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Roger Freestone

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Roger Freestone
Personal information
Full name Roger Freestone
Date of birth (1968-08-19) 19 August 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Caerleon, Wales
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Newport County 13 (0)
1987–1991 Chelsea 42 (0)
1989 → Swansea City (loan) 14 (0)
1990 → Hereford United (loan) 8 (0)
1991–2004 Swansea City 549 (3)
2004 Newport County 14 (0)
Total 640 (3)
International career
1990 Wales U21 1 (0)
2000 Wales 1 (0)
Managerial career
2002 Swansea City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roger Freestone (born 19 August 1968) is a former Wales international goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire, Freestone began his career at Newport County as a trainee before moving to Chelsea in 1987 for £95,000. During his time there he was never the established first choice, being behind Eddie Niedzwicki, Kevin Hitchcock and Dave Beasant, and was loaned out to Swansea City and Hereford United. He eventually joined Swansea on a permanent deal in 1991, for a fee of £45,000, and went on to spend over a decade, the majority of his career, at the Welsh club.

In 2001 a rumoured move to rivals Cardiff City was met with anger from Swansea fans as they did not want to lose him.[1] He left the club after thirteen years and went on to sign for Newport County in 2004, but his contract was cancelled several months later by mutual consent owing to recurring injury problems[2] and he eventually retired.

The way in which he left Swansea City angered a lot of fans. Then-manager Kenny Jackett said he made a tough choice in releasing Roger Freestone and the supporters felt they had missed an opportunity to give a proper send-off that he deserved for his contribution.[3]

Freestone is considered a legend among Swansea fans. In 1995 he briefly became the clubs penalty taker, where he converted three out of three spot-kicks. His talent as a shot stopper lead to him keeping 22 clean sheets in a season, which was a club record,[4] until Dorus de Vries broke the record in the 2009–10 season.[5] Such is his status as a Swans hero, when debutant replacement keeper Willy Guéret conceded two goals, the fans started chanting their regular Roger Roger chant towards the Frenchman. In May 2003 Freestone was granted a testimonial for the Swans, against his former club Chelsea. Despite fielding a team of mainly youngsters, Chelsea won the game 2-1. Freestone played both in goal and, for a brief time, up front, with around 4,000 fans of both sides at the Vetch Field. In 2002 Freestone had his life documented by leading Welsh author Keith Haynes in a heavily publisher edited book titled Another Day At The Office

International career

Freestone played for Wales at schoolboy, under-21 and B level before winning his first and only cap against Brazil in 2000.[6]

Management career

Freestone had a short-lived stint as manager at Swansea along with Nick Cusack.[7] He currently manages youth side, Risca & Gelli United in the Islwyn Youth League.

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
1986/87 Newport County Division 3 13 0 - - 13 0
1986/87 Chelsea Division 1 6 0 - - 6 0
1987/88 21 0 2 0 23 0
1988/89 Division 2 21 0 - - 2 0 23 0
1989/90 Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0
1989/90 Hereford United (Loan) Division 4 8 0 - - 8 0
1989/90 Swansea City (Loan) Division 3 14 0 - - 14 0
1990/91 Chelsea Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0
1991/92 Swansea City Division 3 42 0 - - 42 0
1992/93 Division 2 46 0 - - 46 0
1993/94 46 0 - - 46 0
1994/95 45 1 - - 2 0 47 1
1995/96 45 2 - - - - 45 2
1996/97 Division 3 45 0 0 0 2 0 47 0
1997/98 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
1998/99 42 0 5 0 2 0 49 0
1999/2000 46 0 2 0 4 0 52 0
2000/01 Division 2 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
2001/02 Division 3 43 0 2 0 1 0 46 0
2002/03 33 0 1 0 1 0 35 0
2003/04 34 0 5 0 0 0 39 0
2004/05 Newport County Conference South 14 0 - - 14 0
Total England 640 3 17 0 14 0 687 3
Career total 640 3 17 0 14 0 687 3

Honours

Chelsea

Swansea City

References

  1. ^ "Hollins hits out" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  2. ^ "Keeper Freestone leaves Newport" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  3. ^ http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=161805
  4. ^ "Centurion de Vries loving Swansea". BBC News. 23 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Swansea 3-0 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Wales vs Brazil match report" Dragonsoccer Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  7. ^ "Mark Aizlewood:"No cause for celebration" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
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