Robert Roberts (footballer born 1865)
Encyclopedia
Robert Roberts was a Welsh footballer who played at outside-left for several clubs, spending most of his career with Crewe Alexandra
in the English Football League. He made two appearances for Wales
.
and was a member of the village football team by the time he was thirteen, going on to captain the side for four seasons.
Once he had completed his schooling, he became a teacher in Anglesey
before moving to take up a post with Timberlane National School in Northwich
, where he played for Witton Britannia, helping them reach the final of the Cheshire Junior Cup, where they lost to Crewe Hornets.
He returned to "Rhos" in the late 1880s and made his first appearance for Wales
when he replaced Jack Bowdler against Ireland on 7 February 1891. The Welsh team were comprehensively defeated by a score of 7–2. Shortly after his international debut, Roberts was persuaded by Seth Powell
to sign for West Bromwich Albion
as an amateur.
Roberts made one appearance for West Bromwich in the 1890–91 season before returning to Wales in October 1891 to join Wrexham. By the end of the season he had become the Wrexham captain before a move back to the Football League
to join Crewe Alexandra
in 1892. At Crewe, he signed as a professional but reverted to amateur status when he was offered the position as accountant at Crewe railway station
.
in 1892, the Football Association of Wales
in the annual player assessment described Roberts as "a good outside left (who) passes well (but) requires the same partner regularly". Roberts was noted for his "dashes down the left wing and his good centres" as well as his "continual raids into the visitors' territory."
His second international appearance came on 13 March 1893 when he once more replaced Jack Bowdler against England
. The match was played at nearby Stoke-upon-Trent
and the Welsh were again defeated conceding six goals without reply.
In the league, Roberts made 38 appearances for Crewe over two seasons, scoring 17 goals, with the club finishing both years mid-table in the Second Division
.
in the Lancashire League
, progressing to refereeing in the Football League in the early 20th century. He took charge of several important matches including the Welsh Cup
Final in 1899.
Roberts later became a publican
and also joined Crewe Alexandra as a committee member, and then became company secretary
and then a director as the club became a limited company
.
Roberts was a regular attender at the Welsh chapel in Crewe and was conductor
of the chapel choir.
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the English Football League. He made two appearances for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
Football career
Roberts was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and was a member of the village football team by the time he was thirteen, going on to captain the side for four seasons.
Once he had completed his schooling, he became a teacher in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
before moving to take up a post with Timberlane National School in Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
, where he played for Witton Britannia, helping them reach the final of the Cheshire Junior Cup, where they lost to Crewe Hornets.
He returned to "Rhos" in the late 1880s and made his first appearance for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
when he replaced Jack Bowdler against Ireland on 7 February 1891. The Welsh team were comprehensively defeated by a score of 7–2. Shortly after his international debut, Roberts was persuaded by Seth Powell
Seth Powell
Seth Powell was a Welsh footballer who played at full-back for West Bromwich Albion in the English Football League. He made seven appearances for Wales in the 1880s and 1890s.-Football career:...
to sign for 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...
as an amateur.
Roberts made one appearance for West Bromwich in the 1890–91 season before returning to Wales in October 1891 to join Wrexham. By the end of the season he had become the Wrexham captain before a move back to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
to join Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1892. At Crewe, he signed as a professional but reverted to amateur status when he was offered the position as accountant at Crewe railway station
Crewe railway station
Crewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
.
in 1892, the Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
in the annual player assessment described Roberts as "a good outside left (who) passes well (but) requires the same partner regularly". Roberts was noted for his "dashes down the left wing and his good centres" as well as his "continual raids into the visitors' territory."
His second international appearance came on 13 March 1893 when he once more replaced Jack Bowdler against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. The match was played at nearby Stoke-upon-Trent
Stoke-upon-Trent
Stoke-upon-Trent, commonly called Stoke or Stoke town, is a component town of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, England....
and the Welsh were again defeated conceding six goals without reply.
In the league, Roberts made 38 appearances for Crewe over two seasons, scoring 17 goals, with the club finishing both years mid-table in the 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...
.
Later career
Roberts retired in the summer of 1894 and later became a linesmanAssistant referee (association football)
In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee...
in the Lancashire League
Lancashire League (football)
The Lancashire League has been the name of two separate football competitions for clubs based in northern England.-Lancashire League :...
, progressing to refereeing in the Football League in the early 20th century. He took charge of several important matches including the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Final in 1899.
Roberts later became a publican
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and also joined Crewe Alexandra as a committee member, and then became company secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
and then a director as the club became a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
.
Roberts was a regular attender at the Welsh chapel in Crewe and was conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the chapel choir.
International appearances
Roberts' two appearances for Wales were as follows:| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goals | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February 1891 | Ulsterville, Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
2–7 | 0 | British Home Championship 1891 British Home Championship The 1891 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. Despite strong showings from all four teams, England eventually won the trophy with victories in all three games including, as at the 1890 and 1892 competitions, matches against Wales and... |
|
| 13 March 1893 | Victoria Ground Victoria Ground Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers... , Stoke-upon-Trent Stoke-upon-Trent Stoke-upon-Trent, commonly called Stoke or Stoke town, is a component town of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, England.... |
0–6 | 0 | British Home Championship 1893 British Home Championship The 1893 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. The competition was won and dominated by England, who beat all three rival teams and scored 17 goals in just three matches. Fred Spiksley claimed four and Walter Gilliat scored a hat-trick... |
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