Larrett Roebuck
Larrett Roebuck (27 January 1889 – 18 October 1914) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town as a left back.[4] He was the first Football League player to be killed in the First World War.[3]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Larrett Roebuck[1] | ||
Date of birth | 27 January 1889 | ||
Place of birth | Jump, England | ||
Date of death | 18 October 1914 25)[2] | (aged||
Place of death | near Beaucamps-Ligny, France[3] | ||
Playing position(s) | Left back | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
–1913 | Silverwood Colliery | ||
1913–1914 | Huddersfield Town | 17 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Personal life
As a boy, Roebuck worked as a trammer and after being sentenced to one month's imprisonment for stealing a watch in 1904, he enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment.[3] Over the next seven years, he was stationed in India and Ireland and was promoted to lance corporal, but was demoted back to private in 1910 for "misconduct".[3] He married in 1908 and had two children.[3] Roebuck was discharged into the reserves in 1912 and likely returned to work as a miner prior to becoming a professional footballer in 1913.[3] After Britain's entry into the First World War in August 1914, he was called up by the York and Lancaster Regiment and arrived on the Western Front in September 1914.[3] On 18 October 1914, Roebuck was recorded as "presumed dead" after an attack near Beaucamps-Ligny during the Race to the Sea.[3] His death was confirmed by two comrades in January 1915.[3] Roebuck is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing.[2]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Huddersfield Town | 1913–14[3] | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
Career total | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
References
- Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 251. ISBN 190589161X.
- "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- "18 October 1914 Larrett Roebuck killed in action on this day | The Western Front Association". www.westernfrontassociation.com. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- Ian Thomas & others (2007). 99 Years & Counting – Stats & Stories – Huddersfield Town History. Huddersfield Town Football Club. ISBN 0-9557281-0-X.