Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987)

Football player infobox
playername = Gary Roberts


fullname = Gary Steven Roberts
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|2|2
cityofbirth = Chester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Yeovil Town
(on loan from Crewe Alexandra)
clubnumber = 16
position = Defensive midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2003–
2008
clubs = Crewe Alexandra
→Yeovil Town (loan)
caps(goals) = 118 (11)
6 (1)
nationalyears = 2006
nationalteam = England U-19
nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (1)
pcupdate = 18:22, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 17:39, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Gary Steven Roberts (born 2 February, 1987 in Chester) is an English footballer, currently playing for the League One club Yeovil Town, on loan from Crewe Alexandra. He plays as a central midfielder. He has played for England at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels.

Club career

Roberts signed as a professional with Crewe in 2004, on his 17th birthday, a few months after making his debut for the club in a 3–1 win over Burnley on 26 December, 2003. He later made a second appearance for the club against Wimbledon. He played a key part in the club's FA Youth Cup team which reached the Semi-finals in 2004.cite news
last = May
first = John
title = Young Crewe sail on
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2004-05-17
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3519802.stm
accessdate = 2008-06-16] Roberts added a further two games to his appearance tally during the 2004-05 season in Crewe's 4–0 defeat to Sheffield United and a 1–1 draw with West Ham United.

The 2005-06 season proved to be the real first team breakthrough for Roberts, when he made 34 appearances, scoring two goals - against Millwall and Hull City, in Dario Gradi's side. In all of these games, Roberts failed to neither get yellow or red carded.

Roberts became a key player in Crewe's bid for promotion in the 2006-07 season, playing mostly as a midfielder. In September 2006, he signed a new three-year deal at the club, keeping him at the south-Cheshire club until 2009.cite news
title = Roberts pens new deal with Crewe
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-09-21
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/5367666.stm
accessdate = 2006-12-13] He made 19 appearances during the season, scoring three goals - against Swansea City, Nottingham Forest and Yeovil Town. The first two goals coming from the penalty spot. He also received the first red card of his professional career in October 2006 against Bristol City.cite news
title = Bristol City 2-1 Crewe
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-10-14
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5415554.stm
accessdate = 2008-06-16] On 10 June, 2008 Roberts was placed on the transfer list by Crewe.cite news
title = Crewe put pair on transfer list
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-06-10
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7446420.stm
accessdate = 2008-06-16] cite news
title = Willing To Listen To Offers For Woodards And Roberts
publisher = Crewe Alexandra F.C.
date = 2008-06-10
url = http://www.crewealex.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10414~1325553,00.html
accessdate = 2008-06-16] In August 2008 Roberts signed for Yeovil Town on loan until the end of 2008 after a successful trial at the club. cite news
title = Yeovil snap up midfielder Roberts
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-08-22
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7577389.stm
accessdate = 2008-08-24 ]

International career

Roberts has played for England at various levels including under-17 and under-18cite news
title = Player Profliles - Gary Roberts
publisher = Crewe Alexandra F.C.
url = http://www.crewealex.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10414~29573,00.html
accessdate = 2008-06-16] as well as the England under-19 team. On 20 May, 2006, Roberts scored the winning goal as the England U-19's beat Northern Ireland U-19's 2–1 in a UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualification game.cite news
last = Mawhinney
first = Stuart
title = U19s back on track
publisher = The Football Association
date = 2006-05-20
url = http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/05/England_northern_ireland.htm
accessdate = 2008-06-16]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=41174|name=Gary Roberts
* [http://www.crewealex.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10414~29573,00.html Profile at Crewe Alexandra official website]