John Roberts (footballer, born 1946)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Griffith Roberts | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Abercynon, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 4 January 2016 (aged 69) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1961–1963 | Abercynon Athletic | ||
| 1963–1964 | Swansea Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1967 | Swansea Town | 37 | (16) |
| 1967–1969 | Northampton Town | 62 | (11) |
| 1969–1972 | Arsenal | 59 | (4) |
| 1972–1976 | Birmingham City | 66 | (1) |
| 1976–1980 | Wrexham | 145 | (5) |
| 1980–1982 | Hull City | 26 | (1) |
| 1982–1983 | Oswestry Town | ||
| National team | |||
| – | Wales U-21 | 1 | (0) |
| – | Wales U-23 | 5 | (0) |
| 1971–1976 | Wales | 22 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1982–1983 | Oswestry Town (player manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
John Griffith Roberts (11 September 1946 – 4 January 2016) was a Welsh footballer who made nearly 400 appearances in the Football League and won 22 caps for Wales.[1]
Playing career[]
Born in Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Roberts played football for local club Abercynon Athletic while working as a railway fireman. He joined Swansea Town as an apprentice in 1963, turning professional in 1964. Initially a striker who later switched to centre half, he moved to Northampton Town in 1967 and then Arsenal in 1969. He played for Arsenal for three seasons, including 18 appearances in the 1970-71 season, when Arsenal won the First Division title, thus earning him a championship medal. Roberts however did not play in the FA Cup Final the same year, which Arsenal also won to complete the Double.
Roberts left Arsenal in 1972, having played a total of 81 matches, scoring five goals.[2] He went on to have spells at Birmingham City, Wrexham and Hull City before trying his hand as player-manager of Oswestry Town. He also won 22 caps with Wales.
Later career[]
He went on to work as a stationery salesman and as a driving instructor.
Roberts' death at the age of 69 was reported on 4 January 2016.[3]
References[]
- General
- "Caught In Time: Arsenal 1971". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- Specific
- ^ "John Roberts". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "John Roberts". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "John Roberts: Former Wales & Arsenal defender dies aged 69". BBC Sport. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
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- 1946 births
- 2016 deaths
- Welsh footballers
- Wales under-23 international footballers
- Wales international footballers
- People from Abercynon
- Swansea City A.F.C. players
- Northampton Town F.C. players
- Arsenal F.C. players
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Wrexham A.F.C. players
- Hull City A.F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Oswestry Town F.C. managers
- Oswestry Town F.C. players
- Welsh football managers
- Association football defenders
- Welsh football defender stubs