Larrett Roebuck

Larrett Roebuck (27 January 1889 – 18 October 1914) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town as a left back.[4] He was the first Football League player to be killed in the First World War.[3]

Larrett Roebuck
Personal information
Full name Larrett Roebuck[1]
Date of birth (1889-01-27)27 January 1889
Place of birth Jump, England
Date of death 18 October 1914(1914-10-18) (aged 25)[2]
Place of death near Beaucamps-Ligny, France[3]
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1913 Silverwood Colliery
1913–1914 Huddersfield Town 17 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

As a boy, Roebuck worked as a trammer and after being sentenced to one month's imprisonment for stealing a watch in 1904, he enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment.[3] Over the next seven years, he was stationed in India and Ireland and was promoted to lance corporal, but was demoted back to private in 1910 for "misconduct".[3] He married in 1908 and had two children.[3] Roebuck was discharged into the reserves in 1912 and likely returned to work as a miner prior to becoming a professional footballer in 1913.[3] After Britain's entry into the First World War in August 1914, he was called up by the York and Lancaster Regiment and arrived on the Western Front in September 1914.[3] On 18 October 1914, Roebuck was recorded as "presumed dead" after an attack near Beaucamps-Ligny during the Race to the Sea.[3] His death was confirmed by two comrades in January 1915.[3] Roebuck is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing.[2]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town 1913–14[5] Second Division 17020190
Career total 17020190

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 251. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. "18 October 1914 Larrett Roebuck killed in action on this day | The Western Front Association". www.westernfrontassociation.com. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. Ian Thomas & others (2007). 99 Years & Counting – Stats & Stories – Huddersfield Town History. Huddersfield Town Football Club. ISBN 0-9557281-0-X.
  5. "Player Profile – Larrett Roebuck". HTAFC Archive. Retrieved 7 September 2020.


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