Former Stevenage midfielder is relishing the chance of playing football in Norway after finalising move away from Boro

Robin Shroot says he has moved to Norway in a bid to one day play Champions League football.

The attacking midfielder ended his three-year spell at Boro in March after leaving the club on a free transfer to sign for Norwegian second division side Il Hødd – a team that last year played in the Europa League after winning the Norwegian Cup the previous season.

The 26-year-old’s spell at Boro ended with Shroot training with the academy team as the club placed him on the transfer list in October saying he had asked for a transfer, something Shroot denies.

Now in Norway, the former Birmingham City man scored on his debut in a friendly match and is due to be part of the Il Hødd squad that opens its league campaign on Monday at Hamkam.

“I’ve not come here for the experience, I’ve come here to play Champions League football,” Shroot exclusively told the Comet.

“I spent a week training with Brian Deane’s club Sarpsborg in January, which was a marvellous experience. He and the assistant, Ian Burchnall, wanted to try and do something permanently, however because of their international quota being full, it couldn’t happen in this window.

“The assistant made a call to the director at Hødd, telling him about my availability and would they be interested in doing something to get me over there, and fortunately it all happened very quickly and I came out on Friday, March 28 to sign for a season.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play abroad and so I jumped at the opportunity.

“I am most looking forward to playing in a league that is much more technical and a game that is based around possession, rotation and attacking football.

“I know it will help me improve so much as a footballer, and the quality is high throughout the country. The manager is young and one of the first things he said was that player development is paramount here. There are so many young players in every first team and they are given a chance really young.

“The people are all so friendly and welcoming, and the scenery in the country is wonderful, so it is going to be a wonderful opportunity on my footballing journey all round.

“There are hardly any English players playing overseas, and this is a great shame as it would do so much for the game in England.

“I think English players can be quite naïve, in the respect that they think English football is the be all and end all of their careers, without realising how much coming abroad could do for them as a player and as a person.”

Shroot, who made just 32 starts in three seasons at the club, speaks highly of the Stevenage fans, saying he had a great rapport with the Boro faithful.

“I believe I had an excellent relationship with the fans, and never before have I been appreciated the way I was by such a genuine group of supporters,” Shroot said.

“It inspired me to do so well for the club and repay the faith they had shown in me, and it’s the first time I had my own song from the supporters at professional level which might not seem a big deal to people, but when it’s sung by the east terrace in full voice, under that tin roof, it really does put hairs on your neck.

“I would like to say thank you to them for unbelievable patience, passion and dedication.”