Speculation was mounting this week about a dream move to Manchester United for the Northern Ireland international, who remained in Fermanagh until Tuesday afternoon.

    He likes returning home whenever he can and he appeared relaxed within the comfortable surroundings of his parents’ livingroom - several hours before he left Tamlaght again for Wigan. He was joined on the visit by his fiancée Kerry and their son, Jordan Roy, already a prospective footballer, who will be two on August 15.

    Undoubtedly, this should prove a momentous period in one way or another for Roy, a popular figure, who arrived home on Saturday evening.

    In recent days, his career and a much speculated move to Man. United have been capturing considerable media attention.

    He said that he is going for a medical some time this week and he is hoping that he will pass it and hopefully sign some time next week.

    Football has certainly been a major focal point for the 23-year-old, who started playing at an early age.

    And when asked who he supported as a child, he said Liverpool, but now it is United.

    The Carroll family moved to Tamlaght about 20 years ago, and Roy, third in a family of five, became involved in the sport during his Lisbellaw Primary schooldays and later at Enniskillen High School.

    Roy played out field at Lisbellaw Primary and he played in goals at the High School. He also delighted in kicking a football around home at Tamlaght.

    During his early career, he played locally for a number of clubs, including Ballinamallard and Fivemiletown and he also played in an under 16 Milk Cup team.

    A certain amount of luck is needed and in Roy’s case, he had just turned 16 and was playing for Ballinamallard when he was spotted. The late Greg Turley was the manager then and he recalls being spotted by Steve Fettis, brother of Alan Fettis, who is a former Northern Ireland goalkeeper. (Roy had been a member of a ‘B’ Division team which was playing at Dundela).

    He went for trials to Hull and after returning home he subsequently received a telephone call to say he was being offered a two-year contract and took it.

    He was with Y.T.S. under 18s for two months when he signed professional forms with Hull. (Alan Fettis was the goalkeeper at that time).

    Roy spent three years with Hull and then Wigan signed him for a four year contract.

    Among the high points of his career was his first debut for Northern Ireland and he has achieved nine caps as the Northern Ireland goalkeeper at senior level.

    Family members are among his supporters and they go to all the Northern Ireland home games - joined by quite a few Fermanagh supporters.

    Roy remains very close to his Fermanagh roots and one of his last visits coincided with Lisbellaw Festival when he was a star guest on the opening night.

    He likes to relax when he comes home and he enjoys catching up with his relatives and friends, such as Stephen Camley.

    His brother Bob plays at Ballinamallard and he likes to go along there, when he can. His other siblings are Diane, Raymond and Richard.

    Football has quite a following in the Carroll household and when it comes to playing in the goals - Bob senior was there before Roy. He was a goalkeeper at Fivemiletown, Ballinamallard and Lisbellaw and he played semi-professional in his teens.

    It was at Enniskillen High School that Roy picked up the gloves and started playing in the goals and enjoyed it.