Liam Roberts

Liam Roberts
Personal information
Full name Liam Joseph Roberts[1]
Date of birth (1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Walsall, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Millwall
Number 13
Youth career
–2012 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2021 Walsall 131 (0)
2012–2013 → Romulus (loan) 39 (0)
2014 → Rushall Olympic (loan) 0 (0)
2014 → Rainworth Miners Welfare (loan) 12 (0)
2014–2015 → Southport (loan) 0 (0)
2015 → Gresley (loan) 18 (0)
2015 → Gresley (loan) 9 (0)
2015 → Rugby Town (loan) 6 (0)
2016–2017 → Chester (loan) 15 (0)
2021–2022 Northampton Town 46 (0)
2022–2024 Middlesbrough 4 (0)
2023–2024 → Barnsley (loan) 38 (0)
2024– Millwall 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 July 2024

Liam Joseph Roberts (born 21 November 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper who plays for EFL Championship club Millwall.

Career

Walsall

Roberts began his career at Walsall's youth academy before joining Romulus on a work experience loan on 4 December 2012.[3] He was released by Walsall on 7 May 2014.[4] However, Roberts subsequently re-signed for the club on 22 July 2014 as cover for Richard O'Donnell and Craig MacGillivray.[5]

Roberts was immediately sent out on loan to Rushall Olympic.[6] His loan deal with the Pics was terminated early to allow him to join Rainworth Miners Welfare on 9 September 2014.[7] Roberts then joined Conference side Southport on 27 November 2014, alongside teammate Amadou Bakayoko.[8] After failing to make an appearance for Southport, Roberts enjoyed a successful spell with Gresley in the second half of the season after joining on 16 January 2015.[9] Roberts made eighteen appearances for Gresley as they challenged for a play-off place in the Northern Premier League Division One South. He was handed a new one-year contract by Walsall on 5 June 2015.[10]

Roberts returned to Gresley on a three-month loan on 14 August 2015.[11] He was recalled by Walsall in October, joining the matchday squad for the first time as an unused substitute in the Saddlers' victory over Burton on 10 October 2015.[12] Six days later, Roberts joined Rugby on a one-month loan.[13] He made six appearances for the club before returning to Walsall.[14]

Roberts finally made his debut for Walsall on 6 February 2016 in a 3–0 home defeat against Millwall, following injuries to both Neil Etheridge and Craig MacGillivray.[15]

In July 2016, after signing a new one-year contract with Walsall, he joined Chester on a season-long loan.[16] He made 15 appearances in the National League, including a run of six consecutive clean sheets between September and October.[17]

Roberts finally established himself as Walsall's first-choice goalkeeper during the 2017–18 season, making 28 appearances in all competitions and being rewarded with a new two-and-a-half-year contract on 20 February 2018.[18] He signed a new contract in November 2019.[19]

Northampton Town

On 22 June 2021, Roberts signed for Northampton Town for an undisclosed fee.[20] He was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year after keeping 20 clean sheets throughout the season.[21] At the end of his contract, Roberts was offered a new deal by the club but declined and left as a free agent.[22]

Middlesbrough

On 21 June 2022, Roberts signed for Middlesbrough on a two-year contract.[22] On 18 July 2023, Roberts joined Barnsley on a season-long loan.[23] On 17 May 2024, Middlesbrough announced the player would be leaving in the summer once his contract had expired.[24]

Millwall

On 22 July 2024, Roberts signed for Championship club Millwall, following the unexpected death of Millwall's first team goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 May 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Walsall 2015–16[26] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2016–17[27] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[28] 24 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 28 0
2018–19[29] 42 0 4 0 0 0 1[a] 0 47 0
2019–20[30] League Two 32 0 2 0 1 0 4[a] 0 39 0
2020–21[31] 32 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 34 0
Total 131 0 7 0 2 0 9 0 149 0
Chester (loan) 2016–17[27] National League 15 0 1 0 — 0 0 16 0
Northampton Town 2021–22[32] League Two 46 0 2 0 0 0 1[b] 0 49 0
Career total 192 0 10 0 2 0 10 0 216 0
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in League Two play-offs

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Liam Roberts". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ^ Poole, Andrew (4 December 2012). "ROBERTS LOOKING TO TAKE CHANCE". Walsall FC. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Craig Westcarr: Walsall release top scorer in eight-man clear-out". BBC Sport. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Walsall re-sign goalkeeper Liam Roberts". Express & Star. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Walsall loan Liam Roberts to Rushall Olympic". 25 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Walsall's Liam Roberts switches loan sides". Express & Star. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Liam Roberts: Walsall goalkeeper joins Southport on loan". BBC Sport. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Walsall send young duo back out on loan". Express & Star. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Liam Roberts signs new deal at Walsall". Express & Star. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  11. ^ Wilkinson, Ashley (14 August 2015). "Gresley secure four signings - including Walsall keeper Liam Roberts on loan". Burton Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Walsall 2-0 Burton". BBC Sport. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  13. ^ Briggs, Daniel (16 October 2015). "ROBERTS JOINS RUGBY TOWN ON LOAN". Walsall FC. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Liam Roberts". Rugby Town FC. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Walsall 0-3 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  16. ^ Briggs, Daniel (4 July 2016). "ROBERTS JOINS CHESTER ON SEASON-LONG LOAN DEAL". Walsall FC. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Walsall goalkeeper signs new two-and-a-half-year deal at Bescot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Liam Roberts: Walsall goalkeeper signs new extended contract". BBC Sport. 19 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Liam Roberts & Jordan Flores: Northampton sign Walsall goalkeeper and Hull winger". BBC Sport. 22 June 2021.
  21. ^ "PFA League Two Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Middlesbrough confirm first signing of summer". The Northern Echo. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Liam Roberts Joins Barnsley On Loan". Middlesbrough FC. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  24. ^ FC, Middlesbrough (17 May 2024). "Club Confirm Retained List". Middlesbrough FC. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Millwall sign goalkeeper Liam Roberts from Middlesbrough on free transfer". BBC Sport. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  28. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  30. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Games played by Liam Roberts in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Defend your time like the greatest goalies of the season". www.efl.com. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  34. ^ "AWARDS HANDED OUT AT CLUB'S END OF SEASON DINNER". Northampton Town F.C. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Salah and Kerr win PFA player of year awards". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.