Stevenage bolstered their striking options during the 2016 summer break with the signature of Rowan Liburd. The Croydon-born forward was snapped up by gaffer Darren Sarll; Boro’ parting with a five-figure sum to secure his services from Championship side Reading. And that was no small figure for us. Despite a relative lack of experience, the promise that Liburd was showing leading up to his arrival at the Lamex was enough.
With Boro’ struggling to find the net during the second half of the 2015-6 season, Liburd certainly came to the club with a role to play. It didn’t go to plan with us, however. Just 18 outings is all the striker clocked up. Three goals was the return too; two of which came in a Football League Trophy clash with Southend United. Not making the desired impact in his time with us, Liburd left a year after joining.
Rowan Liburd: Before Boro’
Liburd started his career at Chelsea, before moving Stateside on a football scholarship with Georgia’s Thomas University. During his time in the US, Liburd picked up a number of awards; one of which was the Sun Conference Player of the Year. After four years, he came back to the UK. Billericay Town was the forward’s first port of call in 2014, but earned a two-year deal at the Royals the following summer.
He made his Championship debut in November 2015, before the chance arose to gain some valuable experience at League Two side Wycombe on loan.