Career
Born in Darlington, Roberts started his football career with Bishop Auckland, but soon moved to Grimsby Town. In 1904, he was transferred to for £400. The United manager at the time was Ernest Mangnall who had embarked on a spending spree which would later see Manchester City players Billy Meredith and Sandy Turnbull arrive at Bank Street, United"s ground at the time.
Roberts arrival at United was extremely important to the development of the club
A strong, skilful, fast centre half and a rebel to boot. He flouted FA rules by wearing his shorts above the knee and was politically minded in favour of the unionisation of professional football players.
He left the club in August 1913 for a then record fee of £1,500 to Oldham Athletic, who he also went on to manage, after appearing in 299 matches and scoring 23 goals for United. Roberts was capped three times for England in 1905, "s first England international.
On 2 December 1907, Roberts and Meredith were instrumental in setting up the The organisation was not recognised by the FA but it did attract considerable support from fellow League clubs.
The players refused to relinquish their Union membership, forcing the club to contact their first opponents of the new season, Bradford City to cancel the fixture, as it could not field a team The FA"s threat had seen the membership of the Union fall so that the only members were the players, who called themselves "The Outcasts". lieutenant was only after Tim Coleman of Everton renewed his support by siding with The Outcasts that the FA relented and Roberts" Union was saved.
Roberts" son, Charlie Junior., was a player for Central"s first season.
He died, aged 56, at Manchester Royal Infirmary in August 1939 following a cranial operation after suffering extended "dizzy spells".