbury home.
The priceless portrait of a brave young man pointing to the sky to salute his kid brother Ben, tragically killed two weeks before, hours after Chester beat bitter rivals Wrexham.
Three days after scoring in the Blues’ 2-1 defeat of Halifax, he was burying his 16-year-old sibling and best friend.
Strikers tend to tell anyone who will listen that it doesn’t matter if they score or not, the only thing of any concern is the team taking three points.
Not this time. All that mattered was that the on-loan Oxford United forward paid a proper tribute. It was picture perfect.
Anything Roberts goes on to achieve in his career is now for his brother, inspired by his brother.
He told The NLP: “It was a freak accident. There was no blame attached to anyone. As a family we are clearly devastated but we’re focusing on trying to celebrate the life he had rather than mourn his death.
“There were nearly 200 people at Ben’s funeral on Tuesday, standing room only. It shows what a popular and loved person he was. He had a massive effect on everyone.
“I played the game on Saturday so I could score for him. I wanted to win the game, but I thought there is no better way to say thank-you to him than with a goal dedicated to his memory.
“I would have been disappointed if I scored and the team lost, slightly disappointed if I hadn’t have scored and we won – but to get a goal and win the game, I was over the moon. It’s all I can give him, it means the world to me.
“I will never score a more important goal. Maybe one day in the future I will score and it could mean more to the club, but not to me. It’s a goal I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Playing whilst running on pure emotion and distress as your fuel doesn’t always have a positive outcome.
Steve Burr sensed his desire to write a footballing eulogy and named him in the side to face Halifax – a sizeable risk for a player who accepts he can, at times, lose it.
“I am the first to admit I am the type of player who can absolutely explode at times, but I kept it together,” he added. “You don’t know how you are going to react following an event like that but I am so glad I played.
“I was calm and I surprised myself. I really disagreed with some of the decisions by the referee but something inside me didn’t allow me to see red.
“I want this terrible period in my life to help me become a better person in some areas. It will all be for Ben whatever I go on to do.”
