No favours on offer from former Rovers keepers

FOREST Green's chances of lining up against the big boys in the third round of the FA Cup will be tested by some old friends tomorrow.

Rovers travel the short distance to face Blue Square South outfit Bath City tomorrow, looking to book a place in the FA Cup third round for the second consecutive season.

Standing in their way will be no fewer than six former Rovers stars, who currently ply their trade with the Romans.

One of the most fondly remembered of the Rovers alumni to be involved is goalkeeper Steve Perrin.

Now 39 and likely to be named as a substitute, as another former Rovers keeper Ryan Robinson takes the gloves, Perrin was in the Rovers side when they last met in the Cup in 2000.

He saved two penalties and Frankie Bennett scored a hat-trick, as Rovers reached the first round with a 3-1 win.

"All the Bath directors and fans still remind me about that day, even now," said Perrin.

"When Forest Green beat Mansfield in the replay and they mentioned the 3-1 game on the news, I said to my wife Jane, 'That is bound to get mentioned a few times',

"I had six or seven unbelievable years at Forest Green and that made up my footballing life. It's a great draw.

"I'm great friends with the chairman, Trevor Horsley, and the managing director, Colin Peake, and am up there for a party the week after – one way or the other I'm going to get spoken about.

"But I'm a Bath City player now and if I'm required on the day I'll be doing everything I can to get them through to the next round."

Robinson has a different reason to be grateful towards his ex-employers.

After sustaining a back injury earlier in the season, Robinson, who left Rovers in the summer, has been training with current Rovers keeper Terry Burton and coaches Mick Byrne and Kevin Phillips in a bid to gain fitness.

"I knew I had to hit the ground running at Bath, so I spent some time up at Forest Green during the day once or twice a week to get up to speed," said Robinson.

"The new manager there, Dave Hockaday, didn't know me at all and it was really good of him to let me train with them – he didn't have to as they've got enough keepers there.

"But I'm not going to repay him for his kindness by doing them any sort of favour in the Cup."