News

Chairman Gary Norton commenting on the return of Hart said “Carl and Paul have been working hard since the end of the season trying to put a squad together to ensure we have an improved season this time round, and they have done really well on that so far. That said the signing of Steve for the club is a big one, especially when you consider our lack of goals in the side last season. If I’d been given a pound for every time a supporter asked me in recent months about trying to get Steve Hart back at the club id be a very rich man and as such, I know that our supporters will be excited with the news of his return and the prospect of seeing him in a Rovers shirt once again. Steve has proven quality and will score goals at whatever level he plays at and its clear that he has a special working relationship with Carl Abbott and Tommo. That special relationship was pivotal to his decision to come back to the club as was the affinity he developed with our supporters during his previous spell with us. We are delighted at Steve’s return to Gresley Rovers and look forward to adding further to the squad in the coming weeks to the quality we already have at the club.”

Manager Carl Abbott is equally satisfied having landed his man and had this to say “I’m over the moon to welcome Harty back to the club. I know it wasn’t an easy decision for him to not remain with us last season, and consequently he didn’t enjoy his football as much as he may have done for one reason or another. Getting him to stay was not for want of trying on our part but ultimately, I understand his reasoning for moving on at that time. We have been in constant touch all season and his desire to come back has been really great from my point of view. It is so refreshing to have a player so desperate to play for a club and myself as manager. That meant discussions were easy, and we had no obstacles in the way of making this happen once again. I think Harty has arrived at a point where this is simply about now playing for the club he wants to play for and feels most at home and we are fortunate that is at the Moat Ground with us. It’s so good to have him back and along with our retentions, new additions, and some really great acquisitions we look forward to announcing in due course, I see us beginning to make strides forwards in this division”.

Asked what the main factors in his decision were to return to the Moat Ground Hart said “There just something at Gresley that I’ve never found anywhere else in my whole non-league career. I’d have to say Abbo just gets me and just how to play me. I think this is the fourth time now I’ve signed for Abbo and so I’d have to say (as reason for return) Abbo and also the fans here are absolutely phenomenal and so I just couldn’t say no to coming back”.

Listen to a full interview with Steve on his return to the club on the club website.
https://www.gresleyrovers.com/multimedia/audioplayer.php?id=1423