Marc Roberts

Marc Roberts (born 26 July 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Barnsley. Roberts began his career in non-league football, with Wakefield, Worksop Town, Buxton and FC Halifax Town, and was capped for England C, the team that represents England at semi-professional level. He joined League One club Barnsley in 2015, helped them gain promotion to the Championship, and captained the team. He signed for Birmingham in July 2017.

Roberts was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and raised in Penistone, where he attended Penistone Grammar School. He played football for Barnsley Boys and for Barnsley College, and as a 17-year-old was offered a trial with Barnsley F.C. but a broken ankle prevented his taking part.

Roberts began his senior football career with Wakefield of the Northern Premier League Division One North in 2008. After 17 first-team appearances, he had a trial with then Championship club Crystal Palace, on the recommendation of Wakefield manager Ronnie Glavin. No deal ensued, and Roberts returned to Wakefield to complete a season in which he won the Directors' Player of the Season award. In 2009–10, he won both Players' and Supporters' Player of the Season awards. In both campaigns, he won more man-of-the-match awards than any other Wakefield player. In 2011, he moved up a division, signing for Worksop Town.

A few weeks into the season, manager Martin McIntosh was sacked; he took over at another Premier Division club, Buxton, in February 2012, and promptly took Roberts on loan. Roberts played his part in Buxton avoiding relegation, and returned to Worksop where he appeared on the winning side in the Sheffield Senior Cup final. For 2012–13, Worksop's manager felt he had better defensive lineups without Roberts, who was keen to play regularly, so he was allowed to rejoin Buxton on loan for the season. He took his statistics to 5 goals from 65 appearances in all competitions, and was named Buxton's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, as well as gaining selection for the Northern Premier League Premier Division Team of the Year. Roberts signed a permanent contract with Buxton in June 2013; although his Worksop contract had expired, a development fee was payable because of his age.

A month later, Roberts moved to FC Halifax Town, newly promoted to the Conference Premier.