Rob signed for the Spireites on Sept 8th, 2000 as virtually the final piece in the promotion jigsaw. He responded with some outstanding performances at left back and left midfield, scoring 4 times in 34 appearances.
Rob, 5 ft 9 in tall, was born in Manchester on Feb 23 1970 and played for Stockport Schoolboys before being invited to train at Crewe Alexandra under Dario Gradi. He joined Alex after school as a YTS trainee in 1986 and two years later became a full-time professional.
(Picture Rob Heading Home Against Sheff Weds For Crewe)
It took Rob a couple of years to break into the Alex first team, but between 1990 and 1996 he was a first-team regular. At that time he played up front and in total he made 155 appearances with 55 goals.
In March 1996 Huddersfield Town came along with an offer of £150,000 and Rob moved to Yorkshire. While at the McAlpine Stadium Rob appeared around 160 times but was converted to a defender, and it was in that role that Chesterfield signed him early last season for £70,000. Whilst at the Terriers Rob earned himself a repution as abit of a freekick specialist.
Rob was an instant success at Saltergate. The Spireites won in each of his first seven games, and he endeared himself to his new fans immediately, when he scored in the fifth minute of his home debut against bitter local rivals Mansfield. That goal set up a 4-0 victory that remains the highlight of last season for most Chesterfield fans. Rob also scored a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Halifax, after the Spireites has trailed 0-2 with just nine minutes left, plus a match-winner in torrential rain at York and a goal in 2-0 victory over 
Cheltenham Town in front of the Sky TV cameras.
Last season Rob played as left back when the Spireites played 4-4-2, and as left wing back if the formation was 3-5-2. Whatever role, his performances were outstanding and it's a very long time indeed since Chesterfield have had such an influential left-sided player.
(Pictured Rob Controlling The Ball In Typical Fashion)
