Overview
David A. Roberts was an English footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Walsall and in the League of Ireland for Bohemians and Fordsons during the 1920s.
Playing career
English career
Roberts was born in Tipton, Staffordshire. He spent two seasons with Birmingham & District League club Shrewsbury Town. Described as a "thrustful" player, he was Shrewsbury's top scorer before joining Walsall of the Third Division North at the end of the 1921–22 season. He scored freely for the reserve team, but when he got a chance in the first team, he had little success. He made his Football League debut on 16 September 1922, playing at inside right away to Chesterfield. According to the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, "both in attack and defence the middle line was streets below Third Division standard, and although Archer and Roberts (the old Shrewsbury Town player) tried hard to get the attack going, they received very little support", as Walsall lost 6–0. Roberts played twice more in Third Division matches before moving to Ireland.
Bohemians
Roberts joined Bohemians during the 1922–23 campaign, and finished as the League of Ireland's top scorer in 1923–24 season. His 20 goals in 17 appearances helped Bohs win their first ever League title, which included a run of 15 successive league wins. Other members of the team included Bertie Kerr, Johnny McIlroy, Billy Otto, Christy Robinson, Jack McCarthy and Johnny Murray. In all competitions during the 1923–24 season, Roberts scored 25 goals in 27 games.
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