Football: Rigg makes his mark on Forest Green debut (From Gazette Series)

Blue Square Premier: Rushden & Diamonds 4 Forest Green Rovers 2

4:53pm Wednesday 26th August 2009 in Sport

FORMER Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School pupil Sean Rigg took just five minutes to make his mark at Forest Green after sealing a loan switch less than 24 hours earlier.

The 21-year-old, who played youth football for Charfield, is on the transfer list at parent club Bristol Rovers and has joined the New Lawn outfit on an initial one-month deal.

Rigg was a youth player at Forest Green before being poached by Bristol Rovers to do his scholarship at Filton College and he has gone on to make over 50 appearances for the League One side since signing a professional contract in 2006.

He put Forest Green ahead from close range following a Steve Davies pass but Craig Farell headed Rushden and Diamonds level on 13 minutes.

Mark Byrne’s 27th-minute header put the home side in front and a close-range finish from Cliff Akurang gave them a two-goal cushion after the break.

Ross Stearn’s 18-yard shot on 82 minutes gave Rovers hope but Aaron O’Connor’s close-range effort sealed the win for Rushden.

It was a fifth straight defeat in the league this season for Rovers but caretaker boss David Brown brought in former York City boss Colin Walker to assist him.

“Hopefully I can help David by my presence in the technical area on match days as well as the day to day training routine in the week,” said Walker.

Walker was reserve-team coach at York City before taking on the role as manager, having fulfilled various roles in a 15-year stint at Barnsley.

As a player, however, he has experienced World Cup and Olympic qualifying campaigns with New Zealand, for whom he played 34 times and scored 18 goals.

Walker emigrated in 1983 and became naturalised during a six-year spell at Gisborne City, where he was leading national goalscorer three times and player of the year in 1984.

Brown stated “I am pleased to be able to get someone with Colin’s background to take some of the pressure off me. It will be great to have him on the bench alongside the other members of staff not only to pass on his experience to them but I know he can be trusted to use it for the benefit of our performances on the field as well.”