Phil Roberts

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Phil Roberts
Personal information
Full name Phillip Stanley Roberts
Date of birth 24 February 1950 (1950-02-24) (age 58)
Place of birth    Cardiff, Wales
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Defender
Youth clubs
1966–68 Bristol Rovers
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1968–1973
1973–1978
1978–1979
1979–1982
Bristol Rovers
Portsmouth
Hereford
Exeter
0175 0(6)
01530(1)
03 0(0)
0105 0(0)   
National team
1974 Wales 4

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Soccer player Phil Roberts was a Welsh international full back whose four club career spanned three decades. Born in Cardiff on 24 February 1950[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 The Gas[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 fouth division football for the first time in their history[10]. A very brief spell with Hereford followed[11] before another 100 plus stint with Exeter ended a successful career[12].

[edit] References

  1. ^ ”Rothmans Football Year Book,1970-71” Peskett,R/Williams,T: Harpenden, QAP,1970 ISBN 0362000719
  2. ^ Between December 1970 and March 1973 AFS DataBase
  3. ^ Photo of Roberts (Rovers Era)
  4. ^ Nomination for all-time Rovers team at full back
  5. ^ "The PFA Premier League and Football League Players’ Records 1946-98” Hugman,B: Harpenden, Queen Anne Press, 1998 ISBN 1852915854
  6. ^ £55,000 transfer
  7. ^ ”Portsmouth, from Tindall to Ball” Farmery, C: Southend-on-Sea, Desert Island Books, 1999 ISBN 1874287252
  8. ^ "Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club" Cooper,M/ Neasom,M/ Robinson,D: Portsmouth, Milestone Publications, 1984 ISBN 0903852500
  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. ^ Details of transfer from Portsmouth
  12. ^ Details of match late in his career