Phil Roberts Explained

Phil Roberts
Fullname:Phillip Stanley Roberts
Birth Date:24 February 1950
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1966–1968
Youthclubs1:Bristol Rovers
Years1:1968–1973
Caps1:175
Goals1:6
Years2:1973–1978
Clubs2:Portsmouth
Caps2:153
Goals2:1
Years3:1978–1979
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:1979–1982
Caps4:105
Goals4:0
Years5:1982
Years6:1982–1983
Caps6:21
Goals6:0
Years7:1983–1984
Years8:1984
Clubs8:Weymouth
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:1984–1985
Clubs9:Chard Town
Nationalyears1:1970–1973
Nationalyears2:1974
Nationalteam1:Wales U23
Nationalteam2:Wales
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:1

Phillip Stanley Roberts (born 24 February 1950) is a Welsh former professional footballer whose four-club career spanned three decades. Born in Cardiff,[1] Roberts won six Wales Under 23 caps [2] whilst with his first club Bristol Rovers[3] (where he is still widely regarded[4]). In all Roberts was to make 175 appearances for Rovers[5] before moving to Portsmouth in the 1973 close season[6] as part of new chairman John Deacon's ambitious re-building plans.[7] He was to prove such an effective player on the south coast[8] that in 1974 he was awarded four full Welsh caps.[9] Roberts was to hold the right back spot at Fratton Park for four seasons, his final appearance being in the 5–1 thrashing which consigned the club to fourth division football for the first time in their history.[10] A very brief spell with Hereford United followed[11] before another 100-plus stint with Exeter City ended a successful Football League career.[12]

Notes and References

  1. "Rothmans Football Year Book,1970-71" Peskett,R/Williams,T: Harpenden, QAP,1970
  2. Between December 1970 and March 1973 AFS DataBase
  3. http://ds.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/bristolr.htm Photo of Roberts (Rovers Era)
  4. Web site: Nomination for all-time Rovers team at full back . 12 January 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080213222112/http://www.bristolrovers.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=70304 . 13 February 2008 . dead .
  5. "The PFA Premier League and Football League Players' Records 1946-98" Hugman,B: Harpenden, Queen Anne Press, 1998
  6. http://www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=83137 £55,000 transfer
  7. "Portsmouth, from Tindall to Ball" Farmery, C: Southend-on-Sea, Desert Island Books, 1999
  8. "Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club" Cooper,M/ Neasom,M/ Robinson,D: Portsmouth, Milestone Publications, 1984
  9. Victories against Hungary and Luxembourg; defeats against England and Austria- AFS DataBase
  10. "The News", 22 March 1978, article by Mike Neasom Where is Southport?
  11. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/hereford/hereford.html Details of transfer from Portsmouth
  12. http://www.khscott.org.uk/nufc/includes/match_detail.php?id=4050 Details of match late in his career