Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Roger Released
Roger Released
Tuesday, 11th May 2004 00:00

Roger One Of The Released List

Roger Freestone - The Swansea Story

A Swansea story that was started by Ian Evans way back in September 1989 was ended by Kenny Jackett this morning in a ten minute meeting at the Vetch. It was a career at the Vetch that included a third division championship, an autoglass final win and possibly the proudest moment of his career when he won his only Welsh senior cap against Brazil at the Millennium Stadium.

He signed permanently for the club in 1991 when Frank Burrows bought him back to his native Wales from a largely unhappy spell at Chelsea, paying £45,000 for his services. The highlight of the career at Stamford Bridge was an old second division title win in 1989.

Roger was widely recognised as one, if not the, best keeper in the lower divisions and attracted interest from higher division clubs during his time at the Vetch but always turned down potential moves away from the Vetch - his love for the club and his country keeping him this side of the Severn Bridge.

Standing second in the list of league appearances for the Swans, Roger was also part of the most successful defence that Swansea have ever had - keeping 22 league clean sheets in the championship season of 1990.

He was also on target 3 times for the Swans in the 1990s when he took over penalty duties under Frank Burrows making him the most prolific goalkeeper Swansea have ever had on the books.

The likes of Roger Freestone will not be repeated in a hurry and I suspect that his record of appearances for the club will be bettered by very few over the course of the next 100 years and, indeed have been bettered by very few of his fellow professionals in the modern game.

Roger Freestone is, and will always remain, a Swansea legend.

Click Here To Leave Your Messages Of Thanks To Roger

Roger Freestone Swansea Appearances

SeasonLeagueLeague CupFA CupWelsh CupLDVPlay OffsFAW
1989/9014001100
1991/9242233200
1992/9346251320
1993/9446426800
1994/9544+1455400
1995/9645210300
1996/9745220230
1997/9843210103
1998/9938250224
1999/0046420200
2000/0143210305
2001/0243120103
2002/0333110101
2003/0435+2050001
Totals563+328351633717

Clean Sheets And Goals (Not including FAW Cup)

SeasonLeague Clean SheetsOther Clean SheetsGoals
1989/90600
1991/92640
1992/931930
1993/941180
1994/951791
1995/961012
1996/971310
1997/981400
1998/991260
1999/002220
2000/011030
2001/021210
2002/03700
2003/041110

Total Swansea Appearances: 699 & 3 as sub

Total Swansea Goals: 3

League Clean Sheets: 170

Total Career Appearances: 773 & 3 as sub

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Arsenal Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024