Bill Roberts (footballer, born 1908) explained

Bill Roberts
Fullname:William Samuel Roberts
Height:5 ft 10+1/2 in[1]
Position:Right back
Birth Date:12 July 1908
Birth Place:Bargoed, Wales
Death Place:Bristol, England
Youthyears1:19??–19??
Youthclubs1:Army
Years1:1932–1933
Clubs1:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1933–1938
Clubs2:Bristol City
Caps2:135
Goals2:7
Years3:1938–1939
Clubs3:Newport County
Caps3:41
Goals3:0

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]

Career

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

with Bristol City
with Newport County

Notes and References

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