Bill Roffey

William Robert Roffey (born Stepney, Greater London, 6 February 1954)[1] is an English former footballer, who played as a defender.

Bill Roffey
Personal information
Full name William Robert Roffey
Date of birth (1954-02-06) 6 February 1954
Place of birth Stepney, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
?–1971 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1973 Crystal Palace 24 (0)
1973–1984 Leyton Orient 328 (8)
1983–1984 → Brentford (loan) 13 (1)
1984–1986 Millwall 37 (2)
1988 Barnet 1 (0)
1988–1991 Leixões ? (?)
1991–1992 Margate 38 (3)
1992–1994 Canterbury City ? (?)
1994–1995 Margate 35 (0)
1995–1996 Tonbridge Angels ? (?)
Teams managed
1994 Canterbury City (Player-manager)
1994–1995 Margate (Player-manager)
1995–1997 Tonbridge Angels (Player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

League career

Roffey began his youth career at Crystal Palace signing professionally in May 1971.[1] In October 1973,[1] he moved on to Leyton Orient, for whom he made 328 appearances in eleven years. Whilst at Orient, Roffey was part of the side that reached the FA Cup semi final in 1978,[2] where the team lost 3–0 to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. After a loan period at Brentford in 1984, (13 games, one goal), he finished his Football League career at Millwall, for whom he made 37 appearances over the next two seasons scoring twice. Roffey made a total of 401 league appearances between 1972 and 1986.[3]

Later career

Roffey then had a spell away from football before moving into non-league football with Barnet in 1988, (2 appearances).[2][4] He then spent three seasons with Leixões of Portugal before retiring at the end of the 1990–91 season.[2] However, in 1991, Roffey joined former Leyton Orient playing colleague, Tommy Taylor, then manager at Margate, and went on to make 38 appearances in season 1991–92, scoring three times.[2] For 1992–93, Roffey joined Canterbury City where he stayed until 1994 including a brief stint as player-manager.[2] He then returned to Margate as manager but despite having retired after leaving Canterbury City, continued as a player, making 35 appearances in season 1994–95, without scoring.[2] In 1995 Roffey moved to Tonbridge Angels where he initially worked as assistant-manager alongside Phil Emblem. However, during the season, Roffey replaced Emblem as manager and also made playing appearances, mainly as a substitute. Roffey continued to serve Tonbridge as manager until October 1997 when he resigned and ended his involvement with football.[2]

References
  1. Mike Purkiss & Nigel Sands. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. p. 338. ISBN 0907969542.
  2. "Bill Roffey". www.margatefchistory. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  3. Hugman, Barry J. (1984). Canon League Football Players' Records 1946–1984. Newnes Books. p. 409. ISBN 0-600-37318-5.
  4. "Bill Roffey". Downhill Second Half – A Barnet FC Archive. Retrieved 25 December 2020.


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