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When Chelsea suffered relegation at the end of the 1987-88 season,
manager Bobby Campbell turned to the experienced central defender Graham
Roberts to steady the ship. Captured from Glasgow Rangers for £475,
000, he proved to be an inspired signing. Primarily a hard-tackling,
uncompromising defender, he also possessed a good range of passing and a
very assured touch. In his first season Robbo was a huge influence on a
team who were bereft of confidence after two torrid campaigns prior to
his arrival. His experience proved crucial on many occasions, none more
so than when a cool head was needed to convert last minute penalties
against Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion. Roberts scored 15 times
in 1988-89, 12 from the spot, as Chelsea ran away with the Second
Division title.
Robbo remained influential as The Blues made an
impressive start to the following campaign but an awful lunge by
Arsenal's Perry Groves at the end of September led to a spell on the
sidelines. Fit again, he was given a coaching role in place of the
departing Ian Porterfield but his form suffered and he began to appear
somewhat vulnerable at the heart of the defence. During three
consecutive matches at the beginning of December in which Chelsea
conceded 14 goals, Roberts' lack of pace was consistently exposed. In
his frustration he displayed a tendency to publicly berate those around
him, particularly the younger players, and a cuff delivered to the head
of 21 year-old Graeme Le Saux during an FA Cup defeat at Bristol City
was viewed very dimly by the Chelsea faithful. In February 1990, as he
became embroiled in a contract wrangle with chairman Ken Bates, Robbo
played his last game for Chelsea, a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest. His
goal that day, a run past three defenders followed by a shot into the
top corner, was an impressive way to sign off !
He eventually left for
West Bromwich Albion in November of that year for £200,000. (Kelvin Barker)
Years Team Games Goals
1978–1979 Dorchester Town 0 (0)
1979–1980 Weymouth 29 (6)
1980–1986 Tottenham Hotspur 209 (23)
1986–1988 Rangers 55 (3)
1988–1990 Chelsea 70 (18)
1990–1992 West Brom 39 (6)
1994–1995 Stevenage Borough 11 (1)
1995–1998 Yeovil Town 6 (1)
1998–1999 Slough Town 10 (0)
Total 429 (58 goals)
Teams managed.
1992–1994 Enfield
1995–1998 Yeovil Town
2005–2006 Clyde
2010–2011 Pakistan
2011–2012 Nepal
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