John Roberts (footballer, born 1946) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Griffith Roberts | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Abercynon, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 4 January 2016 (aged 69) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1961–1963 | Abercynon Athletic | ||
| 1963–1964 | Swansea Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964–1967 | Swansea Town | 37 | (16) |
| 1967–1969 | Northampton Town | 62 | (11) |
| 1969–1972 | Arsenal | 59 | (4) |
| 1972–1976 | Birmingham City | 66 | (1) |
| 1976–1980 | Wrexham | 145 | (5) |
| 1980–1982 | Hull City | 26 | (1) |
| 1982–1983 | Oswestry Town | ||
| National team | |||
| – | Wales U-21 | 1 | (0) |
| – | Wales U-23 | 5 | (0) |
| 1971–1976 | Wales | 22 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1982–1983 | Oswestry Town (player manager) | ||
|
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John Griffith Roberts (born September 11, 1946 – died January 4, 2016) was a Welsh football player. He played in nearly 400 games in the Football League. He also played 22 times for the Wales national team. John Roberts was known for being a strong defender.
Contents
John Roberts' Football Journey
Early Days and Club Moves
John Roberts was born in Abercynon, Wales. When he was young, he played football for a local team called Abercynon Athletic. At the same time, he worked as a fireman on trains.
In 1963, he joined Swansea Town as a young player learning the game. He became a professional player in 1964. John started as a striker, which is a player who tries to score goals. Later, he changed his position to centre half, a defensive role.
In 1967, he moved to play for Northampton Town. Two years later, in 1969, he joined a very famous club, Arsenal.
Winning with Arsenal
John Roberts played for Arsenal for three seasons. He was part of the team that had a fantastic year in 1970–71. During that season, Arsenal won the First Division title. This was a huge achievement, and John earned a championship medal.
Even though Arsenal also won the FA Cup Final that same year, John did not play in that specific match. Winning both the First Division title and the FA Cup in the same season is called "the Double".
Later Clubs and International Play
John Roberts left Arsenal in 1972. He had played a total of 81 games for them and scored five goals. After Arsenal, he played for several other clubs. These included Birmingham City, Wrexham, and Hull City.
Towards the end of his career, he became a player-manager for Oswestry Town. This meant he played for the team and also helped manage it. John also proudly represented his country, playing 22 games for the Wales national team. Each time a player plays for their country, it is called earning a "cap".
Life After Football
After he stopped playing and managing football, John Roberts started new careers. He worked as a salesman, selling stationery items. He also became a driving instructor, teaching people how to drive safely.
John Roberts passed away on January 4, 2016, at the age of 69.
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