| Bill Roberts | |
| Fullname: | William Laurence Roberts |
| Birth Date: | 9 May 1897 |
| Birth Place: | Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Death Place: | Fitzroy, Victoria |
| Originalteam: | Traralgon / Trafalgar |
| Statsend: | 1923 |
| Years1: | 1923 |
| Games Goals1: | 1 (1) |
William Laurence Roberts (9 May 1897 – 7 September 1960) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
Roberts played a single game for South Melbourne in Round 2 of the 1923 season against Fitzroy. During the game, one of the Fitzroy players recognised him as a man who, under the name “Williams” had been at Fitzroy two or three seasons previously.[2] Investigations revealed he had been granted a permit to move from North Adelaide to Fitzroy using the name “W. Reidy”.[3] Roberts claimed he had no knowledge of this 1921 permit but the League refused his request for a permit to move to Port Melbourne and his senior football career ended.
In early 1922, Roberts was arrested for stealing a £10 note,[4] and subsequently sentenced to 12 months hard labour in Goulburn gaol.[5]