page_title: Mark Roberts (footballer, born 1983)
section_title: Stevenage
hierarchical_section_title: Mark Roberts (footballer, born 1983) / Career / Stevenage
caption_attribution_description: English: Mark Roberts
context_page_description: Mark Alan Roberts is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Warrington Town.
  Roberts started his career at Crewe Alexandra at the age of 11, and progressed through the youth ranks at the club; signing a professional contract with The Railwaymen at the age of 19. He played six times during his seven years on the club's books, and was sent out on loan six times during his spell at the club. Following a loan spell at his hometown club, Northwich Victoria, he joined the club on a permanent basis in 2007. Roberts played 20 games for the Cheshire club during the second half of the 2006–07 season, before returning to the Football League with Accrington Stanley in summer 2007. He played 37 games for the club, before being loaned out to his former club, Northwich Victoria, a move which was later made permanent.
  During the 2008–09 season, Roberts joined Stevenage on an initial one-month loan deal, before signing permanently in January 2009 for an undisclosed fee. He was made team captain ahead of the 2009–10 season, a campaign in which Roberts would help lead the side to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.
context_section_description: In November 2008, Roberts started for Northwich in a 1–1 draw at Broadhall Way in a match between Northwich and Stevenage, he subsequently joined the Hertfordshire club on loan a week after the match. The deal was made permanent on 1 January 2009, after impressing Graham Westley during his one-month loan spell. He scored his first Stevenage goal in a 2–0 FA Trophy win away to Farnborough, as well as scoring his second goal for the club in Stevenage's 4–0 win against Forest Green Rovers. He scored his first league goal for the club in a 2–1 victory away to Altrincham, scoring a stoppage time goal to ensure Stevenage left Moss Lane with three points. Roberts followed this up with another goal in Stevenage's next away fixture, heading in the only goal of the game to give Stevenage a 1–0 win at Northwich Victoria, his former employers. He was sent off in the club's 2–1 home win against Cambridge United in April 2009, and continued to play regularly as Stevenage made the play-offs as a result of finishing in the final play-off place. He scored in the semi-final first leg against Cambridge United, heading in Steve Morison's ball across goal, but could not prevent Stevenage from losing 4–3 on aggregate over two legs. Roberts was awarded Stevenage's Player of the Year at the end of the season despite only joining the club in late November 2008. He also started in all seven of the club's successful FA Trophy campaign during that season, scoring twice in the process and playing in the team's 2–0 win against York City in the Final. In May 2009, it was announced that Roberts would be team captain for the 2009–10 season. On Roberts' appointment as captain, Stevenage manager Graham Westley said "Roberts is a natural leader who leads in the best way – by example. He is the obvious choice."
  Roberts formed a formidable centre-back pairing with Jon Ashton the following season as the team started putting a decent run of form together during late August and throughout September 2009; with the defence being particularly tight. He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season on his 50th appearance for the club, giving Stevenage the lead in a 3–1 victory over Salisbury City in October 2009. A month later, he doubled his goal tally, scoring the second goal in Stevenage's 2–0 victory against Chester City, before notching his third goal of the season in a 6–0 win over Vauxhall Motors in the FA Trophy. Roberts' fourth goal of the campaign came during another 6–0 win, this time at Eastbourne Borough, side-footing the ball into the net from a well-worked free-kick. He scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3–0 win over AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow, sliding the ball into the net from close range. Roberts led the side out in their 2–0 win against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough in April 2010; the game that ultimately secured promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history, winning the league with two games to spare. Roberts played 49 times during the season, scoring five times from defence. He was also named as the Conference Premier Player of the Month for April 2010. Stevenage had the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 24 goals in 46 league matches, as well as ending the season having not conceded in their last six games; and conceding just two goals in their last 15 league matches. In May 2010, Roberts signed a new two-year contract with Stevenage. On signing the new deal, Roberts said "there was never any doubt that I wanted to stay here, I love the club and love the fans. It will be a privilege to lead the team in the Football League". At the Football Conference's Annual Presentation Dinner, he was named in the Team of the Year, alongside fellow Stevenage defenders Ronnie Henry and Scott Laird.
  Roberts captained the side in the club's first ever Football League fixture at the beginning of the 2010–11 season, playing the whole game in a 2–2 home draw with Macclesfield Town. He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season in Stevenage's 3–0 away win at local rivals Barnet in November 2010. His second 
caption: Roberts playing for Stevenage Borough in 2009
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