Jordan Roberts
Roberts playing for Ipswich Town in 2018
Personal information
Full name Jordan Stephen Roberts[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-05) 5 January 1994
Place of birth Watford, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger / Striker
Team information
Current team
 Stevenage
Number 11
Youth career
2010–2011 Peterborough United
2011–2012 Aldershot Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Aldershot Town 86 (11)
2012 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 3 (0)
2013 → Tamworth (loan) 0 (0)
2013 → Bishop's Stortford (loan) 5 (1)
2015–2016 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 9 (2)
2016–2018 Crawley Town 58 (9)
2018–2020 Ipswich Town 13 (0)
2019 → Lincoln City (loan) 5 (0)
2020 → Gillingham (loan) 10 (2)
2020–2022 Heart of Midlothian 6 (0)
2021–2022 → Motherwell (loan) 18 (1)
2022 Motherwell 7 (2)
2022– Stevenage 66 (14)
International career‡
2014–2015 England C 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:22, 1 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:56, 16 December 2017 (UTC)

Jordan Stephen Roberts (born 5 January 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for EFL League One club Stevenage.

After spending one year on an academy scholarship at Peterborough United, Roberts joined Aldershot Town's youth system in the summer of 2011. He signed his first professional contract and made his first-team debut for Aldershot in League Two in February 2012. Roberts was loaned out three times during the 2012–13 season in order to gain first-team experience, at non-League clubs Havant & Waterlooville, Tamworth and Bishop's Stortford respectively. Roberts returned to Aldershot and played regularly for two seasons in the Conference Premier, scoring 13 times in 100 appearances during his time at the club. Roberts trialled with Scottish Premiership club Inverness Caledonian Thistle in July 2015, ultimately spending the 2015–16 season there. He moved back to England when he signed for League Two club Crawley Town in June 2016.

Roberts spent two seasons at Crawley, playing 62 times and scoring 11 goals, before moving up two divisions to sign for Championship club Ipswich Town in June 2018. He found first-team opportunities limited during his two years at Ipswich, during which he also spent time on loan at Lincoln City and Gillingham. Following his release from Ipswich, Roberts signed for Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Championship in August 2020. Having spent two spells on loan at Scottish Premiership club Motherwell, Roberts joined the club on a permanent basis in January 2022. He signed for League Two club Stevenage in June 2022 and helped the club earn promotion into League One during the 2022–23 season.

Club career

Aldershot Town

Roberts started his career in the youth team of Peterborough United as a first-year scholar.[3] He was released by Peterborough in the summer of 2011 and joined League Two club Aldershot Town to complete the second year of his academy scholarship.[4] Roberts signed his first professional contract with Aldershot on 21 February 2012, a two-and-a-half-year agreement.[5] He made his Football League debut on 25 February 2012, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for Guy Madjo in a 4–1 victory against Barnet.[2][6] Roberts made four appearances during the end of the 2011–12 season, receiving the first red card of his career for two bookable offences in a 2–2 draw with Rotherham United on 28 April 2012.[7]

Loan spells

Having made four further appearances for Aldershot at the start of the 2012–13 season,[8] Roberts joined Conference South club Havant & Waterlooville on a one-month loan on 1 October 2012.[9] He debuted for Havant & Waterlooville in a 2–2 draw with AFC Hornchurch on 6 October 2012, replacing Steve Ramsey in the 70th-minute of the match.[10] Roberts made three appearances during the loan spell before returning to Aldershot upon the conclusion of the one-month agreement.[2] He was loaned out for a second time on 10 January 2013, joining Tamworth of the Conference Premier until 9 February 2013.[11] He made one appearance during his time there,[2] playing the first 73 minutes in a 2–1 defeat against Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Trophy.[12]

A third loan deal of the 2012–13 season followed when Roberts joined Conference South club Bishop's Stortford for the remainder of the season.[13] Roberts made his Bishop's Stortford debut in a 1–1 draw against Hinckley United on 16 February 2013, replacing Alli Abdullahi with 30 minutes remaining.[14] He scored his first goal in senior football in a 2–2 draw against Corby Town on 27 February 2013.[15] Roberts made five appearances during his time at Bishop's Stortford, scoring once, before being recalled by Aldershot in March 2013.[2][8] Roberts made two late substitute appearances at the end of a season in which Aldershot were relegated back to the Conference Premier.[8][16]

Return to Aldershot

The 2013–14 season served as Roberts' breakthrough season in terms of regular first-team football.[17] He scored his first goal for Aldershot in a 2–0 victory against Wrexham on 21 September 2013 and ended the season having scored seven times in 45 appearances.[2][17] Roberts remained at Aldershot for the 2014–15 season, scoring six goals in 44 appearances as Aldershot finished in 18th position in the Conference Premier standings.[18][19] He scored on his 100th appearance for Aldershot, his final game for the club, in a 3–1 away defeat to Grimsby Town on 25 April 2015.[18]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Roberts went on trial with Scottish Premiership club Inverness Caledonian Thistle ahead of the 2015–16 season and scored in three successive pre-season friendlies,[20] signing a contract with the club on 7 July 2015.[21] He made his Inverness Caledonian Thistle debut in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Astra Giurgiu on 16 July 2015, in which he played the last nine minutes in a 1–0 defeat.[22] Roberts suffered a groin injury before the start of the domestic season, ultimately ruling him out until January 2016.[23] He scored his first goal for Inverness in a 2–1 away victory against Motherwell on 6 February 2016; his "magnificent long-range strike" in the 90th-minute of the match meant that Inverness progressed to the quarter final stage of the Scottish Cup.[24] Roberts made 13 appearances during the season, scoring three goals.[25] He left Inverness upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.[26]

Crawley Town

Roberts joined League Two club Crawley Town on a free transfer on 28 June 2016, signing a one-year contract with the option of a further year.[27] He made his debut for Crawley in their first match of the 2016–17 season, a 1–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers.[28] Roberts scored his first goal for Crawley in an FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers on 15 November 2016, scoring the equalising goal in an eventual 4–2 extra-time defeat.[28][29] He scored four goals in 26 appearances during his first year at Crawley, with the club taking up the option to extend his contract for a further 12 months.[28] After scoring seven times in 36 appearances during the 2017–18 season,[30] Crawley announced that Roberts would leave the club upon the conclusion of his contract in June 2018.[31] He made 62 appearances during his two seasons at the club, scoring 11 goals.[2]

Ipswich Town

Following his release from Crawley, Roberts moved up two divisions and signed for Championship club Ipswich Town on a two-year contract on 28 June 2018.[32] He debuted for Ipswich in the club's first match of the 2018–19 season, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–0 away defeat to Rotherham United.[33] Roberts found first-team opportunities limited under manager Paul Hurst, playing just 23 minutes in his two appearances before Hurst left the club in October 2018.[34] He played a further 10 times during the first half of that season under new manager Paul Lambert, who played Roberts as a striker.[33][34] Having not played for Ipswich in nearly a month, he joined League Two club Lincoln City on 23 January 2019, on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[35] Roberts played a peripheral role during his time at Lincoln, making five substitute appearances as they earned promotion to League One after winning the League Two title.[33][36]

Roberts returned to Ipswich upon the expiry of his loan deal at Lincoln and opened the 2019–20 season in the first-team squad at Ipswich.[37] He scored twice in a 2–1 EFL Trophy victory against Tottenham Hotspur under-21s on 3 September 2019; the goals were his first for the club.[38] Roberts scored three goals in the five matches he played for Ipswich during the first half of the 2019–20 season.[39] Although his involvement was limited to three EFL Trophy appearances within the space of four months,[37][39] Lambert stated that Roberts remained in his plans and praised his worth ethic in training.[37]

Loan to Gillingham

Roberts joined League One club Gillingham on 9 January 2020, on a loan agreement for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[40] He debuted for Gillingham in a 0–0 draw with Peterborough United on 11 January 2020 and scored his first goals for the club as he scored both goals in a 2–2 away league draw at Rochdale on 25 January 2020.[39][41] He scored twice during 10 appearances before returning from his loan on 6 May 2020.[39][42] Ipswich decided against taking up the 12-month extension option on Roberts' contract, although stated a future deal may be possible once football resumed following its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[43]

Heart of Midlothian

Having attracted transfer interest from several Football League clubs,[44] Roberts signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship club Heart of Midlothian on 10 August 2020.[45] He made his Hearts debut against his former employers, Inverness, coming on a 63rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 victory at Tynecastle Park on 6 October 2020.[46] Roberts made 11 appearances for Hearts during the first half of the 2020–21 season.[46]

Loans to Motherwell

Roberts joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on a loan deal until the end of the season on 1 February 2021.[47] He made his Motherwell debut as a 68th-minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Celtic on 6 February 2021.[46] Roberts scored his first goal for the club on 27 February 2021, scoring the first goal of the match in a 2–0 away victory at Hibernian.[46] A knee injury sustained in a 1–0 victory against St Mirren ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[48] He scored three goals in eight appearances during his first loan spell at Motherwell; manager Graham Alexander described Roberts as "a brilliant man who did an exceptional job" during his four months there.[46][48]

Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Roberts briefly returned to Hearts and made one substitute appearance in a Scottish League Cup match against Peterhead.[49] It proved to be his only appearance for Hearts in the opening two months of the season and he returned to Motherwell on loan on 31 August 2021, on an agreement until January 2022.[49][50]

Motherwell

Having made 11 appearances during his second loan spell at Motherwell,[49] Roberts signed for the club on a permanent basis on 14 January 2022, on a deal until 2021–22 season.[51] He played nine further times during the second half of that season, scoring twice, before Motherwell announced that Roberts would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 31 May 2022.[49]

Stevenage

Roberts joined League Two club Stevenage on 17 June 2022.[52] He had previously played under Stevenage manager Steve Evans during his time on loan at Gillingham and stated he felt Evans "gets the best out of him".[53] He made his Stevenage debut in the club's first match of the 2022–23 season, when he came on as a 39th-minute substitute and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory at Tranmere Rovers on 30 July 2022.[54] After scoring five goals and providing one assist during October 2022, Roberts was nominated for the League Two Player of the Month.[55] He made 53 appearances and scored 12 times as Stevenage earned promotion into League One after finishing the season in second place in League Two.[54][56] Roberts signed an "improved and extended" contract on 20 July 2023.[57]

International career

Roberts received his first call up to the England C squad, who represent England at non-League level, in September 2014.[58] He made his international debut on 14 October 2014 in a 2–0 defeat to Tunisia under-23s and scored his first international goal in a 2–1 victory against Republic of Ireland under-21s on 1 June 2015.[59]

Style of play

Predominantly deployed as a left-sided winger, Roberts has also been used centrally; either behind two front players or as a central striker.[44][60] Left wing has been described as his strongest position, although he has also played as inverted right winger, allowing him to provide a different crossing angle.[60] His directness of play has been highlighted as a strength due to his pace, as well as being described as "carrying a physical presence".[44][60] Hearts manager Robbie Neilson stated Roberts possesses "real pace and power in the wide areas".[60]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aldershot Town 2011–12[7] League Two 400000—0040
2012–13[8] League Two 500010—1[lower-alpha 1]070
2013–14[17][2] Conference Premier 39620——4[lower-alpha 2]1457
2014–15[18][2] Conference Premier 38551——1[lower-alpha 2]0446
Total 86117110006110013
Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 2012–13[2] Conference South 3000——0030
Tamworth (loan) 2012–13[2] Conference Premier 0000——1[lower-alpha 2]010
Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2012–13[2] Conference South 5100——0051
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2015–16[25] Scottish Premiership 9231001[lower-alpha 3]0—133
Crawley Town 2016–17[28] League Two 2331110—1[lower-alpha 4]0264
2017–18[30] League Two 3561100—00367
Total 589221000106211
Ipswich Town 2018–19[33] Championship 1200000——120
2019–20[39] League One 100010—3[lower-alpha 4]353
Total 13000100033173
Lincoln City (loan) 2018–19[33] League Two 500000—0050
Gillingham (loan) 2019–20[39] League One 1020000—00102
Heart of Midlothian 2020–21[46] Scottish Championship 601[lower-alpha 5]040—00110
2021–22[49] Scottish Premiership 000010—0010
Total 6010500000120
Motherwell (loan) 2020–21[46] Scottish Premiership 71120000—83
2021–22[49] Scottish Premiership 110000000—110
Motherwell 2021–22[49] Scottish Premiership 72200000—92
Total 25333000000285
Stevenage 2022–23[54] League Two 42104120005[lower-alpha 4]15312
2023–24[61] League One 24431210010306
Total 6614714100618318
Career total 285422371206112433855
  1. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  5. ↑ One appearance in the previous season’s Scottish Cup which was rescheduled to October due to COVID-19

Honours

Lincoln City

Stevenage

References

  1. ↑ "Jordan Roberts". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "J. Roberts". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Match preview for Peterborough United vs Ipswich Town on 04 Dec 19". Peterborough United F.C. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Jordan Roberts profile". Aldershot Town F.C. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Roberts handed new deal". EuroSport. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Aldershot 4–1 Barnet". BBC Sport. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Shots bring in forward Cadogan". Sky Sports. 1 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "AFC Hornchurch vs. Havant & Waterlooville". Soccerway. 6 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Tamworth: Aldershot midfielder Jordan Roberts signs on loan". BBC Sport. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Gainsborough Trinity vs. Tamworth". Soccerway. 12 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Blues borrow Shots' Roberts". Pitchero Non League. February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Bishop's Stortford vs. Hinckley United". Soccerway. 16 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Corby Town vs. Bishop's Stortford". Soccerway. 27 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "History of Aldershot Town". Aldershot Town F.C. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Conference Premier – 2014/15 – League Table". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Jordan Roberts signs for Inverness Caledonian Thistle". Sky Sports. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Midfielder Jordan Roberts joins Inverness Caledonian Thistle". BBC Sport. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Inverness CT vs. Astra". Soccerway. 16 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "Jordan Roberts ready to show Inverness fans what he can really do". TNT Sports. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Motherwell 1–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle". BBC Sport. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Jordan Roberts: Crawley sign former Aldershot and Inverness midfielder". BBC Sport. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Reds sign Roberts". Crawley Town F.C. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  29. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 4–2 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "New contract offers made to three players". Crawley Town F.C. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "Ipswich bring in Crawley winger Roberts". BBC Sport. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  34. 1 2 Warren, Andy (9 January 2020). "Exit Interview: Roberts was the Hurst 'project' which never truly got off the ground". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "Jordan Roberts: Lincoln City sign Ipswich Town winger on loan". BBC Sport. 23 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Lincoln City 1–1 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  37. 1 2 3 Warren, Andy (7 October 2019). "'He's not given us one problem... I need everyone' - Roberts still in Lambert's plans ahead of cup clash". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  38. ↑ "Leasing.com Trophy: 9,062 fans watch Bolton Wanderers' first home game since takeover". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  40. ↑ "Roberts Joins Gills on Loan". Ipswich Town. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  41. ↑ Cawdell, Luke (25 January 2020). "Rochdale 2 Gillingham 2: Jordan Roberts scores twice for the Gills but Stephen Dooley denied them a win". Kent Online. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  42. ↑ "Jordan Loan Spell Over". Ipswich Town F.C. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  43. ↑ Pearce, Steve (18 May 2020). "Options not taken on trio...But". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  44. 1 2 3 Anderson, Barry (10 August 2020). "Jordan Roberts in advanced talks with Hearts as he trains at Riccarton after leaving Ipswich Town". Edinburgh News. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  45. ↑ "Jordan Roberts: Hearts sign former Ipswich Town winger with 'great CV'". BBC Sport. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  47. ↑ "Jordan Roberts arrives on loan". Motherwell F.C. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  48. 1 2 "Jordan Roberts' season ended by injury". Motherwell F.C. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  50. ↑ "Jordan Roberts returns to Motherwell". Motherwell F.C. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  51. ↑ "Motherwell: Jordan Roberts signs permanent deal from Hearts". BBC Sport. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  52. ↑ "Jordan Roberts: Stevenage bring in former Motherwell and Hearts winger". BBC Sport. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  53. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  54. ↑ "Jordan Roberts nominated for PFA Fans' Player of the Month". Stevenage F.C. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  55. ↑ "League Two – 2022–23 – League Table". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  56. ↑ "Jordan Roberts signs new Stevenage contract". Stevenage F.C. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  57. ↑ "Jordan Roberts wins England call-up". Aldershot Town F.C. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  58. ↑ "Caley Thistle take England C international Jordan Roberts on trial". Press and Journal. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  59. 1 2 3 4 Sked, Joel (12 August 2020). "Who is new Hearts recruit Jordan Roberts – scouting report on the winger the Tynecastle side won the race to sign". Edinburgh News. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Jordan Roberts in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  61. ↑ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
    "Lincoln: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  62. ↑ "Reeves goal secures Stevenage second spot". BBC Sport. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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