PURE SWANSEA: ‘I didn’t expect it’: Roberts on nine years in every position and becoming the rock of Pure’s back four

Ollie Roberts did not see this coming. A player who has filled every position down the middle of the pitch in nine years at Pure Swansea is now the cornerstone of a defence that has kept five clean sheets in seven Novira Cymru South games.

“It’s been good. I’ve done really well defensively, but I didn’t necessarily expect it, because I played all through the spine last year,” Roberts said. “I was centre-mid, centre-half, centre-forward. I seem to have settled in well towards the end of last year at centre-half.”

A change of shape has helped. “We played a back three then, we’ve changed the system this year. It’s gone to a back four and it’s worked really well for us. Five out of seven, you can’t really complain.”

‘He’s key’: Midwinter breaks his own rule

Jack Midwinter does not make a habit of praising his players in public. He made an exception.

“He’s key. I’ll say some nice things about him, because I don’t normally do it to the boys,” the manager said. “He’s somebody that, over the years I’ve been at the club, has played in every position through the middle of the pitch, whether it’s as a centre-forward, centre-midfielder or a centre-half.

“Probably the one he enjoys least is centre-half. In the last 12 months he’s been excellent there. He’s a fantastic footballer, very calm on the ball when we build, but also he’s a strong defender.

“When you have somebody that can do both sides of the game in your backline, it just takes pressure off lads, because they know they can lend him the ball and he’s going to make good decisions.

“He’s been here a long time. He understands the levels, he understands the leagues. He’s our most capped player, the one I’ve had the most experience with at the club. He’s a great character to have around me.”

Three promotions, a title that didn’t count, and the road back

Roberts has been at Pure long enough to remember the club as a Swansea Senior League side, and the rise and fall that followed.

“I’m in my ninth year now. At the start we’d just come out of the Swansea League, so it was maybe not as professional as it is getting towards now, but we did well,” he said. “We had three promotions in our first four years and won the Cymru South in the Covid year.”

That title did not bring promotion, the club unable to go up because it did not meet the licensing criteria for the tier above.

“It was disappointing then to drop back down the leagues, but we’ve been building progressively to come back up and back where we want to be,” Roberts said. “Hopefully we can go one step again this year.”

Leaders across the pitch

The squad around him has changed too. “Two or three years ago, me and Jordan were the oldest boys in the team at 24, 25. We’ve signed some older boys since then and brought some young boys through,” he said.

“It’s a good mix of boys who have been there, got experience and know how to get games over the line, and the boys who are young, who just want to get on the ball and influence the game. Jack has got us gelled really well together.”

Jordan Hughes, man of the match at Aberystwyth, wears the armband, but Roberts says the responsibility is shared.

“Jordan’s the captain, he’s done that for a few years now, and he’s been a good captain this year. But we want to encourage boys to be leaders across the pitch. I wouldn’t say it’s down just to us two. Most of the boys across the pitch have taken the responsibility themselves.”

A point at Park Avenue, and Caerphilly next

Roberts, who drew a strong save from Luke Evans with a late header in that goalless draw, felt a point in Ceredigion was fair.

“It was a really tough place to go, especially on a Friday night. The boys were in work, then had to make the two-hour drive up there. They had a big crowd, I think the biggest they’ve had up there for a while,” he said.

“They did put us under pressure for periods, but we dealt with it well. They had probably the better of the first half, we had the better of the second. A point was probably a fair result, but one that we’ll take and move on. Hopefully we will extend the lead at the top this weekend.”

Saturday brings Caerphilly Athletic to Swansea Bay Sports Park (2.30pm), the side Pure beat comfortably in last season’s Ardal South League Cup final. Roberts knows a few of Saturday’s opponents.

“I’m a Caerphilly boy, I know a few of the boys down there. I know it’ll be a tough game Saturday,” he said.

“They’ve signed a few good boys, experience at this level. You can see from the start they’ve made, they’ve been right in the mix in mid-table. They’ve got a few good results. By any means it won’t be an easy game. I certainly don’t foresee a game like the final last year, where we did end up comfortable winners.”

He is looking forward to being back on home turf after two trips away.

“The facilities down there have always been good. The ground staff have always been brilliant for us, they always ensure everything’s top quality,” Roberts said. “The pitch has been good, we can play our football on there. I’m looking forward to getting back there Saturday.”