Robin Shroot
Encyclopedia
Robin Alexander E. Shroot (born 26 March 1988) is an English-born footballer who plays for League One
side Stevenage.
Shroot started his career at Wimbledon
as an eight-year-old, progressing through the club's youth system before being released at 16. He then spent time at Staines Town
's academy, playing a peripheral first-team role during the 2005–06 campaign. In September 2006, Shroot joined AFC Wimbledon
, again making a sporadic number of appearances throughout the 2006–07 season. In November 2007, he was loaned out to Harrow Borough
on an initial one month loan deal, later extended to three months. He returned to his parent club in January 2008, playing a part in the side that earned promotion to the Conference South
. Shroot signed for Harrow on non-contract terms in September 2008 after failing to agree a contract at AFC Wimbledon.
After impressing during the first-half of the 2008–09
campaign, Shroot attracted interest from Birmingham City
, and signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club in January 2009. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham City in the FA Cup
third round match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
shortly after signing for the club. It was to be Shroot's only first-team appearance for the club. He was loaned out on three separate occasions during his time at Birmingham; to Walsall
, Burton Albion
and Cheltenham Town
respectively. Shroot was released by Birmingham City when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11
season. In July 2011, Shroot signed for League One club Stevenage on a two-year contract following a successful trial. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-21
level.
, remaining with the club until released at 16.
He then joined Staines Town
's academy, which operated in association with Kingston College
. He scored the only goal in the 2006 Middlesex Premier Cup final, the first time the club had even reached the final,
and contributed to the side reaching the Southern Youth League championship play-off and (as Kingston College) the final of the English Schools' Football Association U-18 Colleges' Trophy.
Shroot never played for Staines' Isthmian League Premier Division team, though he was an occasional unused substitute, and scored in the final as the club won the Southern Combination Cup, a first-team competition.
In September 2006, Shroot joined AFC Wimbledon
, also of the Isthmian League Premier. The club described him as a "skilful ball-playing winger who likes to take on opponents and deliver telling crosses". He made his league debut, showing "plenty of promise" as he played the first 65 minutes of the 2–1 win at Ashford Town (Middlesex)
on 26 September 2006.
In the 2006–07 season he made two starts and five substitute appearances in the league without scoring.
In November 2007, Shroot joined Harrow Borough
, also of the Isthmian League Premier, on loan, initially for a month. He made his debut on 10 November 2007 in a 2–1 defeat at Margate
.
His spell with Harrow was extended to three months, though disrupted by injury,
and brought him six league goals from ten games. Shroot finished the 2007–08 season with another six league goals for AFC Wimbledon from five starts and seven substitute appearances, contributing to the club's promotion
to the Conference South
. Shroot's contract expired at the end of that season. The club made him an offer which he chose not to accept, so he became available for transfer;
manager Terry Brown felt that the player's representatives did not want him to stay with the club.
Under the Bosman ruling
, because of the player's age, compensation would be payable when he signed a contract with another club,
but he would be allowed to play on non-contract terms, and in September 2008 he rejoined Harrow Borough on such a basis, with a view to regaining fitness following a summer operation.
At Harrow he was reunited with player-coach Jamie Lawrence
, with whom he had worked for three years at Lawrence's Tooting
academy for semi-professional
footballers.
Though he failed to score in his first four games back with Harrow, he followed up with nine goals in eight league games,
performances which attracted interest from potential purchasers and attention from opposition defenders alike.
club Birmingham City
; he trained with the first-team group and scored in a friendly against Cheltenham Town
.
Harrow manager, former Birmingham player David Howell
, was unhappy about the motives of the player's agent, suggesting he wanted "to put Robin out there for the highest bidder".
Nevertheless, Shroot joined Birmingham on 2 January 2009, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with a one-year option,
for what was described as a "nominal" fee.
Shroot made his first-team debut on 13 January 2009, playing the whole of the FA Cup
third round defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
In March 2009, he joined League One
club Walsall
on loan for one month with a view to gaining first-team experience in League football.
He made his debut in the Football League
as a second-half substitute in Walsall's 2–0 defeat at Southend United
.
The good form of Walsall's other wide players meant Shroot was unable to force his way into the starting eleven, so he returned from the loan spell a week before it was due to end, making five substitute appearances.
Shroot joined Burton Albion
on a season-long loan on 1 July 2009, though Birmingham retained the option to recall him in the January 2010 transfer window.
He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the season, playing the first 67 minutes of a 3–1 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town
.
The player returned to Birmingham when the loan was terminated prematurely "in the best interests of both parties" on 6 October 2009, though formally he remained a Burton player until the transfer window opened in January 2010.
The player signed for League Two
club Cheltenham Town
on loan at the start of the 2010–11 season, initially on an emergency basis to ensure his availability for the opening match of the season, with the intention of extending the loan until January 2011.
He was named among the substitutes as Cheltenham drew at Gillingham
, but did not make an appearance.
Shroot scored his first Football League goal against Accrington Stanley
in October,
and went on to make 11 appearances for Cheltenham in all competitions. Although keen to extend the loan,
he returned to Birmingham in January 2011,
and was released when his contract expired at the end of the season.
side, coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute and scoring ten minutes later. The trial proved successful, and he signed a two-year contract with the club on 26 July. Shroot made his Stevenage debut in the club's first game of the 2011–12 campaign, playing 71 minutes in a 0–0 home draw with Exeter City
.
because his grandmother is from that country. While still a youngster at Wimbledon, he wrote to then manager Lawrie Sanchez
to tell him his international ambitions lay with Northern Ireland. He was capped at under-19 and under-20 level, and played in the side which reached the final of the Milk Cup
Elite section in 2007.
Shroot's debut for the under-21s
came in November 2008 when he played the first half of a 3–1 defeat of their Scottish counterparts
,
and he went on to win four caps at that level.
in Dulwich
, south London, and played non-league cricket
for the Alleyn Adhoc XI, many of whose players are former pupils of the school.
Before his move to Birmingham, he had coached at a South London junior football club, Balham Blazers, and managed their under-13 side.
He intended to maintain his involvement with the club when his Birmingham commitments permitted.
AFC Wimbledon
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Stevenage.
Shroot started his career at Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
as an eight-year-old, progressing through the club's youth system before being released at 16. He then spent time at Staines Town
Staines Town F.C.
Staines Town FC are an English football club based in Staines, Surrey. They are currently competing in the Conference South. The team are usually known as 'The Swans'...
's academy, playing a peripheral first-team role during the 2005–06 campaign. In September 2006, Shroot joined AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
, again making a sporadic number of appearances throughout the 2006–07 season. In November 2007, he was loaned out to Harrow Borough
Harrow Borough F.C.
Harrow Borough Football Club is a semi-professional English association football club based in Harrow, in Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Earlsmead Stadium....
on an initial one month loan deal, later extended to three months. He returned to his parent club in January 2008, playing a part in the side that earned promotion to the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
. Shroot signed for Harrow on non-contract terms in September 2008 after failing to agree a contract at AFC Wimbledon.
After impressing during the first-half of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
campaign, Shroot attracted interest from Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, and signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club in January 2009. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham City in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
shortly after signing for the club. It was to be Shroot's only first-team appearance for the club. He was loaned out on three separate occasions during his time at Birmingham; to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
and Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
respectively. Shroot was released by Birmingham City when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season. In July 2011, Shroot signed for League One club Stevenage on a two-year contract following a successful trial. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-21
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
level.
Non-league football
Shroot was born in London. He began his football career as an eight-year-old with WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, remaining with the club until released at 16.
He then joined Staines Town
Staines Town F.C.
Staines Town FC are an English football club based in Staines, Surrey. They are currently competing in the Conference South. The team are usually known as 'The Swans'...
's academy, which operated in association with Kingston College
Kingston College (England)
Kingston College is a College of Further and Higher Education based in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England. It has five campuses in the town of Kingston. The main campus is the tallest building in the town and is based on Kingston Hall Road. The second campus is based on Richmond Road and...
. He scored the only goal in the 2006 Middlesex Premier Cup final, the first time the club had even reached the final,
and contributed to the side reaching the Southern Youth League championship play-off and (as Kingston College) the final of the English Schools' Football Association U-18 Colleges' Trophy.
Shroot never played for Staines' Isthmian League Premier Division team, though he was an occasional unused substitute, and scored in the final as the club won the Southern Combination Cup, a first-team competition.
In September 2006, Shroot joined AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
, also of the Isthmian League Premier. The club described him as a "skilful ball-playing winger who likes to take on opponents and deliver telling crosses". He made his league debut, showing "plenty of promise" as he played the first 65 minutes of the 2–1 win at Ashford Town (Middlesex)
Ashford Town F.C. (Middlesex)
Ashford Town F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Surrey. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League and play at Short Lane...
on 26 September 2006.
In the 2006–07 season he made two starts and five substitute appearances in the league without scoring.
In November 2007, Shroot joined Harrow Borough
Harrow Borough F.C.
Harrow Borough Football Club is a semi-professional English association football club based in Harrow, in Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Earlsmead Stadium....
, also of the Isthmian League Premier, on loan, initially for a month. He made his debut on 10 November 2007 in a 2–1 defeat at Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
.
His spell with Harrow was extended to three months, though disrupted by injury,
and brought him six league goals from ten games. Shroot finished the 2007–08 season with another six league goals for AFC Wimbledon from five starts and seven substitute appearances, contributing to the club's promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
. Shroot's contract expired at the end of that season. The club made him an offer which he chose not to accept, so he became available for transfer;
manager Terry Brown felt that the player's representatives did not want him to stay with the club.
Under the Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, because of the player's age, compensation would be payable when he signed a contract with another club,
but he would be allowed to play on non-contract terms, and in September 2008 he rejoined Harrow Borough on such a basis, with a view to regaining fitness following a summer operation.
At Harrow he was reunited with player-coach Jamie Lawrence
Jamie Lawrence
Jamie Lawrence is an English-born Jamaican professional footballer and former manager of Southern League side Ashford Town...
, with whom he had worked for three years at Lawrence's Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
academy for semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
footballers.
Though he failed to score in his first four games back with Harrow, he followed up with nine goals in eight league games,
performances which attracted interest from potential purchasers and attention from opposition defenders alike.
Birmingham City
In mid-December 2008, Shroot had a trial with Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
; he trained with the first-team group and scored in a friendly against Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
Harrow manager, former Birmingham player David Howell
David Howell (footballer)
David Howell is a former English football player, who played as a central defender. He is currently the manager of St Albans City.-Playing career:...
, was unhappy about the motives of the player's agent, suggesting he wanted "to put Robin out there for the highest bidder".
Nevertheless, Shroot joined Birmingham on 2 January 2009, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with a one-year option,
for what was described as a "nominal" fee.
Shroot made his first-team debut on 13 January 2009, playing the whole of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
In March 2009, he joined League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on loan for one month with a view to gaining first-team experience in League football.
He made his debut in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
as a second-half substitute in Walsall's 2–0 defeat at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
.
The good form of Walsall's other wide players meant Shroot was unable to force his way into the starting eleven, so he returned from the loan spell a week before it was due to end, making five substitute appearances.
Shroot joined Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
on a season-long loan on 1 July 2009, though Birmingham retained the option to recall him in the January 2010 transfer window.
He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the season, playing the first 67 minutes of a 3–1 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
.
The player returned to Birmingham when the loan was terminated prematurely "in the best interests of both parties" on 6 October 2009, though formally he remained a Burton player until the transfer window opened in January 2010.
The player signed for League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
on loan at the start of the 2010–11 season, initially on an emergency basis to ensure his availability for the opening match of the season, with the intention of extending the loan until January 2011.
He was named among the substitutes as Cheltenham drew at Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, but did not make an appearance.
Shroot scored his first Football League goal against Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
in October,
and went on to make 11 appearances for Cheltenham in all competitions. Although keen to extend the loan,
he returned to Birmingham in January 2011,
and was released when his contract expired at the end of the season.
Stevenage
In July 2011, Shroot had a trial at League One club Stevenage, during which he scored the only goal of the game in Stevenage's 1–0 win against a Fulham XIFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
side, coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute and scoring ten minutes later. The trial proved successful, and he signed a two-year contract with the club on 26 July. Shroot made his Stevenage debut in the club's first game of the 2011–12 campaign, playing 71 minutes in a 0–0 home draw with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
International career
Shroot qualifies to play international football for Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
because his grandmother is from that country. While still a youngster at Wimbledon, he wrote to then manager Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrence Philip "Lawrie" Sanchez is a former Northern Irish football manager, and a former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Barnet...
to tell him his international ambitions lay with Northern Ireland. He was capped at under-19 and under-20 level, and played in the side which reached the final of the Milk Cup
Milk Cup
The Milk Cup is an international youth football tournament held annually in Northern Ireland. The cup matches are mainly played in the North Coast area of Northern Ireland, with matches taking place in the towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and...
Elite section in 2007.
Shroot's debut for the under-21s
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
came in November 2008 when he played the first half of a 3–1 defeat of their Scottish counterparts
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
,
and he went on to win four caps at that level.
Personal life
Shroot was educated at Alleyn's SchoolAlleyn's School
Alleyn's School is an independent, fee-paying co-educational day school situated in Dulwich, south London, England. It is a registered charity and was originally part of the historic Alleyn's College of God's Gift charitable foundation, which also included James Allen's Girls' School , Dulwich...
in Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, south London, and played non-league cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for the Alleyn Adhoc XI, many of whose players are former pupils of the school.
Before his move to Birmingham, he had coached at a South London junior football club, Balham Blazers, and managed their under-13 side.
He intended to maintain his involvement with the club when his Birmingham commitments permitted.
Honours
Staines Town- Southern Youth League (East): 2006
- Middlesex Premier Cup: 2006
- Southern Combination Cup: 2006
AFC Wimbledon
- Isthmian League Premier Division runners-up: 2008