John Roberts

Born in Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Roberts played football for local club Abercynon Athletic while working as a railway fireman. He joined Swansea Town as an apprentice in 1963, turning professional in 1964. Initially a striker who later switched to centre half, he moved to Northampton Town in 1967 Roberts moved to Arsenal in May 1969 on a transfer fee of £30,000. He played for Arsenal for three seasons, including 18 appearances in the 1970–71 season, when Arsenal won the First Division title, thus earning him a championship medal. Roberts, however, did not play in the FA Cup Final the same year, which Arsenal also won to complete the Double. He won the first of his caps with Wales in a game versus England in the same year. Roberts left Arsenal in 1972, having played a total of 81 matches, scoring five goals. He joined Birmingham City for a transfer fee of £140,000 in March 1972. He went on to have spells at Wrexham and Hull City before trying his hand as player-manager of Oswestry Town.

Roberts won 22 caps with Wales having previously represented Wales at under 23 level. On 15 December 1976, he captained Wales under 21s as an over-age player in the team's first ever match: a goalless draw in a friendly against England at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux Stadium.

He went on to work as a stationery salesman and as a driving instructor. Roberts' death at the age of 69 was reported on 4 January 2016.