Roy Cheetham

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Roy Cheetham

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1939|12|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Eccles, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|12|8|1939|12|21|df=y}}

| height =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1956

| youthclubs1 = Manchester City

| years1 = 1956–1968

| years2 = 1968

| years3 = 1968

| years4 = 1968–1972

| years5 = 1975–1976

| clubs1 = Manchester City

| clubs2 = Detroit Cougars

| clubs3 = Charlton Athletic

| clubs4 = Chester

| clubs5 = Windsor Stars

| caps1 = 127

| caps2 = 17

| caps3 = 0

| caps4 = 124

| caps5 =

| goals1 = 5

| goals2 = 7

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 8

| goals5 =

| manageryears1 = 1975–1976

| managerclubs1 = Windsor Stars

}}

Roy Alexander Cheetham (21{{nbsp}}December 1939{{snd}}8{{nbsp}}December 2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roy-cheetham-obituary-man-city-17389568|title=Former Man City player Roy Cheetham dies at the age of 79|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-date=13 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913160342/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roy-cheetham-obituary-man-city-17389568|url-status=live}} was an English footballer who played for Manchester City, Detroit Cougars, Charlton Athletic and Chester.

Career

As a boy Cheetham watched Manchester City and Manchester United on alternate Saturdays.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/12/22/sfnrp22.xml | title= The day Fred Eyre laid on a goal for mighty Puskas | work=The Daily Telegraph | accessdate=2007-12-22 | location=London | first=Robert | last=Philip | date=22 December 2006}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} His career began when he signed for Manchester City as an amateur in 1956. Later that year he turned professional. He made his debut in the 1957–58 season in a 2–1 win against Luton Town. In the following match he was given a torrid time by Arsenal's Jimmy Bloomfield, and returned to the reserves.{{cite book |last=Wallace|first=Dave |title=Century City – Manchester City Football Club 1957/58 |publisher=King of the Kippax |year=2007 |location=Leigh |isbn=978-0-9557056-0-1}} p205 The following season he began to play more regularly, and he progressed to make 137 first team appearances over the course of a decade.

On 30 August 1965 he became the first Manchester City player to be used as a substitute, replacing Mike Summerbee in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City - The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |location=Derby |year=2006 |isbn=1-85983-512-0}} p522

He played for the Division One championship-winning side in 1967–68, although he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal. He moved to Detroit Cougars of the NASL in January 1968. During his season in Detroit he scored three penalties in a single match against Dallas.{{cite news | title=Roy Cheetham | work=Manchester City FC Match programme | date=15 August 2007 }} In total, Cheetham made 17 apps in the NASL.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/C/Cheetham.Roy.htm |title=NASL career stats |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010025905/http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/C/Cheetham.Roy.htm |url-status=live }} He then returned to England, signing for Charlton Athletic. He did not make any first team appearances for Charlton, and transferred to Chester in December 1968, where he became club penalty taker.{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= 83 |isbn=1-874427-52-6}} He made 124 league appearances at Chester before leaving in 1972, with his final appearance being a goalless draw at home to Crewe Alexandra on 22 April 1972. This marked the end of his Football League career. A second spell in North America followed in the form of a period at Windsor Stars in Canada.

In 1999 Cheetham made a trip to Budapest to meet childhood hero Ferenc Puskás, and in 2006 represented Manchester City at Puskás' funeral. As of 2007, Cheetham was treasurer of Manchester City's Former Players' Association.{{cite web|title=City pay respects to Puskas|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/230/230137_city_pay_respects_to_puskas.html|accessdate=2007-12-22|work=Manchester Evening News}}

Managerial career

He later managed non-league club Great Harwood Town. In 1975, he became the player-coach for Windsor Stars in the National Soccer League, and secured the Second Division title for the club.{{Cite web|last=Knack|first=Marty|date=16 October 1975|title=Cheetham is anxious to return to Stars|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/502218319/?terms=Roy+Cheetham|access-date=2020-08-22|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Windsor Star|page=56|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=November 18, 1975|title=Stars starting early|page=22|work=Windsor Star}} He re-signed for the 1976 season as Windsor was promoted to the First Division, but was relieved from his duties on 5 August 1976.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Dave|date=23 March 1976|title=Stars' soccer season just around corner|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/502165435/?terms=doug+pollard+london+city|access-date=2020-08-22|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Windsor Star|page=27|language=en|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028153533/http://www.newspapers.com/image/502165435/?terms=doug+pollard+london+city|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Dave|date=5 August 1976|title=Soccer Stars fire coach|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/502445300/?terms=Roy+Cheetham|access-date=2020-08-22|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Windsor Star|page=36|language=en|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028153531/http://www.newspapers.com/image/502445300/?terms=Roy+Cheetham|url-status=live}}