Kevin_Rogers_(footballer)

Kevin Rogers (footballer)

Kevin Rogers (footballer)

Welsh footballer and manager

Kevin Penry Rogers (born 23 September 1963) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Birmingham City[1] and Wrexham.[2] He played in the European Cup Winners' Cup for both Wrexham and Merthyr Tydfil.

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Football career

Rogers was born in Merthyr Tydfil. When he left school in 1979, he joined Aston Villa as an apprentice, and turned professional two years later.[3] He remained with the club for two years as a professional, without playing for the first team, then joined Birmingham City on a free transfer in April 1983.[4] Rogers made his debut in the First Division on 5 November 1983, coming on as substitute for Mick Harford in a 2–1 home defeat to Coventry City. He started eight league games, including the last five games of the 1983–84 season,[5] but failed to impress, and was allowed to join Fourth Division Wrexham in July 1984.[3]

Wrexham had won the Welsh Cup in 1984, so qualified for the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Drawn against Porto in the first round, Rogers contributed to a 1–0 win in the home leg[6] and then a 4–3 defeat in the away leg – in which he missed a good chance to make the score 4–4 – to go through to the next round on away goals.[7] He played in both legs as Wrexham went out 3–0 on aggregate to Roma in the second round.[8][9] After 35 league games, in which he scored three goals,[2] Rogers moved into non-league football in Wales, first with Rhyl and then with Merthyr Tydfil.[3]

Merthyr, then a Southern League Midland Division club, won the Welsh Cup in 1987, defeating Newport County, then a Football League club, after a replay.[10] Rogers played in both legs of the final, alongside former England international Bob Latchford, who won his only piece of silverware with this victory.[11] The Welsh Cup winners qualified for the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Drawn against Italian representatives Atalanta in the first round, Rogers, described as "gifted with considerable accuracy with his left foot", scored one of the goals which gave the Welsh club a 2–1 victory in the home leg,[12] though they lost the away leg 2–0 and so were eliminated.[13] Rogers played for Merthyr well into the 1990s, by which time they had risen to the Conference, and captained the club.[14]

In 2006, he was appointed assistant to Brian Sparks as manager of Troedyrhiw, then playing in the Second Division of the Welsh League,[15] and remained in post when Cohen Griffith took over as manager and the club were relegated to the Third Division.[16] When Griffith stepped down in May 2009, Rogers took over as manager,[17] but left the post early the following year.[18]

References

  1. [1]
    "Birmingham City : 1947/48–2007/08". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  2. [2]
    "Wrexham : 1947/48–2007/08". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  3. [3]
    Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. [4]
    "Rogers, Kevin". Aston Villa Player Database. Jörn Mårtensson. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  5. [5]
    Matthews, p. 219.
  6. [6]
    Harling, Nicholas (20 September 1984). "Wrexham's triumph one for folklore". The Times. p. 24.
  7. [7]
    "Giantkiller urges Barry to be positive". BBC Sport. 24 July 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  8. [8]
    White, Clive (25 October 1984). "Wrexham could yet repay debit". The Times. p. 27.
  9. [9]
    White, Clive (8 November 1984). "Wrexham too eager for their own good". The Times. p. 25.
  10. [10]
    "Welsh Cup Final 1986/87". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  11. [11]
    Phillips, Terry (15 May 2007). "Merthyr Cup win has its 20th birthday". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  12. [12]
    Barnes, Simon (18 September 1987). "Organization the key as Merthyr seek to defy logic" (reprint). The Times. NewsBank. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  13. [13]
    Shuttleworth, Peter (6 May 2009). "Why the Martyrs matter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  14. [14]
    Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 453, 461. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.
  15. [15]
    "Gallery". Troedyrhiw F.C. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008.
  16. [16]
    "Info". Troedyrhiw F.C. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008.
  17. [17]
    "Roger steps up to the plate as Rhiw target promotion spot". Merthyr Express. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  18. [18]
    Williams, David (4 February 2010). "Manager Rogers calls it a day after Troedyrhiw are hit for six". Merthyr Express. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
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