Roger Freestone
Roger Freestone (born 19 August 1968) is a
Roger Freestone
Welsh former international footballer who played
as a goalkeeper. He has the distinction of being Personal information
one of a relatively small group of footballers to Full name Roger Freestone
play 500 English Football League matches for one Date of birth 19 August 1968
club, the only other Welshmen being Ryan Giggs, Place of birth Caerleon, Wales
Neville Southall and Len Weare. Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Club career Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Newport County 13 (0)
Born in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire,
1987–1991 Chelsea 42 (0)
Freestone began his career at Newport County as a
trainee before moving to Chelsea in 1987 for 1989 → Swansea City (loan) 14 (0)
£95,000. During his time there he was never the 1990 → Hereford United (loan) 8 (0)
established first choice, being behind Eddie 1991–2004 Swansea City 552 (3)
Niedzwiecki, Kevin Hitchcock and Dave Beasant, 2004 Newport County 14 (0)
and was loaned out to Swansea City and Hereford Total 643 (3)
United. He eventually joined Swansea on a International career
permanent deal in 1991, for a fee of £45,000, and 1990 Wales U21 1 (0)
went on to spend over a decade, the majority of his 2000 Wales 1 (0)
career, at the Welsh club. Managerial career
2002 Swansea City
In 2001 a rumoured move to rivals Cardiff City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
was met with anger from Swansea fans as they did
not want to lose him.[2] 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[3] 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.[4]
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,[5] until Dorus de Vries broke the record in the 2009–10
season.[6]
International career
Freestone played for Wales at schoolboy, under-21 and B level before winning his first and only cap
against Brazil in 2000.[7]
Management career
Freestone had a short-lived stint as manager at Swansea along with Nick Cusack.[8] 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
Newport
1986–87 Division 3 13 0 - - 13 0
County
1986–87 6 0 - - 6 0
Division 1
1987–88 15 0 2 0 17 0
Chelsea
1988–89 Division 2 21 0 - - 2 0 23 0
1989–90 Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0
Hereford
1989–90 United Division 4 8 0 - - 8 0
(Loan)
Swansea
1989–90 Division 3 14 0 - - 14 0
City (Loan)
1990–91 Chelsea Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0
1991–92 Division 3 42 0 - - 42 0
1992–93 46 0 - - 46 0
1993–94 46 0 - - 46 0
Division 2
1994–95 45 1 - - 2 0 47 1
1995–96 45 2 - - – - 45 2
1996–97 45 0 0 0 2 0 47 0
1997–98 Swansea 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
City Division 3
1998–99 38 0 5 0 2 0 45 0
1999–
46 0 2 0 4 0 52 0
2000
2000–01 Division 2 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
2001–02 43 0 2 0 1 0 46 0
2002–03 Division 3 33 0 1 0 1 0 35 0
2003–04 37 0 5 0 0 0 42 0
Newport Conference
2004–05 14 0 - - 14 0
County South
Total England 643 3 19 0 18 0 680 3
Career total 643 3 19 0 18 0 680 3
Honours
Chelsea
Football League Second Division: 1988–89
Swansea City
Football League Third Division: 1999–2000
Football League Trophy: 1993–94
FAW Premier Cup runner-up: 2000–01, 2001–02
Football League Third Division play-offs runner-up: 1997[9]
References
1. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne
Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
2. "Hollins hits out" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1330888.stm) BBC Sport Retrieved
on 3 November 2007
3. "Keeper Freestone leaves Newport" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wale
s/4046361.stm) BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
4. "Swansea City - 18 - Roger Freestone" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153455/htt
p://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=161805). Archived from the original (htt
p://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=161805) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved
23 October 2009.
5. "Centurion de Vries loving Swansea" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swans
ea_city/8321595.stm). BBC News. 23 October 2009.
6. "Swansea 3–0 Scunthorpe" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8595494.st
m). BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
7. "Wales vs Brazil match report" (http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/matches/fr_00003.htm#matc
h%20details) Dragonsoccer Retrieved on 3 November 2007
8. "Mark Aizlewood:"No cause for celebration" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/bbc_pundits/19
07333.stm) BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
9. Fox, Norman (25 May 1997). "Football: Swansea run over by Frain" (https://www.independe
nt.co.uk/sport/football-swansea-run-over-by-frain-1263330.html). The Independent.
Independent Digital News & Media. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2018102700252
1/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-swansea-run-over-by-frain-1263330.html)
from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
External links
Roger Freestone (https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=2670) at
Soccerbase
Wales stats (http://www.11v11.com/players/roger-freestone-1275/) at 11v11
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roger_Freestone&oldid=1252595185"
