Roberts, Les (Charles)

Birth Date

28th February 1901

Birthplace

Halesowen, Worcestershire

Occupation

Forward

Biographical Text

Les Roberts, who made no more than a dozen appearances for Exeter City,  was on his eighth club when he arrived at St James Park from Manchester City in 1932. Starting his professional career with Aston Villa - and playing for Bristol Rovers, Bournemouth and Swindon along the way - he left the Grecians to sign for Crystal Palace   ahead of turing out for another five professional clubs. 

Described as 'clever on the ball with a real football brain', Les Roberts played for several clubs during a career that began with Aston Villa in 1920-21. The following season he was with Bristol Rovers, but he had to wait for his Football League debut until signing for Chesterfield in the summer of 1922. Roberts scored four goals in six league matches for Chesterfield, but was on the move again to play for Sheffield Wednesday in 1923-24, although only for their reserve team. Signing for Merthyr Town for 1924-25, he featured in 12 league matches for the Martyrs, scoring two goals. His next ‘stop’ was at Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic where he enjoyed his best playing spell thus far, netting 10 goals in 51 league outings. Roberts then joined Bolton Wanderers, but only played six league matches for them, scoring two goals. Moving to Swindon Town, he stayed there for three seasons making 106 league appearances, and scoring 32 goals. He linked up with Brentford in 1930, but played just five league matches for them and quickly moved on to Manchester City where he scored twice in 8 league games.

Exeter City manager Billy McDevitt obtained Roberts’ signature in February 1932, the player travelling down from his Manchester home to meet up with the City players at Paddington and immediately making his debut against Queens Park Rangers. Roberts never seemed to stay very long at any club and the same applied to Exeter, although he did score four goals, two of which came in a 3-0 home win over Mansfield Town.

In the summer of 1932 Roberts was on his travels again, signing for Crystal Palace where he added 18 goals in 47 league matches. Next up were Chester in 1933, and that produced two goals in five matches. He was playing for Rotherham United in 1934, making 9 outings and scoring five goals. A brief spell with Scunthorpe and Lindsey United then saw him end his career with New Brighton in the Third Division North, playing a couple of seasons for them and scoring 11 goals in 40 league matches.

Leslie Roberts died on 29 May 1980

Appearances

11

Goals

4

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