Charlie Roberts
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Charles "Charlie" Roberts (6 April 1883 – 7 August 1939) was an English football player.
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[edit] Playing career
Born in Darlington, Roberts started his football career with Bishop Auckland, but soon moved to Grimsby Town.
In 1904, he was transferred to Manchester United for £600. The United manager at the time was Ernest Mangnall who had embarked on a spending spree which had seen Manchester City players Billy Meredith and Sandy Turnbull arrive at Bank Street, United's ground at the time. Roberts arrival at United was extremely important to the development of the club; a strong, skilful, fast centre half and a rebel to boot. He would flout FA rules by wearing his shorts above the knee and was politically minded in favour of the unionisation of professional footballers.
Playing as centre half he helped Manchester United win the 1908 and 1911 league titles as well as the 1909 FA Cup. He left the club in August 1913 for a then record fee of £1,500 to Oldham Athletic, who he also went on to manage, after appearing in 299 matches and scoring 23 goals for United.
Charlie was capped three times for England and was Manchester United's first England international.
[edit] Players Union
On 2 December 1907, Roberts and Meredith were instrumental in setting up the Players' Union. This organisation was not recognised by the FA but did attract considerable support from fellow League clubs; the support from League professionals was unanimous at the beginning of the movement. In August 1909, the FA suspended the Manchester United players for their failure to renounce their Union membership. This tactic had seen the membership of the Union fall so that the only members were the Manchester United players - hence called 'The Outcasts'. It was only after Tim Coleman of Everton, renewed his support by siding with the Outcasts and that Robert's Union was saved.
[edit] Coaching career
In 1928, together with former colleague Billy Meredith, he became a coach for the ambitious Manchester Central. Roberts' son, Charlie Jr., was a player for Central's first season.[1]
He died at Manchester Royal Infirmary following a cranial operation after suffering extended 'dizzy spells'.
[edit] Family
Roberts' cousin, Harry Hooper played at full-back for Southampton, Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers.[2]
[edit] Honours
[edit] References
- ^ James, Gary (2008). "Chapter 12 - For The Good Of Manchester?". Manchester - A Football History. Halifax: James Ward. pp. 147-166.
- ^ Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 174. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
[edit] External links
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