Bill Roberts (footballer, born 1859)

William Roberts (18 March 1859 – 12 June 1945) was a Welsh footballer who played as a forward for Wrexham, Wrexham Olympic and Rhostyllen Victoria in the 1880s and made four appearances for Wales, scoring once. He was the brother of Bob Roberts who also played for the two Wrexham clubs and twice for Wales.[1]

Bill Roberts
Personal information
Full name William Roberts
Date of birth (1859-03-18)18 March 1859
Place of birth Wrexham, Wales
Date of death 12 June 1945(1945-06-12) (aged 86)
Place of death Wrexham, Wales
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1879–1883 Wrexham
1883–1888 Wrexham Olympic
1888–18?? Rhostyllen Victoria
International career
1886–1887 Wales 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Roberts was "always in the thickest of the fight", and was described as "tricky and comical, and occasionally brilliant".[1] His playing career came before the advent of League football and his greatest success at club level was in the Welsh Cup, where he scored the only goal in the final of the 1882–83 tournament, thus enabling Wrexham to defeat Druids and claim the trophy for the second time.[2]

He and his brother, Bob, made their international debuts on 27 February 1886 against Ireland in the opening match of the 1886 British Home Championship. The match ended as a 5–0 victory for the Welsh, with Bill Roberts scoring the opening goal.[3] After defeats against England and Scotland, Roberts was not called up for the February 1887 match against England. After an injury to Robert Mills-Roberts in the warm-up for that match (which Wales lost 4–0)[4] the Roberts brothers were both recalled for the match against Ireland in March 1887, with Bob serving as an emergency goalkeeper. This match was the finale to the brothers' international careers with Bob conceding four goals.[5]

International appearances

Roberts made four appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows:[6]

DateVenueOpponentResult[7]GoalsCompetition
27 February 1886Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Ireland5–011886 British Home Championship
29 March 1886Racecourse Ground, Wrexham England1–301886 British Home Championship
10 April 1886Cathkin Park, Glasgow Scotland1–401886 British Home Championship
12 March 1887Oldpark Avenue, Belfast Ireland1–401887 British Home Championship
Win Draw Loss

Career outside football

Roberts worked as coal-miner in his youth, but was later employed in a leather works.[1]

Honours
Wrexham

References
  1. Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. pp. 181–182. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  2. "Wrexham 1 Druids 0". Welsh Football Data Archive. 21 April 1883. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  3. "Wales 5 Ireland 0". Welsh Football Data Archive. 27 February 1886. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  4. Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. p. 142.
  5. "Ireland 4 Wales 1". Welsh Football Data Archive. 26 February 1887. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  6. Samuel, Bill (2009). The Complete Wales FC 1876-2008. Soccer Books. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-1-86223-176-4.
  7. Wales score first
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