Born in
Abercynon,
Rhondda Cynon Taff, Roberts played football for local club Abercynon Athletic while working as a railway
fireman. He joined
Swansea Town as an apprentice in 1963, turning professional in 1964. Initially a
striker who later switched to
centre half, he moved to
Northampton Town in 1967 Roberts moved to
Arsenal in May 1969 on a transfer fee of £30,000. He played for Arsenal for three seasons, including 18 appearances in the
1970–71 season, when Arsenal won the
First Division title, thus earning him a championship medal. Roberts, however, did not play in the
FA Cup Final the same year, which Arsenal also won to complete
the Double. He won the first of his caps with
Wales in a game versus England in the same year. Roberts left Arsenal in 1972, having played a total of 81 matches, scoring five goals. He joined
Birmingham City for a transfer fee of £140,000 in March 1972. He went on to have spells at
Wrexham and
Hull City before trying his hand as
player-manager of
Oswestry Town. He also won 22
caps with Wales. ==Later career==