Early career Roberts was born in
Southampton, and joined his local club,
Southampton F.C, as an associate schoolboy in October 1973, but failed to make the grade and was released, joining
Portsmouth in March 1977. He was sold to
Dorchester Town where he impressed before joining local rivals
Weymouth. From there he was sold to
Tottenham Hotspur in May 1980 for £35,000.
Tottenham Hotspur Roberts was a member of the successful
Tottenham Hotspur side of the early 1980s, winning the FA Cup in
1981 and
1982. With
Steve Perryman suspended, Roberts captained the side as Tottenham won the
1984 UEFA Cup, scoring in the second leg of the
final against
Anderlecht.
Rangers He moved to
Rangers in 1986 for
£450,000 and won the
Scottish Premier Division in his first season and the
Scottish League Cup a year later. Whilst at Rangers he was involved in a controversial
Old Firm derby at
Ibrox Park on 17 October 1987. During
a very bad-tempered match three players were sent off and in the aftermath Roberts, his team-mates
Terry Butcher and
Chris Woods and
Celtic player
Frank McAvennie were all charged with conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace. McAvennie was found not guilty, while Roberts was found
not proven, although Butcher and Woods were both convicted and fined. During the match Roberts, who had
taken over as goalkeeper after Woods was sent off, was involved in a second controversy when he "conducted" Rangers supporters in a rendition of "
The Billy Boys", although Roberts would subsequently claim that he did not realise they were singing that song, a traditional
Ulster loyalist anthem, when he made the gesture.
Chelsea He joined
Chelsea in August 1988 for £475,000 and helped the side emphatically win the
Second Division championship in
1988–89.
West Bromwich Albion He later moved to
West Bromwich Albion, where he played out the remainder of his professional career.
International career Roberts won six
caps for
England. ==Coaching career==