Robert Roberts (footballer, born 1865)

Robert Roberts (1865 – 1 October 1945) was a Welsh footballer who played at outside-left for several clubs, spending most of his career with Crewe Alexandra in the English Football League. He made two appearances for Wales.

Robert Roberts
Personal information
Full name Robert Roberts
Date of birth 1865
Place of birth Rhosllannerchrugog, Wales
Date of death (1945-10-01)1 October 1945
Place of death Crewe, England
Position(s) Outside-left
Youth career
1877–c.1884 Rhosllannerchrugog
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Witton Britannia
c.1889–1891 Rhosllannerchrugog
1891 West Bromwich Albion 1 (0)
1891–1892 Wrexham
1892–1894 Crewe Alexandra 38 (17)
National team
1891–1893 Wales 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Roberts was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham and was a member of the village football team by the time he was thirteen, going on to captain the side for four seasons.[1]

Once he had completed his schooling, he became a teacher in Anglesey before moving to take up a post with Timberlane National School in Northwich, where he played for Witton Britannia, helping them reach the final of the Cheshire Junior Cup, where they lost to Crewe Hornets.[1]

He returned to "Rhos" in the late 1880s and made his first appearance for Wales when he replaced Jack Bowdler against Ireland on 7 February 1891. The Welsh team were comprehensively defeated by a score of 7–2.[2] Shortly after his international debut, Roberts was persuaded by Seth Powell to sign for West Bromwich Albion as an amateur.[1]

Roberts made one appearance for West Bromwich in the 1890–91 season before returning to Wales in October 1891 to join Wrexham. By the end of the season he had become the Wrexham captain before a move back to the Football League to join Crewe Alexandra in 1892. At Crewe, he signed as a professional but reverted to amateur status when he was offered the position as accountant at Crewe railway station.[1]

in 1892, the Football Association of Wales in the annual player assessment described Roberts as "a good outside left (who) passes well (but) requires the same partner regularly". Roberts was noted for his "dashes down the left wing and his good centres" as well as his "continual raids into the visitors' territory."[1]

His second international appearance came on 13 March 1893 when he once more replaced Jack Bowdler against England. The match was played at nearby Stoke-upon-Trent and the Welsh were again defeated conceding six goals without reply.[3]

In the league, Roberts made 38 appearances for Crewe over two seasons, scoring 17 goals, with the club finishing both years mid-table in the Second Division.[1]

Later career

Roberts retired in the summer of 1894 and later became a linesman in the Lancashire League, progressing to refereeing in the Football League in the early 20th century.[1] He took charge of several important matches including the Welsh Cup Final in 1899.[4]

Roberts later became a publican and also joined Crewe Alexandra as a committee member, and then became company secretary and then a director as the club became a limited company.[1]

Roberts was a regular attender at the Welsh chapel in Crewe and was conductor of the chapel choir.[1]

International appearances

Roberts' two appearances for Wales were as follows:[5]

DateVenueOpponentResult[6]GoalsCompetition
7 February 1891Ulsterville, Belfast Ireland2–70British Home Championship
13 March 1893Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent England0–60British Home Championship

References
  1. Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. p. 181. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  2. "Ireland 7 Wales 2 (7 February 1891)". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  3. "England 6 Wales 0 (13 March 1893)". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  4. "Welsh Cup Final (15 April 1899)". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  5. Samuel, Bill (2009). The Complete Wales FC 1876–2008. Soccer Books. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-1-86223-176-4.
  6. Wales score first
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