THE HISTORY OF WIMBLEDON FOOTBALL CLUB
Full Name:
Gilbert Roberts
Date of Birth:
12 September 1935
Place of Birth:
Mexborough, South Yorks
Gil Roberts
(1957/58 - 1959/60)
Known as Gil
Moved from Mexborough to Cleethorpes aged 10
Played for Grimsby Town boys, then reserves in Midland League (inc at Peterboro in front of 12k). Bill Shankly manager.
National service basic training Aldershot, Driver Training Yeovil, posted back to Aldershot "football division"
Played as guest for Tonbridge in Southern League and won Metroplitan League Cup winners medal in 1956/57 at Guildford City
Married Betty Bowles in Cleethorpes, Q2 1957
Joined Wimbledon at start of 1957/58 season at suggestion of a friend
Lived in flat above supporters club building (Sportsman) - 1st child born, Jimmy Greaves in flat below, groundsman Charlie Giles lived in one of the others.
Sheet metal worker earning a very good wage
Described by Les Henley as having the best right foot at the club.
Replaced in 1st team when John Martin arrived.
Played in Channel Isles Easter tour 1957/58 (the war had only ended just ober ten years before and they believed we had left them on their own, as we took to the pitch they threw rotten fruit and vegetables at us) (We got the boat from Weymouth, played two games in Guernsey, then flew to Jersey for one match).
Played in Luneray at the start of the 1958/59 season - 11 miles south-west of Dieppe, apparently notable for some event during the war?
One of the higher earners (shamateurism) at Wimbledon and turned down approaches from both Chelsea and Arsenal, believes he was frozen out of the first team as a result, stayed until 1960/61 playing mostly in the reserves.
Moved to Wryth Green Lane and joined Carshalton Athletic for 1961/62 season, playing against Wimbledon in their SSC win.
Moved back to Grimsby in 1962 and played for Ross Group in the Lincolnshire League before drifting away from playing.
Grand-daughter playing in Premier League for Lincoln City Ladies and recently selected for England U19s

[Met in The Selkirk, Tooting on 20 March 2013]
1957/58: Appearances: 0 - Substitute: 0 - Goals: 0
1958/59: Appearances: 0 - Substitute: 0 - Goals: 0
1959/60: Appearances: 0 - Substitute: 0 - Goals: 0
- Total: Appearances: 0 - Substitute: 0 - Goals: 0