Career
He was the brother of Bob Roberts who also played for the two clubs and twice for Wales. Roberts was "always in the thickest of the fight", and was described as "tricky and comical, and occasionally brilliant". 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 1882-1883 tournament, thus enabling to defeat Druids and claim the trophy for the second time.
The match ended as a 5–0 victory for the Welsh, with Bill Roberts scoring the opening goal.
After defeats against England and Scotland, Roberts was not called up for the February 1887 match against England. After an injury to Robert Mills-Roberts in the warm-up for that match (which Wales lost 4–0) 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. Roberts made four appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows: Roberts worked as coal-miner in his youth, but was later employed in a leather works.