Paying tribute to Rob’s work Grangetown Boys Club First Team Manager James Hunter said: “I’m sad to see Rob leave, he’s been by my side since the first Covid lockdown and realistically we were strangers. Since then, we’ve chatted every single day and he’s definitely one of my closest friends not only in football but in life.

“Rob’s someone who strangely loves goalkeepers and I can safely say anyone who has worked with him has enjoyed their sessions and time working with him. There have been arguments, disagreements, joy and happiness experienced between the two of us over the years with the sole aim of getting us promoted into the Northern League and he can leave with his head held high as we achieved what we said we’d do on the pitch, you can never take that away from him as he has had as big a role as anybody in making that happen.

“On a personal level you won’t find anyone as trustworthy and hardworking. Rob feel’s its his time to step away, not from football totally as I know he’s running his daughter Ava’s team as well as the Ladies team at Redcar Town, I for one wish them all the luck in the world and want to emphasise how lucky they are to have a person like Rob to look up to over the coming years. There has been lows, but the highs outweigh those tenfold.

“On top of that any players who have been on a Boysie night out will have fond memories of Rob, maybe not so much when his clothes are off, but we all know how difficult it is to keep the man fully clothed after 12 pints of Guinness.

“Thanks for everything Rob, from me, the players and Grangetown Boys Club.”