Graham Roberts

Graham Roberts 04/02/1995 - 25/01/1998

Played 154, Won 79, Drew 37, Lost 38, Win Rate 51.30%

Graham Roberts was appointed by Yeovil in February 1995 when relegation to the Isthmian League was a strong possibility. Following a few seasons flirting with going down, and continuing financial issues around the club, Roberts had experience at the lower level as manager of Enfield. He was a player at Stevenage Borough at the time, and despite leaving for Yeovil, Stevenage demanded a fee for his playing services which Yeovil would not pay. Roberts was a frustrated onlooker as Yeovil were relegated without him being able to get on the pitch.

Born in Southampton in July 1959, Roberts made his name at Tottenham Hotspur in the early 1980’s winning the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once. He moved to Glasgow Rangers tasting success there too, before Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion. He was also capped six times by England.

Roberts rebuilt the Yeovil team with players he knew, installing Micky Engwell as his captain. Players were very loyal to Roberts and he was to them. He played hard, and sometimes overstepped the mark, landing him in trouble. It took him two seasons to return Yeovil to the Conference, and some tough battles were fought along the way, most notably with his former club Enfield. A mid-week game at Huish Park attracting over 8000 fans, with several thousand locked out, took even Roberts by surprise.

He left in early 1998 and managed other Isthmian League clubs before a spell with Clyde in Scotland and jobs with the Pakistan and Nepalese national teams.