Bob McRoberts (footballer)

{{short description|Scottish footballer and manager}}

{{For|the American football player|Bob McRoberts (American football)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bob McRoberts

| image =

| fullname = Robert McRoberts

| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|7|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Coatbridge, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|1959|2|27|1874|7|12|df=y}}

| death_place = Birkenhead, England

| height =

| position = Centre-forward

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = | clubs1 = Coatbridge

| years2 = 1894–1895 | clubs2 = Airdrieonians| caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 7

| years3 = 1895–1896 | clubs3 = Albion Rovers

| years4 = 1896–1898 | clubs4 = Gainsborough Trinity | caps4 = 52 | goals4 = 15

| years5 = 1898–1905 | clubs5 = Small Heath | caps5 = 173 | goals5 = 70

| years6 = 1905–1911 | clubs6 = Chelsea | caps6 = 104 | goals6 = 10

| manageryears1 = 1911–1915 | managerclubs1 = Birmingham

}}

Robert McRoberts (12 July 1874 – 27 February 1959) was a Scottish professional association football player and manager. He played as a centre forward.

McRoberts was born in Coatbridge, Scotland. He started his football career at Airdrieonians and Albion Rovers in the Scottish League,{{cite book |title=A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players |author=John Litster |publisher=Scottish Football Historian magazine |date=October 2012}} and went on to play for Gainsborough Trinity, Small Heath (Birmingham) and Chelsea, where he also played as a defender, in the Football League. He was Small Heath's leading goalscorer for three successive seasons, from 1899–1900 to 1901–02, and was Chelsea's first ever £100 signing, playing in their first League game in September 1905.[http://www.stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=383&surname=McRoberts&firstname=Bob Chelsea FC Player Profile: Bob McRoberts], StamfordBridge.com On 4 November 1905, as Chelsea beat Barnsley 6–0 in a home league match, McRoberts scored the club's first-ever penalty.

After retirement, he came back to Birmingham where in June 1911 he was appointed their first full-time professional team manager.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101723367/mcroberts-appointed-team-manager-with/ |title=Birmingham F.C. Team manager appointed |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Mail |date=20 June 1911 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} Previously the team had been selected by a committee. He managed the club for four years.

McRoberts died in Birkenhead, England, at the age of 84.