Brian Roberts

Brian Roberts

Brian Roberts

Defender
Place Of Birth Manchester
Date Of Birth 6 November 1955
Last Win 16 January 1984 15587days ago
Last Loss 10 March 1984 15533days ago
Statistics
Games Played
249
-
Per Game
Games Started
241
1.0
Per Game
Substituted In
8
0.03
Per Game
Minutes
21819
87.6
Per Game
Goals
2
0.01
Per Game
Goal From Penalty
0
0
Per Game
Assists
0
0
Per Game
Cards (All)
1
-
Per Game
BioStatsMatchesTeammates

Brian, or ‘Harry’ as he was christened by team-mates soon after he arrived at Coventry straight from school, played in the same youth team as Jim Blyth and Don Nardiello. Gordon Milne gave his debut as a 20-year old but his first run in the first team came in 1977, and unusually his first ten appearances were all away from home. Although he was regarded as ‘Mr Dependable’ for his ability to play in several different positions, ‘Harry’ did not gain a regular first team place until the departure of Bobby McDonald in 1980 when he made the left-back position his own.

An enigmatic player, at times he did not look good enough for First Division football but he nevertheless possessed a big heart, a good turn of speed and was extremely popular with City’s fans. As a 25-year old he was one of the veterans of Milne’s exciting young side that reached the League Cup semi-finals in 1981 and the following season at West Ham he scored his first goal for the club after 160 games. After the summer of discontent in 1983 he was one of the few first-teamers who stayed and was a regular in Bobby Gould’s first season in charge.

On transfer-deadline the perennial joker joined Birmingham City on a free transfer and enjoyed enormous popularity at St Andrews. Coventry awarded him a testimonial in September 1984 and Harry later played for Wolves. In the 1990s he returned to City on Gordon Strachan’s coaching staff but swapped the risky life of football with a career in teaching. On match days he can be found as a host in the hospitality lounges at the Ricoh Arena.

Own goals (2)
1980-81
28 March 1981 v Tottenham Hotspur H, Division One
1982-83
2 February 1983 v Norwich City A, FA Cup 4th Round Replay