Philip Roberts

For the Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth player of the 1970s, see Phil Roberts.
Philip Roberts
Personal information
Full name Philip James Roberts[1]
Date of birth (1994-04-07) 7 April 1994
Place of birth Newham, London, England
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Sligo Rovers
Number 9
Youth career
–2010 Norwich City
2010–2012 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Arsenal 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Inverness CT (loan) 17 (1)
2013–2014 Falkirk 26 (5)
2014–2015 Dundee 8 (0)
2015 → Alloa Athletic (loan) 7 (0)
2016- Sligo Rovers 19 (2)
National team
2009–2011 Republic of Ireland U17 5 (4)
2011 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 February 2016.


Philip James Roberts (born 7 April 1994) is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland. He began his career at Arsenal, although he never made an appearance for the club. He spent time on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, then signed for Falkirk. He signed for Dundee in the summer of 2014 and spent the second half of the 2014–15 season on loan at Alloa Athletic.

Early life

Born in the London Borough of Newham, Roberts attended Ilford County High School in Barkingside, Ilford from the years of 11–16. He has a sister called Lauren – attending Woodford County, and a brother called Chris.[2] He played at youth levels for Charlton before being released, having been on trial at Liverpool he eventually ended up playing for Norwich featuring for their U18 team at the age of 16.

Career

Arsenal

Roberts joined Arsenal F.C. on 3 June 2010, from Norwich City on scholarship terms.[3] Robert's first season at the club went well as he scored four goals in 15 appearances at the under-18s level for Arsenal.[4] He then followed that up during the 2011–12 season scoring nine goals in only 23 matches for the under-18s and becoming the top scorer among the Arsenal under-18s and he made four appearances for the reserves, scoring 1 goal in the process against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[5] At the start of the 2012–13 season he joined Inverness on loan.[6] Phillips was released by Arsenal at the end of the 2012–13 season.[7]

Inverness CT (loan)

On 30 August 2012, Roberts signed a loan deal with Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle until January 2013.[8][9] On 22 September, he made his professional debut for Inverness in the Scottish Premier League against Hibernian coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Conor Pepper as Inverness drew 2–2.[10] Seven days later, he scored his first professional goal and provided assist for Richie Foran in a 4–0 win over Dundee United.[11] After the match, Roberts says he couldn't ask for more after his performance.[12] On 24 November 2012, Roberts set up a goal for Billy McKay -who scored the only goal in the game – as Inverness beat Celtic 1–0.[13] On 7 December 2012, Roberts loan spell was extended until the end of the season.[14] In the semi-final of Scottish League Cup against Hearts, which was 1–1 draw and led to penalties shoot-out, Roberts missed the vital penalty when he shot and blazed over the bar in front of Inverness fans, allowing Hearts to go to the final.[15] Opposition goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald claims he spooked Roberts, into to cause him miss the penalty.[16]

Falkirk

Following his release from Arsenal, Roberts went on trial with League Two side, Wycombe Wanderers, scoring two goals in a pre-season friendly at Farnborough before the match was abandoned after the pitch was dangerous to play.[17]

On 26 July 2013, Roberts return to Scotland, again, by joining Scottish Championship side Falkirk after playing as a trialist. Roberts joined Manager Gary Holt, who knew him from his time at Norwich City and signed a two-year contract, subjected to international clearance.[18] The next day, on 27 July 2013, Roberts made his Falkirk's debut, in the first round of the Ramsdens Cup, in a 2–1 win over Clyde.[19] Roberts continued to make an impressive display with the club, including scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Livingston on 24 August 2013.[20] Since then, Roberts struggled to make a goal-scoring form, having been overshadowed by his striking partner, Rory Loy.

On 23 March 2014, Roberts was sent off in a game against Alloa Athletic, a game in which Falkirk lost 3-0. Roberts was involved in an incident with Alloa's Michael Doyle, which led to Roberts' sending off.[21] As a result of his sending off, Roberts was given a six match ban and this would lead the club making an "investigation the manner in line with its disciplinary procedures".[22] This was to be his last appearance in a Falkirk shirt, and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[23][24]

As a result of the incident, Roberts and Holt had fallen out, with Holt made criticism towards Roberts by describing his behavior as “cowardly”. Roberts responded his comment as "harsh".[25]

Dundee

Dundee, who had been promoted to the Scottish Premiership, signed Roberts on 8 May 2014.[26] After the move, Roberts says joining the club was an easy decision to make following discussions with manager Paul Hartley.[25] He made his debut on 26 August 2014, as Dundee beat Raith Rovers 4–0 in the Scottish League Cup.[27] Having served four league matches at the start of the season, Roberts made his Dundee debut, where he provided an assist for James McPake, in a 1-1 draw against Celtic on 31 August 2014.[28]

On 2 February 2015, Roberts moved on loan to Scottish Championship side Alloa Athletic until the end of the 2014–15 season.[29] Roberts made his Alloa Athletic debut on 14 February 2015, where he made his first start, in a 1-0 loss against Queen of the South.[30] After making seven appearance for the club, his loan spell at Alloa Athletic came to an end in early-May.[31]

On 28 August 2015, Roberts was informed by Paul Hartley that he was no longer part of the club's plans,[32] with his contract being terminated by mutual consent the same day.[33]

Sligo Rovers

On 22 February 2016, Roberts signed for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division.[34]

International

Roberts is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland through his parents as well as England and Jamaica.[3] Roberts made his Republic of Ireland U17 debut against the Czech Republic U17s in 2009, coming on with the score 1–1 before giving the Republic of Ireland the lead.[35]

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 July 2015[36][37]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2012–13 0000000000
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) 2012–13 171303000231
Falkirk 2013–14 265103120326
Dundee 2014–15 80002000100
2015–16 0000000000
Total 80002000100
Alloa Athletic (loan) 2014–15 7000000070
Career total 586408120727

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 30 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Young Guns: Philip Roberts". Arsenal F.C. 11 November 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Arsenal sign 16-year-old striker!". Just Arsenal. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Bird, Jorge. "Player Profile: Philip Roberts". Arseblog. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "2011/12 Player Review: Philip Roberts". Arsenal Football Club. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Roberts finalises Inverness loan move". Arsenal Football Club. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Arsenal release 10 young players". Arsenal F.C. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle announce loan partnership with Arsenal". sport.stv.tv. STV. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Inverness loan kid told move will make him a man". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Lamont, Alesdair. "Hibernian 2–2 Inverness". BBC. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Inverness CT 4 Dundee United 0: Foran fires Caley to thumping win over terrible Terrors". Daily Record. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Inverness kid Philip Roberts in dreamland with first goal AND discovering he's in FIFA game". Daily Record. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Celtic 0 Inverness CT 1: Hoops flop in SPL again after European exertions". Daily Record. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Philip Roberts extends his stay in the Highlands with Inverness Caledonian Thistle". Daily Record. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Inverness CT 5 Hearts 6: Hearts book their place in the League Cup final with dramatic penalty win". Daily Record. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Hero Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald: I spooked Inverness CT into missing crucial penalty". Daily Record. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  17. ↑ "Blues friendly abandoned at half time". Bucks Free Press. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Falkirk sign Arsenal striker Roberts". The Falikirk Herald. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Bairns progress with 2–1 victory over Clyde". Falkirk Herald. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Livingston 0-3 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Alloa hero Michael Doyle sympathises with Falkirk hot head Phil Roberts after 3-0 win". Alloa Advertiser. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "Hot head Roberts given six game suspension". Falkirk Herald. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "PHIL ROBERTS DEPARTS". Falkirk Official Website. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Roberts' Falkirk contract torn up". Falkirk Herald. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  25. 1 2 "Roberts: I'll ditch bad-boy tag and repay faith Dundee boss has in me". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  26. ↑ "ROBERTS SIGNS". Dundee Official Website. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Christie, James (26 August 2014). "DUNDEE VS RAITH ROVERS". Dundee F.C. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  28. ↑ "Dundee 1 - 1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "PHIL JOINS ALLOA ON LOAN". Dundee F.C. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "Queen of the South 1 - 0 Alloa Athletic". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Dundee keeper Bain's season over but door opens for Roberts". Evening Telegraph. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Phil Roberts told he is no part of Dundee's plans". The Courier. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  33. ↑ "PHIL AND LUKA LEAVE THE CLUB". Dundee F.C. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Former Arsenal youth Philip Roberts joins Sligo Rovers". Goal.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  35. ↑ "Player Profile: New Signing Philip Roberts". Young Guns. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  36. ↑ "Philip Roberts Stats". http://uk.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 26 September 2012. External link in |work= (help)
  37. ↑ "Philip Roberts". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
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