Albie Roles facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Albert James Roles | ||
| Date of birth | 29 September 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Southampton, England | ||
| Date of death | 3 October 2012 (aged 91) | ||
| Place of death | Southampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Deanery School | |||
| Albion Boys | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1938–1949 | Southampton | 1 | (0) |
| 1940 | → West Ham United (wartime guest) | ||
| 1949 | Gloucester City | ||
| 1949–1952 | Cowes (player-manager) | ||
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Albert James "Albie" Roles (born September 29, 1921 – died October 3, 2012) was an English footballer. He played as a full-back, which is a defensive position, for Southampton. His career was greatly affected by the Second World War. Because of the war, he only played one Football League match and four FA Cup matches.
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Albie Roles' Football Journey
Albie Roles was born in Southampton, England. He went to the Deanery School and later became an apprentice engineer. As a young player, he represented schools in Southampton and Hampshire. He also played youth football for Albion Boys Club.
Early Life and Wartime Football
While playing in a junior league in Southampton, scouts from Southampton noticed Albie. He joined the club as an amateur player in 1938. By October 1940, he became a professional player. However, regular League football had stopped because of the Second World War.
During the war, Albie played in 188 matches for Southampton. This was more than any other player at the club during that time. Albie was not called up for military service. This was because his job, making engines for torpedo boats, was considered a "reserved occupation." This meant his work was important for the war effort. During the war, Albie also played a few matches for West Ham United as a guest player.
Post-War Challenges
Albie was known as a "mobile left-back," meaning he was good at moving around the field. In the 1945–46 season, he played in four FA Cup matches. Southampton won against Newport County but then lost to Queens Park Rangers.
In the summer of 1946, Albie had to do his National Service. This was a period of compulsory military training. While he was away, another player named Bill Rochford took over his position at left-back. When Albie returned to Southampton in 1948, his spot was already taken.
Albie was put on the "transfer list," meaning the club was open to selling him. But he was re-signed for the 1948–49 season. He had to wait until April 4, 1949, to play for the first team again. This happened when Bill Rochford was not available for a match against Bradford Park Avenue. At that time, Southampton was doing very well. They were at the top of the Second Division and hoped to get promoted. However, Southampton lost that match 2–0. They only won one of their last six games and missed promotion by just one point.
In May 1949, Albie left Southampton. He briefly played for Gloucester City. After that, he became a player-manager for Cowes.
Life After Football
In 1952, Albie and his wife faced a health challenge that required them to spend two years in hospital. After he recovered, Albie worked for Harland & Wolff, a shipbuilding company. He then spent twenty years as a technician at the Southampton Institute of Higher Education.
Albie Roles passed away on October 3, 2012, at the age of 91. He had been married to his wife, Vie, for sixty-six years. They had one son named David.
