Whilst there were two former Rovers players in the Cambridge United squad at The Mem on Saturday, in James Gibbons and Ryan Loft, there was one more in the dugout.
Former Rovers defender, and skipper, Adam Barrett, is now Assistant Head Coach with the U’s and was presented with his legacy cap after the game, by Rovers Director of Football Ricky Martin.
Adam joined Rovers in July 2002, appointed captain, and put in 90 consistent performances during his two years at The Mem. A very popular figure around the club, he couldn’t be persuaded to sign a new contract in the summer of 2004 and signed for Southend United in June that year.
There followed a move to Crystal Palace in July 2010, then Orient in March 2011, Bournemouth in July that year and Gillingham in August 2012. There was a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon before a return to Southend in January 2015 prior to his retirement in February 2017.
He appeared in 308 league games for Southend in his twp spells at Roots Hall and quickly made the transition from playing to coaching.
Appointed as coach at Millwall in March 2017, he remained at The New Den until December 2024 and had two temporary spells as caretaker boss whilst with the club.
He was reunited with former Millwall manager Neil Harris at Cambridge in May of this year and it was a pleasure to see him receive his cap for his Rovers league debut, on 10th August 2002 when Rovers were beaten 2-1 by Torquay United at Plainmoor when he became the 688th player to appear for Rovers in league football.
