Brian Roche

DOB: 9th August 1943

Position: Winger

Season of first appearance: 1961/62

Season of last appearance: 1962/63

Full Appearances: 21

Substitute: 0

Goals: 3

Also played for:

West Ham United (0), Dagenham, Hitchin Town, Gravesend & Northfleet, Sittingbourne.

Player Profile:

West Ham-born younger brother of Johnny Roche who began his career as a junior at West Ham before moving to Margate in the summer of 1961.

Brian was a leading light in the reserves during the 1961/62 season and scored ten times in 30 appearances for them. He also made four first-team appearances, making his debut in a 3-2 win over Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 30.10.61. He scored once - a superb volley in a 4-1 home win over Burton on 23.4.62.

During the 1962/63 season, Brian made a further 17 appearances and scored twice. That was despite a short period during the campaign when he left the club and played for Dagenham. One of Brian's goals was a header scored while he was on his knees in a 3-3 draw with Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 8.12.62 and he generally put in lively displays despite being a little "lightweight" according to the local paper. On 7.5.63, he played as Margate won 2-0 at Maidstone in the 1st Leg of the Kent Floodlight Cup Final but, at the end of the season, he was released after Margate had won the Southern League Division One title.

Brian joined Isthmian League outfit Hitchin Town for the start of the 1963/64 campaign and played regularly during the season.

Brian's next move took him to Gravesend & Northfleet where he made four first-team appearances without scoring during the 1964/65 season, playing alongside his brother.

Brian moved on to Sittingbourne for 1965/66, along with Johnny.

In 2010, Brian was living in Wickford, Essex.