Kevin Roberts (footballer, born 1989)

Kevin Roberts (born 17 August 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League North club Chester.[3]

Kevin Roberts
Personal information
Full name Kevin Roberts[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-17) 17 August 1989 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Chester
Youth career
2003–2007 Chester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Chester City 109 (9)
2010–2014 Cambridge United 128 (3)
2013Brackley Town (loan) 4 (0)
2014–2017 FC Halifax Town 103 (2)
2017–2019 Wrexham 72 (0)
2019– Chester 145 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:02, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Roberts was born in Liverpool, Merseyside.[1]

Career

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Chester City

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Roberts started his career in Chester City's youth system in 2003,[4] signing a professional contract in January 2007.[1] His first involvement in the first team came as an unused substitute in a 2–0 away defeat to Lincoln City on 5 May 2007.[5] He made his first-team debut as a substitute against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup first round tie on 14 August 2007 at home.[citation needed] After the match ended goalless, Roberts stepped up to take a penalty in the shoot-out but saw his effort saved as Chester went out 4–2 on penalties.[citation needed] Four days later he made his Football League debut in a 2–1 win at Rochdale, when he played the whole match.[citation needed]

Roberts' rise to prominence continued on 1 September 2007, when he came off the bench to score Chester's equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Rotherham United.[citation needed] His next goal enhanced his reputation further, as he scored a stunning volley in Chester's 2–2 derby draw with Wrexham on 25 November 2007.[citation needed] He went on to play regularly in the team for the remainder of the campaign, with several youth team contemporaries such as Paul McManus, Shaun Kelly and Glenn Rule joining him in the team.[citation needed] The following season again brought a regular starting place in the team in a defensive position, in a campaign that ended in relegation from League Two.[citation needed]

He remained with the club as they began the following season in the Conference Premier.[citation needed] All Chester City players' statistics for the 2009/10 season were expunged after Chester were expelled from the Conference Premier for breaking league regulations.[citation needed]

Cambridge United

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Roberts joined Cambridge United in February 2010 after his contract with Chester was terminated, signing a contract until the end of the season.[citation needed]

Roberts signed a one-year contract extension at Cambridge United during the summer of 2010.[citation needed] Following a difficult season in which Cambridge battled relegation, Martin Ling was sacked and replaced by new manager Jez George, who signed Roberts to a further years contract for the 2011/12 season and reaffirmed his place as the club's first choice right back.[citation needed] Following a barren first 18 months at the club, Roberts scored his first goal for Cambridge in the club's 3–0 home victory against Southport, going on to add another two goals in his next three appearances.[citation needed]

On 4 October 2013, Roberts joined Conference North club Brackley Town on a one-month loan.[6] He was released by Cambridge on 27 May 2014.[citation needed]

FC Halifax Town

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He signed for Conference Premier club F.C. Halifax Town on 1 July 2014.[7]

Wrexham

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On 20 July 2017, Roberts signed for National League club Wrexham on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[8] He was released on 8 May 2019.[9]

Chester

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On 24 May 2019, Roberts signed for National League North club Chester on a one-year deal.[10]

Career statistics

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As of match played 9 April 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chester City 2006–07[12] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007–08[13] League Two 37 3 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 39 3
2008–09[14] League Two 44 4 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 46 4
2009–10[15] Conference Premier 28 2 2 0 0 0 30 2
Total 109 9 3 0 1 0 2 0 115 9
Cambridge United 2009–10[16] Conference Premier 6 0 0 0 6 0
2010–11[17] Conference Premier 38 0 3 0 3[b] 1 44 1
2011–12[18] Conference Premier 40 3 3 0 4[b] 1 47 4
2012–13[19] Conference Premier 28 0 0 0 2[b] 0 30 0
2013–14[19] Conference Premier 16 0 1 0 10[c] 0 27 0
Total 128 3 7 0 19 2 154 5
Brackley Town (loan) 2013–14[19] Conference North 4 0 0 0 4 0
FC Halifax Town 2014–15[19] Conference Premier 24 0 3 0 4[b] 0 31 0
2015–16[19] National League 39 0 3 0 7[b] 0 49 0
2016–17[19][20] National League North 40 2 5 0 3[d] 1 48 3
Total 103 2 11 0 14 1 128 3
Wrexham 2017–18[19] National League 39 0 0 0 1[b] 0 40 0
2018–19[19] National League 33 0 4 0 2[e] 0 39 0
Total 72 0 4 0 3 0 79 0
Chester 2019–20[19] National League North 28 1 0 0 4[f] 0 32 1
2020–21[19] National League 15 1 2 0 2[b] 0 19 1
2021–22[19] National League North 33 4 3 0 2[g] 0 38 4
2022–23[19] National League North 34 0 5 1 1[b] 0 40 1
2023–24[19] National League North 34 0 4 0 1[b] 0 39 0
Total 145 6 14 1 10 0 169 7
Career total 558 20 39 1 1 0 48 3 646 24
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ^ Seven appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in National League North play-offs
  5. ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League play-offs
  6. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League North play-offs
  7. ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup

Honours

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Cambridge United

F.C. Halifax Town

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ "Kevin Roberts". Wrexham A.F.C. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Kevin Roberts". Chester FC. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Chester FC's Kevin Roberts: Twitter message: Roberts's welcome back message". Twitter. Kevin Roberts. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Chester: Results/matches: 2006/07". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Loan deal for Roberts". Cambridge United F.C. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. ^ "FC Halifax Town sign Scott Boden and Kevin Roberts". BBC Sport. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Kevin Roberts joins Wrexham AFC for an undisclosed fee". Wrexham A.F.C. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Wrexham AFC Announce 2019 Retained List". Wrexham AFC. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Roberts returns to Chester". Chester FC. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  11. ^ Kevin Roberts at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Games played by Kevin Roberts in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Games played by Kevin Roberts in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Games played by Kevin Roberts in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  15. ^ "First Team Statistics 2009/10".
  16. ^ Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-1-869833-68-8.
  17. ^ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 52–53. ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1.
  18. ^ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2012). Non-League Club Directory 2013. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "K. Roberts: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  20. ^ "Ashton Athletic 0–5 FC Halifax Town". Halifax Courier. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
    "FC Halifax Town 2–1 Stalybridge". Halifax Courier. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
    "Matlock 1–1 FC Halifax Town". Halifax Courier. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
    "FC Halifax Town 2–3 Matlock". Halifax Courier. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  21. ^ Osborne, Chris (18 May 2014). "Cambridge United 2–1 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  22. ^ "DONALDSON AT THE DOUBLE FOR CAMBRIDGE IN FA TROPHY FINAL". FA. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  23. ^ "FC Halifax Town 2–1 Chorley – After extra-time". Halifax Courier. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  24. ^ "FC Halifax Town 1–0 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
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