John Roberts

"Nipper" Roberts, as he was commonly called, played just once for the club, when he was selected to replace Sam English for the visit to Stoke City on 4 September 1933. A 1-1 draw meant that Liverpool's miserable start to the 1933/34 season continued. Roberts was quite successful with Wigan Athletic in the Cheshire league, scoring 54 goals in 57 matches in an 18-month period. He joined second division side Port Vale in December 1935. By the end of his first season Port Vale had been relegated. "Nipper" was very prolific with the Valiants, scoring 56 goals in 95 league games until World War II finished his League career. He was an all-round sportsman and even featured in England's baseball team. Roberts served with the Irish Guards during the war and was captured in Tunisia. He attracted widespread attention when he escaped from a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy and walked 400 miles to freedom despite a broken neck.