Bill Roberts (footballer, born 1908)

William Samuel Roberts (12 July 1908 – 22 February 1976) was a Welsh footballer who played as a right back. He made over 170 Football League appearances in the years before the Second World War.[2]

Bill Roberts
Personal information
Full name William Samuel Roberts
Date of birth (1908-07-12)12 July 1908
Place of birth Bargoed, Wales
Date of death (1976-02-22)22 February 1976
Place of death Bristol, England
Height 5 ft 10+12 in (1.79 m)[1]
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
19??–19?? Army
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1932–1933 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
1933–1938 Bristol City 135 (7)
1938–1939 Newport County 41 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Bill Roberts was born in Bargoed and began his footballing career in the Army. He signed briefly for Tottenham Hotspur in 1932. Bob Hewison signed tough tackling Roberts in September 1933 for Bristol City.[3][4] Bill Roberts followed Ernie Brinton to Newport County in July 1938. Roberts was captured by the Germans in France during the Second World War.[3] Later Bill Roberts was landlord of the "Elm Tree" pub in Bishopsworth, Bristol then worked locally for HM Customs & Excise.[3] He died in Bristol, aged 67.

Honours

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with Bristol City
with Newport County

References

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  1. ^ "Bristol City. Forward line strengthened". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. xi – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 – 1939. Tony Brown. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  3. ^ a b c Woods, David; Leigh Edwards (1997). Bristol City FC The First 100 years. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-900178-26-5.
  4. ^ Woods, David (1994). Bristol Babe The First 100 years of Bristol City FC. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-95-X.