Roodenburg glad to be back at Blacktown

The NSW Premier League lost a hard battling midfielder in the last two seasons and his absence was certainly felt by his beloved club who endured some tough times in those years.
2010 has come through and alas a new name, refurbished stadium, new owner, new team, new coach and Roodenburg?s return to the game has been nothing short of outstanding.
?I spent two solid seasons in England and played for a couple of Non-League clubs there with my last two being Staines Town and Walton Casuals but it was something I always wanted to do.
?It was good fun and I really enjoyed my time there, it was a real rough and tough league, just the way I liked it.
?I am happy to be back in Australia and to be playing with Blacktown along with Aytek Genc and the squad. It?s great that we?ve started off on the right foot after some decent results but the club expects only the best and we aim to do that this year.?
The ever determined Blacktown star put it down to Genc?s acquisition at the club in his reasoning for returning to his old stomping ground after being approached by several rival NSW Premier League clubs.
?Aytek?s arrival at the club was certainly a major factor in me signing with Blacktown as we?ve worked well together for a couple of years and he always gets the best out of his players.
?Aytek?s a winner like I am and he wasn?t going to return to finish mid-table so his motivation is certainly shared along the same lines as mine and that?s going for the Premiership and Championship.
?I also have to credit our assistant as well Mark Crittenden too as he also helped in the move.?
As it currently stands after seven rounds, Blacktown are the NSW Premier League leaders with 17 points and have yet to lose in 2010 something Roodenburg has credited this towards hard work at training as well as Genc?s research off the park.
?The club has been very thorough as has Aytek who is always working overtime in informing the players a week in advance about our forthcoming opponents.
?The intensity at training is also really high but all the players are thriving off it, we understand that as players we are all under pressure but that?s where you get the best results and we?re working well from this.
?We have a big squad which means if we don?t perform we will be on the outer the following week so playing consistently is a must.?
One huge factor about the club?s recent success has also been the arrival of Liverpool businessman Vince Camera who has invested more than $2.6 million into the club rescuing it from near extinction.
?Vince has invested so much money into not just the club itself but the surroundings, it?s been a phenomenal effort.
?You just have to venture off to our ground and see the huge makeover he has done to it as well as the club itself, the new restaurant is unbelievable.
?It is important that we as a team give him as well as our fans something in return and that?s a Championship.?
Having spent five seasons at the club prior to his departure to the UK, Roodenburg has settled in rather easily into his former surroundings.
?To be honest it was like walking back into your family home, it?s been that easy, the club and the management have been brilliant as has the squad so I have had nothing to complain or worry about.?
Asked what he thought about the current standard of the NSW Premier League after his two year absence the newly married attacker replied.
?From what I have seen so far the club has a number of quality youngsters that are doing very well and are shooting for more success.
?I believe we potentially have the best young kids in the state and I know that they?ve been getting noticed far more now since I have come back which is great for the league.
?The NSW Premier League in my opinion is seen as a development league for future stars and I have seen that with rival clubs too who also have some quality youngsters.?
The man known for always playing with his heart on his sleeve has put out that he would love nothing more than to once again bring back the glory days at the club and that?s winning silverware which was his main aim for 2010.
?I would really love to lift the Premiership and Championship like what we did back in 2007.
?Those were great times and I am sure with the quality we have now we can do it again.
?I didn?t come back to finish mid-table, I?ve always had a winning attitude and my mind is set in giving it my all in achieving this.?
The 29-year-old has however stated that being part of the Hyundai A-League one day isn?t part of his plans as a footballer.
?I don?t think the A-League is for me unfortunately as the next stage for me after Blacktown is retirement.
?I mean if an A-League club knocked on my door and asked me to play for them I wouldn?t accept as I am enjoying playing regular football in the NSW Premier League and especially at my age, I wouldn?t like being the seventeenth man having trained all week only to miss out.
?I have to be honest to myself and that is why for me it?s only the NSW Premier League.?
The high flying Blacktown side will no doubt have their work cut out when they venture off to Marconi Stadium this Saturday and tackle Lee Sterrey?s Marconi Stallions outfit which will no doubt be the featured game of round 8.
?Marconi are a great side and have a number of really good players in their squad and will be very tough to beat especially at home.
?We have to approach this game the same way we did against the Bonnyrigg White Eagles, we have done our research on them and will try and get a positive result.
?We understand it will be a very tough match as well as a very tough rest of month for us as we have Sutherland and Sydney United as well as Bankstown but if we can get something this week and next then I believe we can slowly break away from the pack.?
Blacktown City FC take on Marconi Stallions this Saturday at Marconi Stadium with kick-off set for 7.30pm.
-By Mark Stavroulakis