Jason Roberts (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE
(born 25 January 1978) is an English
-born Grenadian
footballer who plays as a striker
for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
. Born in Park Royal
, London
, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not retained. After a spell in non-league football with Hayes
, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1997. He failed to make a first team appearance for Wolves, and had loan spells at Torquay United
and Bristol City
before signing for Bristol Rovers
in 1998. He quickly established himself in the first team, scoring 38 goals in his two seasons at the club.
After the club failed to gain promotion, Roberts handed in a transfer request and was sold to West Bromwich Albion
in July 2000. His goals helped the team reach the First Division play-offs in his first season at the club. West Brom then won promotion to the Premier League in the following season. Roberts scored three goals in his first Premier League season as the club were relegated back down to the First Division
. He was loaned out to Portsmouth
at the start of the 2003–04 season, and was then sold to Wigan Athletic
in January 2004. Roberts went on to score 21 goals in Wigan's promotion-winning campaign in the 2004–05 season, and won the club's Player of the Year award at the end of the season. His goals in the following season helped the club survive in its inaugural Premier League campaign, as well as taking the team to the 2006 Football League Cup Final at the Millenium Stadium – the club's first ever major cup final.
After failing to agree a new contract with the club, he was sold to Blackburn Rovers
in 2006, where he played European football for the first time. He has struggled to maintain a regular first team place at Blackburn, with many of his appearances coming as a substitute. In 2007, he established the Jason Roberts Foundation, and was awarded an MBE
for services to sport in 2009. In 2011, he began working as a presenter for BBC Radio 5 Live
's 606 program.
, North West London
. He grew up in Stonebridge
, in the London Borough of Brent
. Roberts was born into a sporting family: his uncles Cyrille Regis
, David Regis
and Otis Roberts
all had careers as professional footballers, while another uncle, John Regis
, is a former Olympic sprinter. As a child, he decided to become a footballer when he was six years old, and was scouted by several professional clubs while playing for Parkfield Youth. He trained at the youth academies of a number of these clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur
, Watford
, and Chelsea
, but failed to earn a contract.
After taking more than a year away from football, Roberts signed for Hayes
in the Isthmian League Premier Division following a trial arranged by his uncle Cyrille, who is also a former player at the club. He made his debut in November 1995, the season Hayes won the Isthmian League Premier Division. Early in the 1997–98 season, after scoring five goals in Hayes' three opening league games, he was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £250,000, then moving to Torquay United
on loan, where he scored six goals in 13 games. Another loan took him to Bristol City
, where he scored one goal against Oldham in three appearances.
He joined Bristol Rovers
for £250,000 in August 1998. In the 1998–99 season
, Roberts scored 16 goals in 37 league appearances, and was one of the top goal scorers in the FA Cup
with a total of seven goals. He continued his plunder in the next season, scoring 22 goals in 41 appearances. In the summer of 2000 however, following Rovers' failure to gain promotion, he handed in a transfer request to the club.
on 26 July 2000, for a club record £2 million fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest
on 12 August 2000, the opening day of the 2000–01 season
. He scored twice against Swansea City in the League Cup on 6 September 2000, his first goals for the club. Roberts scored 15 goals in 34 appearances in 2000–01; he formed a successful partnership with Lee Hughes
and fired Albion into the First Division playoffs. During West Bromwich's successful promotion campaign of 2001–02
however, Roberts' season was blighted by a persistent foot injury, breaking his fifth metatarsal three times. He managed only 12 league appearances during the season, scoring seven goals.
Despite being fully fit for 2002–03
, Albion's first season in the Premier League, Roberts managed only three goals in 31 games. He was loaned out for much of the 2003–04 season
to Portsmouth
, where he scored once against Everton in four league appearances, with three further goals in the League Cup against Northampton (2) and Nottingham Forest. But a transfer request during the mid-season saw him move to Wigan Athletic
for a fee of £1.4 million, potentially rising to £2 million.
. Both players were named in the PFA Championship team of the season. Wigan finished second in the table behind Sunderland
, earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. It was his penalty kick goal in the second minute of their 27 August 2005 match against Sunderland that served as the first Premier League goal for the Latics and led them to the first top-flight victory in Wigan Athletic's history.
With Wigan Athletic's promotion to the top flight of English football in May 2005, Jason Roberts was able to establish himself in the Premier League. His goals enabled Wigan to finish the season comfortably in the top half and challenge for a European place in only their first season in the top division of English football. This success was encapsulated in one moment on 24 January 2006—when Roberts himself scored a last minute goal against Arsenal
at Highbury in the League Cup
semi-final to send Wigan to the first major cup final in their history. He would go on to start for Wigan in the final against Manchester United.
on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for Blackburn in the 2–1 FA Cup
semi-final defeat against Chelsea
, he missed three months of the season with a broken foot. Roberts kept this momentum towards the end of the 2006–07 season by netting five goals in as many games shaking off criticism of many fans.
The following season, he struggled to maintain a place in the Blackburn starting line up due to the signing of Bayern Munich
striker Roque Santa Cruz
. However after a memorable solo goal at rivals Bolton Wanderers
, he claimed back his place and took part in many games towards the end of the season netting some goals and forging a good partnership with Santa Cruz.
Roberts scored seven league goals in 2008–09 as Blackburn struggled in the league finishing 15th. He signed a new deal in November 2008 which will keep him at Ewood Park
until the summer of 2011. At the end of the 2009–10 season, in all competitions for Blackburn, Roberts scored five goals in 31 appearances helping Blackburn finish 10th in the league. On 27 November 2010, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes in a heavy 7-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford
. On 12 December 2010, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers in 2-1 defeat at the Reebok Stadium
. On 18 December 2010, he started but only lasted 10 minutes pulling his hamstring against West Ham United in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park
and was replaced by Benjani. On 31 January 2011, he signed a contract extension keeping him at Blackburn Rovers until the end of the 2011-12 season. On 5 February 2011, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes against his former club Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium and scored in the 23rd minute in a 4-3 defeat. In the next match, he made a substitute appearance vs. Newcastle United, replacing Roque Santa Cruz
at half-time in the 0-0 draw at Ewood Park. On 26 February 2011, Roberts came on for the injured Vince Grella
on 63 minutes against Aston Villa in a 4-1 defeat at Villa Park
. On 5 March, Roberts, partnered fellow striker Mame Biram Diouf
in attack for Rovers against Fulham
, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage
. On 19 March 2011, in the premier league fixture with Blackpool
, he made a substitute appearance replacing Steven Nzonzi on 72 minutes in the 2-2 draw at Ewood Park
. On 30 April 2011, he started the Lancashire derby with Bolton Wanderers and was replaced on 79 minutes by Morten Gamst Pedersen
in the 1-0 win at Ewood Park
. On 7 May 2011, he scored in a 1-1 draw at West Ham United. On 14 May 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes at Ewood Park
against Manchester United in the 1-1 draw. On 22 May 2011, he started against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
in the 3-2 victory in the final game of the Barclays Premier League season. On 27 July 2011, Roberts started against Aston Villa in the opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong
. On 13 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ewood Park
in a 2-1 defeat on the opening day of the new 2011-2012 season. On 20 August 2011, Roberts made his 70th premier league start for Rovers and his 145th in total for the club starting alongside Scottish international David Goodwillie
against Aston Villa at Villa Park
. Roberts released a BBC "attacking masterclass" video on the BBC in 2008 but has since been the victim of much ridicule due to his inability to hit the back of the net.
, availability issues that come with playing in England have limited his impact with the team. Nevertheless, he was an important force for the team during qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup, in which the Grenada team put up an impressive showing before bowing out to the United States
, although he managed to score on a penalty kick against that very team.
Roberts made an immediate impact in Grenada's first qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup, scoring the first two goals in a 10–0 rout of the US Virgin Islands
on 26 March 2008.
Roberts qualifies to play for Grenada through his father, who was born there. His mother was born in French Guiana
.
Roberts comes from a very famous family, his uncles include former footballers Cyrille Regis
, Dave Regis
, Otis Roberts
(a former Grenada international who played in Hong Kong
and Belgium
). He is also related to Olympic medallist John Regis
.
Roberts was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Years Honours list for his services to sport in Grenada and in London, England. Upon receiving the award he stated in one of Blackburn's match day programme notes that he was humbled to get it and thanks everyone who has supported his charity work.
|1997–98
||Hayes
||Conference National
||3||5||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||3||5
|-
|1997–98
||Torquay United
||Third Division
||14||6||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||14||6
|-
|1997–98
||Bristol City
||rowspan="3"|Second Division
||3||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||3||1
|-
|1998–99
||rowspan="2"|Bristol Rovers
||37||16||5||7||2||0||colspan="2"|-||44||23
|-
|1999–2000
||41||22||1||0||4||3||colspan="2"|-||46||25
|-
|2000–01
||rowspan="3"|West Bromwich Albion
||rowspan="2"|First Division
||45||15||1||0||4||2||colspan="2"|-||50||17
|-
|2001–02
||14||7||3||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||17||7
|-
|2002–03
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||32||3||2||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||34||3
|-
|2003–04
||Portsmouth
||10||1||colspan="2"|-||2||3||colspan="2"|-||12||4
|-
|2003–04
||rowspan="3"|Wigan Athletic
||First Division
||14||8||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||14||8
|-
|2004–05
||Championship
||45||21||1||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||46||21
|-
|2005–06
||rowspan="7"|Premier League||34||8||3||2||6||4||colspan="2"|-||43||14
|-
|2006–07
||rowspan="6"|Blackburn Rovers
||18||4||3||1||1||0||3||0||25||5
|-
|2007–08||26||3||colspan="2"|-||1||0||3||2||30||5
|-
|2008–09
||26||7||4||0||0||0||||||30||7
|-
|2009–10
||29||5||0||0||2||0||||||31||5
|-
|2010–11
||25||5||2||0||0||0||||||27||5
|-
|2011–12
||6||0||1||1||0||0||||||7||1
423||137||25||10||22||12||6||2||480||161
423||137||25||10||22||12||6||2||480||161
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 25 January 1978) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Grenadian
Grenadian
The people of Grenada or simply Grenadians or Grenadian people are the inhabitants or citizens of Grenada.Grenadian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Grenada...
footballer who plays as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Born in Park Royal
Park Royal
Park Royal is an area in northwest London, UK. It is the largest industrial and business park in London, occupying about , and is promoted commercially by the Park Royal Partnership...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not retained. After a spell in non-league football with Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 1997. He failed to make a first team appearance for Wolves, and had loan spells at Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
before signing for Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in 1998. He quickly established himself in the first team, scoring 38 goals in his two seasons at the club.
After the club failed to gain promotion, Roberts handed in a transfer request and was sold to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in July 2000. His goals helped the team reach the First Division play-offs in his first season at the club. West Brom then won promotion to the Premier League in the following season. Roberts scored three goals in his first Premier League season as the club were relegated back down to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He was loaned out to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
at the start of the 2003–04 season, and was then sold to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in January 2004. Roberts went on to score 21 goals in Wigan's promotion-winning campaign in the 2004–05 season, and won the club's Player of the Year award at the end of the season. His goals in the following season helped the club survive in its inaugural Premier League campaign, as well as taking the team to the 2006 Football League Cup Final at the Millenium Stadium – the club's first ever major cup final.
After failing to agree a new contract with the club, he was sold to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in 2006, where he played European football for the first time. He has struggled to maintain a regular first team place at Blackburn, with many of his appearances coming as a substitute. In 2007, he established the Jason Roberts Foundation, and was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for services to sport in 2009. In 2011, he began working as a presenter for BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's 606 program.
Early career
Roberts was born in Central Middlesex HospitalCentral Middlesex Hospital
Central Middlesex hospital is in the centre of the Park Royal business estate, on the border of two London boroughs, Brent and Ealing.-Hospital role:CMH is a teaching hospital of Imperial College School of Medicine and part of the...
, North West London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He grew up in Stonebridge
Stonebridge
-Places:*Stonebridge, Essex, a hamlet in Essex, United Kingdom*Stonebridge, London, an area in northwest London, United Kingdom*Stonebridge, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, United Kingdom...
, in the London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
. Roberts was born into a sporting family: his uncles Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis, MBE is a French-born English former footballer. His professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 610 league appearances and scored 159 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.-Early life:Regis was born in Maripasoula, French Guiana,...
, David Regis
David Regis
David Regis is a former French-American soccer defender who played for the United States at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.- Career :Regis began his pro career in 1988 with Valenciennes and played there until 1993. He then transferred to Strasbourg in 1993, Lens in 1996, and Karlsruhe in 1997...
and Otis Roberts
Otis Roberts
-Club career:Roberts played for Barnet during the 1990-91 season.Roberts played in England for Crystal Palace, although he never made a first-team league appearance for the club. In August 1996, he began a trial with Norwich City, although that proved unsuccessful. He later played in Hong Kong for...
all had careers as professional footballers, while another uncle, John Regis
John Regis
John Regis may refer to:* Johannes Regis , Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance* John Francis Regis S.J. , French preacher recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church...
, is a former Olympic sprinter. As a child, he decided to become a footballer when he was six years old, and was scouted by several professional clubs while playing for Parkfield Youth. He trained at the youth academies of a number of these clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, but failed to earn a contract.
After taking more than a year away from football, Roberts signed for Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
in the Isthmian League Premier Division following a trial arranged by his uncle Cyrille, who is also a former player at the club. He made his debut in November 1995, the season Hayes won the Isthmian League Premier Division. Early in the 1997–98 season, after scoring five goals in Hayes' three opening league games, he was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £250,000, then moving to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan, where he scored six goals in 13 games. Another loan took him to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, where he scored one goal against Oldham in three appearances.
He joined Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
for £250,000 in August 1998. In the 1998–99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, Roberts scored 16 goals in 37 league appearances, and was one of the top goal scorers in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
with a total of seven goals. He continued his plunder in the next season, scoring 22 goals in 41 appearances. In the summer of 2000 however, following Rovers' failure to gain promotion, he handed in a transfer request to the club.
West Bromwich Albion
Roberts moved to West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 26 July 2000, for a club record £2 million fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 12 August 2000, the opening day of the 2000–01 season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
. He scored twice against Swansea City in the League Cup on 6 September 2000, his first goals for the club. Roberts scored 15 goals in 34 appearances in 2000–01; he formed a successful partnership with Lee Hughes
Lee Hughes
Lee Hughes is an English Footballer who plays for Notts County as a striker.-Non-League and West Bromwich Albion:On leaving Bristnall Hall High School, Oldbury in 1992 Hughes started playing semi-professionally in non-League football with Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference, as well...
and fired Albion into the First Division playoffs. During West Bromwich's successful promotion campaign of 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
however, Roberts' season was blighted by a persistent foot injury, breaking his fifth metatarsal three times. He managed only 12 league appearances during the season, scoring seven goals.
Despite being fully fit for 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, Albion's first season in the Premier League, Roberts managed only three goals in 31 games. He was loaned out for much of the 2003–04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, where he scored once against Everton in four league appearances, with three further goals in the League Cup against Northampton (2) and Nottingham Forest. But a transfer request during the mid-season saw him move to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for a fee of £1.4 million, potentially rising to £2 million.
Wigan Athletic
Roberts made his debut for Wigan on 17 January 2004 in a 4–2 win against Preston North End, scoring his first goal for the club inside the first 35 seconds of the match. He made a good start to his career at the club, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances to round out the 2003–04 season. Roberts continued to find the net in the 2004–05 campaign, ending the season with 21 goals in league play—second in The Championship, behind teammate Nathan EllingtonNathan Ellington
Nathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English footballer who plays a striker for Championship side Ipswich Town.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:...
. Both players were named in the PFA Championship team of the season. Wigan finished second in the table behind Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. It was his penalty kick goal in the second minute of their 27 August 2005 match against Sunderland that served as the first Premier League goal for the Latics and led them to the first top-flight victory in Wigan Athletic's history.
With Wigan Athletic's promotion to the top flight of English football in May 2005, Jason Roberts was able to establish himself in the Premier League. His goals enabled Wigan to finish the season comfortably in the top half and challenge for a European place in only their first season in the top division of English football. This success was encapsulated in one moment on 24 January 2006—when Roberts himself scored a last minute goal against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Highbury in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
semi-final to send Wigan to the first major cup final in their history. He would go on to start for Wigan in the final against Manchester United.
Blackburn Rovers
On 3 July 2006, he joined Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for Blackburn in the 2–1 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final defeat against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, he missed three months of the season with a broken foot. Roberts kept this momentum towards the end of the 2006–07 season by netting five goals in as many games shaking off criticism of many fans.
The following season, he struggled to maintain a place in the Blackburn starting line up due to the signing of Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
striker Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero is a Paraguayan footballer currently playing as a striker for La Liga club Real Betis on loan from Manchester City and the Paraguay national football team....
. However after a memorable solo goal at rivals Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, he claimed back his place and took part in many games towards the end of the season netting some goals and forging a good partnership with Santa Cruz.
Roberts scored seven league goals in 2008–09 as Blackburn struggled in the league finishing 15th. He signed a new deal in November 2008 which will keep him at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
until the summer of 2011. At the end of the 2009–10 season, in all competitions for Blackburn, Roberts scored five goals in 31 appearances helping Blackburn finish 10th in the league. On 27 November 2010, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes in a heavy 7-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. On 12 December 2010, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers in 2-1 defeat at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
. On 18 December 2010, he started but only lasted 10 minutes pulling his hamstring against West Ham United in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
and was replaced by Benjani. On 31 January 2011, he signed a contract extension keeping him at Blackburn Rovers until the end of the 2011-12 season. On 5 February 2011, Roberts started and played the full 90 minutes against his former club Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium and scored in the 23rd minute in a 4-3 defeat. In the next match, he made a substitute appearance vs. Newcastle United, replacing Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero is a Paraguayan footballer currently playing as a striker for La Liga club Real Betis on loan from Manchester City and the Paraguay national football team....
at half-time in the 0-0 draw at Ewood Park. On 26 February 2011, Roberts came on for the injured Vince Grella
Vince Grella
Vincenzo "Vince" Grella is an Australian football player, who plays as a midfielder for Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League...
on 63 minutes against Aston Villa in a 4-1 defeat at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
. On 5 March, Roberts, partnered fellow striker Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team....
in attack for Rovers against Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. On 19 March 2011, in the premier league fixture with Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, he made a substitute appearance replacing Steven Nzonzi on 72 minutes in the 2-2 draw at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
. On 30 April 2011, he started the Lancashire derby with Bolton Wanderers and was replaced on 79 minutes by Morten Gamst Pedersen
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Morten Gamst Pedersen is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers and the Norway national football team.-Tromsø IL:...
in the 1-0 win at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
. On 7 May 2011, he scored in a 1-1 draw at West Ham United. On 14 May 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
against Manchester United in the 1-1 draw. On 22 May 2011, he started against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
Molineux
Molineux may refer to:*William Molineux, American, participant in the Boston Tea Party*Molineux Stadium, in Wolverhampton, England**by metonymy, Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., the team that plays there...
in the 3-2 victory in the final game of the Barclays Premier League season. On 27 July 2011, Roberts started against Aston Villa in the opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. On 13 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
in a 2-1 defeat on the opening day of the new 2011-2012 season. On 20 August 2011, Roberts made his 70th premier league start for Rovers and his 145th in total for the club starting alongside Scottish international David Goodwillie
David Goodwillie
David Goodwillie is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers and the Scotland national football team.-Early career:...
against Aston Villa at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
. Roberts released a BBC "attacking masterclass" video on the BBC in 2008 but has since been the victim of much ridicule due to his inability to hit the back of the net.
International career
Although Roberts has the potential to be one of the most important players for the Grenada national teamGrenada national football team
The Grenada national football team is the national team of Grenada and is controlled by the Grenada Football Association. It is affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team is nicknamed The Spice Boys, a reference to the export of nutmeg from the country...
, availability issues that come with playing in England have limited his impact with the team. Nevertheless, he was an important force for the team during qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup, in which the Grenada team put up an impressive showing before bowing out to the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, although he managed to score on a penalty kick against that very team.
Roberts made an immediate impact in Grenada's first qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup, scoring the first two goals in a 10–0 rout of the US Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands national soccer team
The U.S. Virgin Islands national soccer team, nicknamed The dashing eagle, is the national team of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is controlled by the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation....
on 26 March 2008.
Roberts qualifies to play for Grenada through his father, who was born there. His mother was born in French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
.
Media career
In Wigan's first season in the Premier League, Roberts wrote a weekly blog for the BBC Sports website. In August 2011 he was announced as a new presenter on 606 and made his first appearance on Match of the Day 2 in November 2011.Personal life
In Spring 2007 he founded the Jason Roberts Foundation, which aims "to provide a range of sporting opportunities for children and young people in the UK and Grenada".Roberts comes from a very famous family, his uncles include former footballers Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis, MBE is a French-born English former footballer. His professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 610 league appearances and scored 159 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.-Early life:Regis was born in Maripasoula, French Guiana,...
, Dave Regis
Dave Regis
David R. "Dave" Regis is a retired English professional footballer. He is now the Education & Welfare Officer at Charlton Athletic's Academy.-Playing career:...
, Otis Roberts
Otis Roberts
-Club career:Roberts played for Barnet during the 1990-91 season.Roberts played in England for Crystal Palace, although he never made a first-team league appearance for the club. In August 1996, he began a trial with Norwich City, although that proved unsuccessful. He later played in Hong Kong for...
(a former Grenada international who played in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). He is also related to Olympic medallist John Regis
John Regis (athlete)
John Paul Lyndon Regis, MBE is a retired English sprinter. During his career, he won gold medals in the 200 metres at the 1989 World Indoor Championships and the 1990 European Championships, and a silver medal in the distance at the 1993 World Championships.He was a member of the British teams...
.
Roberts was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Years Honours list for his services to sport in Grenada and in London, England. Upon receiving the award he stated in one of Blackburn's match day programme notes that he was humbled to get it and thanks everyone who has supported his charity work.
Career statistics
|-|1997–98
Football Conference 1997-98
The Football Conference season of 1997–98 was the nineteenth season of the Football Conference, also known as the Vauxhall Conference for sponsorship reasons.-Changes since the previous season:* Hereford United...
||Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||3||5||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||3||5
|-
|1997–98
The Football League 1997-98
The 1997–1998 season was the 98th completed season of the The Football League.-First Division:Champions Nottingham Forest and runners-up Middlesbrough won promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Charlton Athletic won the playoffs to end an eight-year absence from the top...
||Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||14||6||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||14||6
|-
|1997–98
The Football League 1997-98
The 1997–1998 season was the 98th completed season of the The Football League.-First Division:Champions Nottingham Forest and runners-up Middlesbrough won promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Charlton Athletic won the playoffs to end an eight-year absence from the top...
||Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
||rowspan="3"|Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||3||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||3||1
|-
|1998–99
The Football League 1998-99
The 1998–1999 season was the 99th completed season of the The Football League.-First Division:Sunderland were crowned First Division champions with 105 points, then a record, having lost just three games all season, to prove right the many pundits who tipped them for promotion...
||rowspan="2"|Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
||37||16||5||7||2||0||colspan="2"|-||44||23
|-
|1999–2000
The Football League 1999-2000
The 1999–2000 season was the 100th completed season of the The Football League.-Overview:The 1999–2000 season saw the league dispense with the traditional 1–11 numbering of players’ shirts in favour of squad numbers, a system that had been adopted by the Premier League a few seasons before...
||41||22||1||0||4||3||colspan="2"|-||46||25
|-
|2000–01
The Football League 2000-01
-Overview:The 2000–2001 season was the 101st completed season of the The Football League.- First Division playoffs :-First Division :...
||rowspan="3"|West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
||rowspan="2"|First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||45||15||1||0||4||2||colspan="2"|-||50||17
|-
|2001–02
The Football League 2001-02
-Overview:The 2001–2002 season was the 102nd completed season of The Football League.-Final league tables and results :The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at website, with home and away statistics separated...
||14||7||3||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||17||7
|-
|2002–03
FA Premier League 2002-03
The 2002–03 FA Premier League was the eleventh season of the Premier League, the top division in English football. The first matches were played on 17 August 2002 and the last were played on 11 May 2003...
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||32||3||2||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||34||3
|-
|2003–04
FA Premier League 2003-04
The 2003–04 FA Premier League season was the twelfth season of the Premier League. In the end, Arsenal went through the season without a single defeat – only the second ever team to do so and were crowned champions once more, at the expense of Chelsea, who had spent heavily throughout the...
||Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
||10||1||colspan="2"|-||2||3||colspan="2"|-||12||4
|-
|2003–04
The Football League 2003-04
The 2003–2004 season was the 104th completed season of The Football League.-Overview:This season was the last association football season in the football league where the divisions were known as "First", "Second", and "Third"...
||rowspan="3"|Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||14||8||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||14||8
|-
|2004–05
The Football League 2004-05
The 2004–2005 season was the 105th completed season of The Football League.-Overview:This season the league was contested through three divisions. 2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||45||21||1||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||46||21
|-
|2005–06
FA Premier League 2005-06
The 2005–06 season of the FA Premier League began on 13 August 2005, and concluded on 7 May 2006. The season saw Chelsea F.C retain their title after defeating Manchester United 3–0 at Stamford Bridge towards the end of April...
||rowspan="7"|Premier League||34||8||3||2||6||4||colspan="2"|-||43||14
|-
|2006–07
FA Premier League 2006-07
The 2006–07 FA Premier League was the fifteenth season of the FA Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 19 August 2006 and concluded on 13 May 2007....
||rowspan="6"|Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
||18||4||3||1||1||0||3||0||25||5
|-
|2007–08||26||3||colspan="2"|-||1||0||3||2||30||5
|-
|2008–09
Premier League 2008–09
The 2008–09 Premier League season was the seventeenth since its establishment in 1992. Manchester United became champions for the eleventh time on the penultimate weekend of the season, defending their crown after winning their tenth Premier League title on the final day of the previous season...
||26||7||4||0||0||0||||||30||7
|-
|2009–10
Premier League 2009–10
The 2009–10 Premier League was the 18th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. A total of 20 teams competed in the league, with Chelsea unseating the three-time defending champions Manchester United, scoring a Premier League record 103 goals in the process...
||29||5||0||0||2||0||||||31||5
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Premier League
The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011...
||25||5||2||0||0||0||||||27||5
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
||6||0||1||1||0||0||||||7||1
423||137||25||10||22||12||6||2||480||161
423||137||25||10||22||12||6||2||480||161