Players - John Roberts

John Roberts
Birthdate: 15 March 1910
Birthplace: Blundellsands, Liverpool, England
Date of death: 1 June 1985
Other clubs: Marine, Orrell, Northern Nomads, Blundellsands, Southport (1931-33), Wigan Athletic (1934-35), Port Vale (1935-40); Wrexham (wartime guest)
Signed from: Southport
Signed for LFC: 27.05.1933
Liverpool debut: 04.09.1933
Last appearance: 04.09.1933
Contract expiry: 22.06.1934
Win ratio: 0% W:0 D:1 L:0
League games / goals: 1 / 0
Total games / goals: 1 / 0

Player Profile

"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.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 0 0 1
1933-1934 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
1 90 Stoke City
Total Venue
1 Away
Total Competition
1 League
Total W D L Win % Manager
1 0 1 0 0% George Patterson (2nd term)
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 04.09.1933 Stoke City Victoria Ground League
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Marine Liverpool N/A N/A N/A N/A
Orrell N/A N/A N/A N/A
Northern Nomads N/A N/A N/A N/A
Blundellsands N/A N/A N/A N/A
Southport 1931-1932 England Third Division North 6 0 6 0
Southport 1932-1933 England Third Division North 12 8 13 8
Wigan Athletic 1934-1935 Cheshire League 57 54 57 54
Port Vale 1935-1939 England 2/3 North and South 95 56 95 56
Total 170 118 171 118