Roger Freestone
FullnameRoger Freestone
Height6 ft 2 in[1]
Birth date19 August 1968 (age 58)
Birth placeCaerleon, Wales
PositionGoalkeeper
Years 11986–1987
Years 21987–1991
Years 31989
Years 41990
Years 51991–2004
Years 62004
Clubs 1Newport County
Clubs 2Chelsea
Clubs 3→ Swansea City (loan)
Clubs 4→ Hereford United (loan)
Clubs 5Swansea City
Clubs 6Newport County
Caps 113
Caps 242
Caps 314
Caps 48
Caps 5552
Caps 614
Goals 10
Goals 20
Goals 30
Goals 40
Goals 53
Goals 60
Totalcaps643
Totalgoals3
Nationalyears 11990
Nationalyears 22000
Nationalteam 1Wales U21
Nationalteam 2Wales
Nationalcaps 11
Nationalcaps 21
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalgoals 20
Manageryears 12002
Managerclubs 1Swansea City

Roger Freestone (born 19 August 1968) is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He has the distinction of being one of a relatively small group of footballers to play 500 English Football League matches for one club, the only other Welshmen being Ryan Giggs, Neville Southall, Herbie Williams and Len Weare.

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 Niedzwiecki, 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.[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.

Personal life

Upon retiring from football in 2004, Freestone began working as a delivery driver for Tuffnells. In an interview with Swansea City's official website in 2016, Freestone confirmed that he was still working in the same delivery role.[9]

Career statistics

Club performanceLeagueCupTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
EnglandLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
1986–87Newport CountyDivision 3130--130
1986–87ChelseaDivision 160--60
1987–8815020170
1988–89Division 2210--20230
1989–90Division 100--00
1989–90Hereford United (Loan)Division 480--80
1989–90Swansea City (Loan)Division 3140--140
1990–91ChelseaDivision 100--00
1991–92Swansea CityDivision 3420--420
1992–93Division 2460--460
1993–94460--460
1994–95451--20471
1995–96452--–-452
1996–97Division 34500020470
1997–984301020460
1998–993805020450
1999–20004602040520
2000–01Division 24301020460
2001–02Division 34302010460
2002–033301010350
2003–043705000420
2004–05Newport CountyConference South140--140
TotalEngland64331901806803
Career total64331901806803

Honours

Chelsea

Swansea City

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" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  3. ^ "Keeper Freestone leaves Newport" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  4. ^ "Swansea City - 18 - Roger Freestone". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Centurion de Vries loving Swansea". BBC News. 23 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Swansea 3–0 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Wales vs Brazil match report" Dragonsoccer Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  8. ^ "Mark Aizlewood:"No cause for celebration" BBC Sport Retrieved on 3 November 2007
  9. ^ "Where are they now? Roger Freestone". Swansea City FC. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  10. ^ Fox, Norman (25 May 1997). "Football: Swansea run over by Frain". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media. Archived 27 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 May 2020.