Jason Roberts MBE

Before he was a professional footballer, Jason Roberts was a fan.

Through the subtle art of diligence, reflection, and perseverance, Jason Roberts didn’t just play the game — he changed it.

EARLY LIFE

For Jason Roberts, the Borough of Brent conjures up memories of football, family, and the two intertwined. ‘The Football Kid’, as he was known in his local community, was born in Park Royal into a family of intergenerational athletic talent. His family, whose generations before moved to London from Grenada, settled into the Stonebridge Estate; Jason was never more than a few doors down from extended family, including aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

As a young boy attending Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School in Harlesden, Jason witnessed his three uncles — Cyrille Regis MBE, Otis Roberts, and Dave Regis — forge their way into the professional ranks at a time when football culture did not readily embrace them. Their collective experiences spanning top flight, second division, and international football for Grenada and England shaped Jason’s views on identity and football from an early age. He was just six when he began following in his uncles’ footsteps,

Career highlights

Jason Roberts’ career began with non-league side Hayes in 1995, following in his uncle Cyrille Regis’ MBE footsteps. As the only full-time signing, Jason attended one-man training sessions daily, working one on one with then-coach Terry Brown. After two years and 35 appearances, the Striker signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1997. That same year, he was called up to Grenada on international duty – an opportunity he welcomed without hesitation. Jason spent the next ten years representing Grenada, scoring 13 goals in 15 appearances.

Domestically, Jason went on loan to Torquay United and Bristol Rovers, before making headlines in 2000 when he signed for West Bromwich Albion for a club-record sining fee of £2m. A threat to any defence, he scored a combined 62 goals during his time at Bristol and WBA. In 2004, Jason signed for Wigan Athletic and announced his presence with a goal just 35 seconds into his debut. The following season, Wigan earned automatic promotion to the Premier League, and Jason was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Season. From 2006-2014, Jason played with Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, where he netted 24 goals and his marksman reputation was maintained. With an acclaimed career spanning nearly two decades, Jason retired in 2014.

As the first professional footballer to establish a charitable foundation, Jason Roberts was at the forefront of athlete activism in English football when he established the Jason Roberts Foundation in 2007. Chief amongst his priorities was to support the Stonebridge Estate community and Grenada. In 2010, Jason Roberts was awarded an MBE for his services to sport — an acknowledgement he humbly received and dedicated to the Foundation’s volunteers.

Jason Roberts’ loyalty to the game, and its betterment for future generations, is such that he remains involved at every level as the Director of Development for the Confederation of Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), media pundit, member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, and provider of the Jason Roberts Scholarship to the Global Institute of Sport, in collaboration with the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB).