Neill Roberts

Neill Roberts is a retired South Africa soccer forward who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Neill Roberts
Personal information
Date of birth (1954-03-30) 30 March 1954
Place of birth Durban, South Africa
Playing position(s) Forward / Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1974 Durban Celtic
1975–1976 Maritzburg
1976–1977 FC Amsterdam 1 (0)
1977–1978 Durban City
1979 Sacramento Gold 7 (?)
1979 Atlanta Chiefs 19 (14)
1980–1981 Tampa Bay Rowdies 53 (12)
1980–1982 Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor)
1982 Edmonton Drillers 13 (5)
1982–1983 Toronto Blizzard 44 (20)
1983–1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) 22 (15)
1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 12 (9)
1984–1986 Chicago Sting (indoor) 68 (41)
1986–1987 Wichita Wings (indoor) 54 (21)
1987–1988 Minnesota Strikers (indoor) 31 (4)
1990 Minnesota Thunder
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Roberts spent seven years as a professional in South Africa. In 1979, Roberts signed during the season with the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League and promptly scored fourteen goals in nineteen games. During the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rowdies purchased his contract from the Chiefs. However, his goal production dropped with the Rowdies. He played the 1980 and 1981 outdoor seasons with the Rowdies, scoring twelve goals in fifty-three games. Following the 1981-1982 indoor season, the Rowdies sent him to the Edmonton Drillers. Roberts began the 1982 season in Edmonton before being sent to the Toronto Blizzard in June. He was the league's 6th leading scorer in 1982 with 42 points in 12 games. Before the 1984 season, the Rowdies acquired Roberts. He was the 15th leading scorer in 1984 with 23 points in 23 games. He was the league's 24th all-time leading scorer with 156 points in 143 career games. At the end of the 1984 outdoor season, the Rowdies sold Robert's contract to the Chicago Sting as the Sting prepared to enter the Major Indoor Soccer League. The move to the Sting also saw Roberts move to the backline as Chicago coach Willy Roy converted Roberts to a defender. On 1 March 1986, the Sting sold Roberts contract to the Wichita Wings for $30,000.[1] The Wings released him at the end of the season. In November 1987, Roberts signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Strikers. The Strikers released him in 1988. In 1990, he joined the newly established, independent amateur club, the Minnesota Thunder.[2]

Roberts currently coaches the U-11 (Mutiny) boys team of F.C. Tampa youth soccer organization in Tampa, Florida.

References

  1. Sting snarls after loss Chicago Sun-Times - Sunday, 2 March 1986
  2. Sunny outlook - Thunder awaits soccer boom Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities - Friday, 3 August 1990
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