William Laurence Roberts (9 May 1897 – 7 September 1960) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
[1] Roberts played a single game for South Melbourne in Round 2 of the 1923 season against Fitzroy.
[2] Investigations revealed he had been granted a permit to move from North Adelaide to Fitzroy using the name “W.
[3] Roberts claimed he had no knowledge of this 1921 permit but the League refused his request for a permit to move to Port Melbourne and his senior football career ended.
In early 1922, Roberts was arrested for stealing a £10 note,[4] and subsequently sentenced to 12 months hard labour in Goulburn gaol.