[1] His playing career came before the advent of League football and his greatest success at club level was in the Welsh Cup, where he scored the only goal in the final of the 1882–83 tournament, thus enabling Wrexham to defeat Druids and claim the trophy for the second time.
[2] He and his brother, Bob, made their international debuts on 27 February 1886 against Ireland in the opening match of the 1886 British Home Championship.
The match ended as a 5–0 victory for the Welsh, with Bill Roberts scoring the opening goal.
After an injury to Robert Mills-Roberts in the warm-up for that match (which Wales lost 4–0)[4] the Roberts brothers were both recalled for the match against Ireland in March 1887, with Bob serving as an emergency goalkeeper.
This match was the finale to the brothers' international careers with Bob conceding four goals.