Robert Mills-Roberts
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Herbert Mills-Roberts (5 August 1862 – 27 November 1935) was a leading football player in the 1880s. He was a Welsh International, and was a player in the Preston North End side which became known as "The Invincibles".
He was born at Penmachno
, Caernarfonshire
on 5 August 1862. As a student he played both association football and rugby football, but he eventually emerged as a first rate goalkeeper while studying at St Thomas's Hospital, London. He made the first of his eight appearances for Wales in 1885, and in 1887 was invited to play as an amateur for Preston North End
in their FA Cup ties. He was a member of the Preston sides which were FA Cup Finalists in 1888 and FA Cup Winners in 1889. He also played for Barnes, Casuals
, and Birmingham St George's
. He retired in 1890, but was persuaded to make a last appearance for Wales in 1892.
Between 1884 and 1888, he made seven appearances for the Corinthians amateur club, including playing for Corinthian three times against Preston North End.
Mills-Roberts qualified as a doctor in July 1887, and the following year was appointed the house surgeon
at Birmingham
General Hospital. He later took a position with the hospital at the Dinorwic Slate Quarry
, and served with the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. At the end of his working career, he retired to Bournemouth
, where aged 73 he died on 27 November 1935.
He was born at Penmachno
Penmachno
Penmachno is a village in the isolated upland valley of Cwm Penmachno, 4 miles south of Betws-y-Coed in the county of Conwy, north Wales.It is renowned as the home of Bishop William Morgan , who lived at Tŷ Mawr, Y Wybrnant, near the village. He was one of the leading scholars of his day, having...
, Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
on 5 August 1862. As a student he played both association football and rugby football, but he eventually emerged as a first rate goalkeeper while studying at St Thomas's Hospital, London. He made the first of his eight appearances for Wales in 1885, and in 1887 was invited to play as an amateur for Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in their FA Cup ties. He was a member of the Preston sides which were FA Cup Finalists in 1888 and FA Cup Winners in 1889. He also played for Barnes, Casuals
Casuals F.C.
Casuals F.C. were an amateur football club based in London, formed in 1878.They were founder members of the Isthmian League in 1905 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1936....
, and Birmingham St George's
Birmingham St George's F.C.
Birmingham St. George's F.C. was a football club based in Birmingham, England. They were formerly known as Mitchell St. George's F.C., a merger of Mitchells and St. George's in 1881 , changing to their new name in 1888...
. He retired in 1890, but was persuaded to make a last appearance for Wales in 1892.
Between 1884 and 1888, he made seven appearances for the Corinthians amateur club, including playing for Corinthian three times against Preston North End.
Mills-Roberts qualified as a doctor in July 1887, and the following year was appointed the house surgeon
Pre-registration house officer
Pre-registration house officer , often known as a houseman or house officer, was until 2005 the only job open to medical graduates in the United Kingdom who had just passed their final examinations at medical school and had received their medical degrees.Newly-qualified doctors are only allowed...
at Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
General Hospital. He later took a position with the hospital at the Dinorwic Slate Quarry
Dinorwic Quarry
The Dinorwic Slate Quarry is a large former slate quarry, now home to the Welsh National Slate Museum, located between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in north Wales. It was the second largest slate quarry in Wales, indeed in the world, after the neighbouring Penrhyn Quarry....
, and served with the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. At the end of his working career, he retired to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, where aged 73 he died on 27 November 1935.