TIVVY ARCHIVE

Scott Rogers

23/05/1979

The son of former player Peter, and cousin of two-time manager Martyn, Scott Rogers will forever be considered a Tivvy legend: it was his goal in the final minute that clinched a second FA Vase victory in 1999 as Tiverton edged past Bedlington Terrirers at Wembley. Scott amassed 47 copetitive goals for the club which also included the third in a promotion-sealing victory against Blakenall on 2001, before moving to Forest Green Rovers in 2003.

He then went on to play for Bath City, Newport County and Chippenham Town before being appointed manager of Willand Rovers in the summer of 2013. Two strong years at Silver Street saw Willand consolidate ther position as one of the strongest and most consistent sides in the Western League, and following their victory in the League Cup in 2015 Scott stepped down and took the decision to return to Ladysmead in a dual role as player-coach. Playing time became less frequent, and in 2019 he assumed the role of joint-manager alongside Martyn Rogers.

Scott's re-signing completed an interesting circle that few amongst the club had many doubts would eventually come to fruition: he was always in touch with the club when elsehwre through his career, and in fact turned out on a couple of occasions under John Clarkson's managerial reign in 2014. The lengthy family ties with the club, his own proximity, and the status he carved out as a favourite amongst the supporters made his return somewhat inevitable.

However, in his early career there were sometimes murmurs of nepotism over talent, and even the more balanced supporter could have been forgiven for considering Rogers something of a luxury player in a squad that dominated the Western League in the late 1990s. Those suggestions, in time, we clearly unfounded, and it was only Scott's commitment to his chosen trade which restricted his opportunities within the professional game. From a versatile yet unspectacular utilty player, he quickly cemented his place in the team in his early twenties, his consistent form earned him a move into the Football Conference with Forest Green Rovers, and his commitment to his team was undelined by his unbridled celebrations when he scored twice for Bath Ciy in an FA Cup replay against Tiverton in 2006.