Bill Roberts (footballer, born 1897)
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| Bill Roberts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | William Laurence Roberts | ||
| Date of birth | 9 May 1897 | ||
| Place of birth | Broken Hill, New South Wales | ||
| Date of death | 7 September 1960 (aged 63) | ||
| Place of death | Fitzroy, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Traralgon / Trafalgar | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1923 | South Melbourne | 1 (1) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1923. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
William Laurence Roberts (9 May 1897 – 7 September 1960) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
Roberts played a single game for South Melbourne in Round 2 of the 1923 season against Fitzroy. During the game, one of the Fitzroy players recognised him as a man who, under the name “Williams” had been at Fitzroy two or three seasons previously.[2] Investigations revealed he had been granted a permit to move from North Adelaide to Fitzroy using the name “W. Reidy”.[3] Roberts claimed he had no knowledge of this 1921 permit but the League refused his request for a permit to move to Port Melbourne and his senior football career ended.
In early 1922, Roberts was arrested for stealing a £10 note,[4] and subsequently sentenced to 12 months hard labour in Goulburn jail.[5]