Phil Roberts

DOB: 7th April 1994

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 2022/23

Season of last appearance: 2023/24

Full Appearances: 25

Substitute: 5

Goals: 6

Also played for:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Falkirk, Dundee, Alloa Athletic, Sligo Rovers, Chelmsford City, Chesham United, Braintree Town, Hemel Hempstead Town, Dartford, Wealdstone, Hayes & Yeading United, Romford, Welling United, Brentwood Town, Tilbury.

Player Profile:

Born in Newham, striker Phil played at youth level for Charlton before being released. After a trial at Liverpool, he ended up playing for Norwich City’s U18 team at the age of 16. It was about this time that he played for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Phil joined Arsenal in June 2010 on scholarship terms. In his first season he scored four goals in 15 appearances at under-18 level for the Gunners. During 2011-12, he notched nine goals in 23 matches for the under-18s and was their top scorer. He also made four appearances for the reserves, scoring once against Wolves. At the start of the 2012–13 season, he joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle on loan. 

On 22.9.2012, Phil made his professional debut for Inverness in the Scottish Premier League at Hibs, coming on as a second half sub in a 2-2 draw. Seven days later, he scored in a 4-0 home win over Dundee United. 

Phil played in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup against Hearts at Easter Road on 26.1.2013. The match finished in a 1-1 draw and went to a penalty shoot-out. Phil missed his kick allowing Hearts to win 5-4 and go to the final.

He was released by Arsenal at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Phil’s next club was Falkirk of the Scottish Championship and he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Livingston on 24.8.2013. On 23.3.2014, Phil was sent off in a 3-0 defeat against Alloa after an incident with opposing player Michael Doyle and was given a six-match ban. This was to be his last appearance for Falkirk with Phil’s contract cancelled by mutual consent.

Phil then signed for Dundee who had just been promoted to the Scottish Premier League. In February 2015, he was loaned to Alloa and his contract with Dundee was terminated by mutual consent in August 2015.

Irish club Sligo Rovers was Phil’s next destination, signing for them in February 2016. He returned to England in January 2017, joining Chelmsford City of National League South from where he was loaned to Chesham United.

Phil began the 2017-18 campaign at Braintree Town. He scored 17 league goals for the Iron but returned to Chelmsford in February 2018.

Phil started the 2018-19 season at Hemel Hempstead Town before joining Dartford. He left the Darts in April 2019 after he failed to turn up for a game against Weston-super-Mare.

In August 2019, Phil signed for Wealdstone. Short spells with Hayes & Yeading United and Romford followed before he signed for Welling United in January 2020.

After a short spell at Brentwood Town, Phil started a third stint at Chelmsford City in October 2020 which ended in February 2021. Phil then signed for Tilbury in August 2021.

He joined Margate in January 2023, making his debut on 7.1.2023 in a 3-3 draw at home to Brightlingsea. His first goal for the club came in a 1-1 draw at home to Bowers & Pitsea on 24.1.2023. He finished the 2022-23 season with two goals from 14 appearances (none as sub).

In the summer of 2023, Phil was handed a player-coach role. The 2023-24 season started well for Phil as he scored both goals in a 2-1 win at home to Whitehawk on 12.8.2023. A further strike followed in a 2-1 home defeat against Cheshunt on 25.8.2023.

Phil went off injured in the opening minutes of a 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Chesham on 30.9.2023 and he did not make another appearance until 11.11.2023 when he came on as a sub in a 2-2 draw at Dulwich. He made several more sub appearances before he left Hartsdown in December 2023. His tally for 2023-24 was four goals from 16 appearances (five as sub).