Robbie Simpson

Returning from injury at Northwich two weeks ago, Robbie Simpson completed his comeback with a goal at Grays last weekend and he is aiming to score many more.

Raised in Knebworth, where he still lives, Robbie's football career began at Norwich City, who spotted him when he represented East Anglia at the age of nine.

He spent six years with the Canaries on schoolboy terms, and when he was released Jez George (now with United as head of youth development) acted quickly to sign Robbie for Cambridge City's academy.

His first team debut for City came within months, when he was still just 16, and for the last two years he has combined a degree course with Conference South football for City.

Explaining how that came about, Robbie said, "Cambridge City's academy allowed us to do 'A' levels at the same time as being in their academy and playing for the youth team. I got good results in my 'A' levels - an A in P.E., a B in Biology and a C in Maths - and I didn't want to waste those grades, so I had a year out before going to university to see if I could make it professionally in that year.

"I played for their first team and coached for their Football in the Community scheme but I didn't get a move within that year so I went to university. I had a deal with Cambridge City that I would train with the university team during the week and play for City in matches, and when the opportunity arose to come to Cambridge United I spoke to Rob Newman, who was the manager at the time, to see if I could join on the same basis.

"It meant I would be full-time in pre-season and right up until October when I went back to university, and I would come back for training when I can, depending on my timetable, and come back to train full-time during half-terms and holidays and play in matches.

"Rob Newman took that to the board of directors and it was agreed, so I was delighted, and when Jimmy Quinn took over I spoke to him about it to make sure it was still OK with him.

"Obviously I want to get back here as much as possible because he was an international striker and it will be good to work with him and learn from his experience and what he's achieved."

Robbie is in the final six months of his Sports Science and Maths degree course and although his heavy workload has prevented him from joining training during the week so far, he will have four weeks off in December, which will see him back in full-time training at the club.

Studying at Loughborough University, which is renowned for its sports facilities, he could hardly be at a better place to maintain his fitness while he finishes his studies.

"The football team there is basically full-time and we train every day apart from Tuesdays, so it's a pretty similar workload to the club," he confirms.

Last season Robbie was part of the Loughborough team that reached the final of the British Universities Cup and he was permitted by City to play in the final at Loftus Road, the home of Queens Park Rangers, against Team Bath who compete in the Southern League Premier Division.

"We managed to win 2-1 and I got the equaliser after they took the lead - although I got sent off later," he adds.

"It was great occasion with a good crowd - lots of drunk students there! - and it's a nice thing to have been part of and a good experience to have under your belt."

Robbie is known as a striker, and although he was converted to a central midfielder during his six years with Norwich City he was restored to striking duties at Cambridge City.

As an Arsenal fan, his influences are unsurprising - "I think I'm more of a Dennis Bergkamp type player but Thierry Henry is my favourite" - but he also pays tribute to others who have helped him:

"On the coaching side, Dave Stringer was my manager in the under-16s at Norwich. He managed Norwich's first team before that and he was a very good coach and I enjoyed working with him.

"Then when I went to Cambridge City David Batch was the coach there. He was here at Cambridge United too at one stage, and he was another good coach and the one who moved me up front again. He became the first team manager at City for a while and he gave me my debut at 16, so I own him a lot.

"Jez George has worked with me for the last six years and helped me with advice about what to do and when, and of course my Dad has always been there for me."

Robbie was one of three players who joined United from Cambridge City in the summer - along with fellow striker Michael Gash and midfielder Josh Simpson - and he points to the challenge of playing in the Conference as a major attraction.

"I'm ambitious and I want to play as high as I can, and I wanted to test myself at a higher level, so in that respect it was an easy decision," he reveals. "The main thing I had to make sure of, having completed two years at university, was I didn't want to throw those years away so I thought it was important I carried on with my studies at Cambridge United too.

"But playing at the highest level means more to me than anything so it wasn't really a hard decision and the lads all helped me settle in really well."

Robbie experienced a change of manager just six games into his United career, followed by a knee injury that sidelined him for six weeks and prevented him from working with the new manager until just three weeks ago.

"It has been an eventful start," he admits. "I felt that personally I was showing Rob Newman something that he liked for him to be playing me regularly, I felt I was handling the step up quite well, and I felt fitter and technically better.

"But it obviously didn't work out for Rob and then in the first game Jimmy Quinn watched, against Stevenage, I got injured after 45 minutes, so it's been a difficult time for me because I'd only had that 45 minutes to show Jimmy my abilities.

"But we've spoken regularly and since I've come back I've started the last two games and I was very happy to get the goal on Saturday. Going out of the cup the previous Saturday was my first game back and I was a little bit rusty, so I was very pleased to get the goal at Grays.

"I wish we could have held on to get all three points but it was another game for me to get match sharp and I'm sure if I get a couple more games I'll get my match fitness."

"And I'm looking forward to learning from the new manager," he continues. "Every time I speak to him he tells me a little move I can make to help me get more chances at goal and score more goals."

Robbie has seemed to attract more than his fair share of rough treatment in his games so far, and it was a heavy challenge in the match against Stevenage that caused the medial collateral ligament injury that ruled him out for six weeks.

However, he regards it as part and parcel of the game at this level: "I've got used to it. It does happen in the Conference South as well but to a lesser extent. At this level there are a lot more things off the ball from the defenders that the referee might not see, but it's just something you have to deal with.

"You can't show the defenders that it's bothering you or let it get the better of you, and it doesn't do any harm to give a bit back," he smiles. "It might put them off their game. I expect them to do it to me every game to try to put me off my game."

Looking ahead, Robbie confirms his desire to play at the highest possible level, adding, "I'm only 21 and I've got a lot more years in the game, and hopefully I can do that with Cambridge United and get promoted as soon as possible, then see where it goes. I'm going to give it my all and see where it takes me."

He concludes, "I think there is definitely more to come from this squad this season.

"I've been involved with the last two performances under the new manager and in just those two games we've already seen an improvement from Northwich to Grays, so hopefully we can keep on improving and go on a run and push ourselves up the table."

My favourite game:
"Playing against West Ham at the Abbey in pre-season was pretty special. I've never played against a team from such a high level before and to be on the same pitch as the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Dean Ashton was brilliant. Their centre-forwards are at a level I want to aspire to and so it was great to be on the same pitch and learn from them."

Andrea Thrussell

*This interview was first published in the programme for the match against Gravesend on 11th November, 2006.

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