# Roger Freestone

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Welsh footballer and manager

Roger Freestone Personal information Full name Roger Freestone Date of birth (1968-08-19) 19 August 1968 (age 57) Place of birth Caerleon, Wales Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] Position Goalkeeper Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1986–1987 Newport County 13 (0) 1987–1991 Chelsea 42 (0) 1989 → Swansea City (loan) 14 (0) 1990 → Hereford United (loan) 8 (0) 1991–2004 Swansea City 552 (3) 2004 Newport County 14 (0) Total 643 (3) International career 1990 Wales U21 1 (0) 2000 Wales 1 (0) Managerial career 2002 Swansea City * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Roger Freestone** (born 19 August 1968) is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)). He has the distinction of being one of a relatively small group of [footballers to play 500](/source/List_of_footballers_in_England_by_number_of_league_appearances) [English Football League](/source/English_Football_League) matches for one club, the only other Welshmen being [Ryan Giggs](/source/Ryan_Giggs), [Neville Southall](/source/Neville_Southall), [Herbie Williams](/source/Herbie_Williams) and [Len Weare](/source/Len_Weare).

## Club career

Born in [Caerleon](/source/Caerleon), near [Newport](/source/Newport%2C_Wales), [Monmouthshire](/source/Monmouthshire_(historic)), Freestone began his career at [Newport County](/source/Newport_County_A.F.C.) as a trainee before moving to [Chelsea](/source/Chelsea_F.C.) in 1987 for £95,000. During his time there he was never the established first choice, being behind [Eddie Niedzwiecki](/source/Eddie_Niedzwiecki), [Kevin Hitchcock](/source/Kevin_Hitchcock) and [Dave Beasant](/source/Dave_Beasant), and was loaned out to [Swansea City](/source/Swansea_City_A.F.C.) and [Hereford United](/source/Hereford_United_F.C.). He eventually joined Swansea on a permanent deal in 1991, for a fee of £45,000, and went on to spend over a decade, the majority of his career, at the Welsh club.

In 2001 a rumoured move to rivals [Cardiff City](/source/Cardiff_City_F.C.) was met with anger from Swansea fans as they did not want to lose him.[2] He left the club after thirteen years and went on to sign for [Newport County](/source/Newport_County_A.F.C.) in 2004, but his contract was cancelled several months later by mutual consent owing to recurring injury problems[3] and he eventually retired.

The way in which he left Swansea City angered a lot of fans. Then-manager Kenny Jackett said he made a tough choice in releasing Roger Freestone and the supporters felt they had missed an opportunity to give a proper send-off that he deserved for his contribution.[4]

Freestone is considered a legend among Swansea fans. In 1995, he briefly became the clubs penalty taker, where he converted three out of three spot-kicks. His talent as a shot stopper lead to him keeping 22 clean sheets in a season, which was a club record,[5] until [Dorus de Vries](/source/Dorus_de_Vries) broke the record in the 2009–10 season.[6]

## International career

Freestone played for Wales at schoolboy, under-21 and B level before winning his first and only cap against [Brazil](/source/Brazil_national_football_team) in 2000.[7]

## Management career

Freestone had a short-lived stint as manager at Swansea along with [Nick Cusack](/source/Nick_Cusack).[8] He currently manages youth side, Risca & Gelli United in the Islwyn Youth League.

## Personal life

Upon retiring from football in 2004, Freestone began working as a delivery driver for Tuffnells. In an interview with Swansea City's official website in 2016, Freestone confirmed that he was still working in the same delivery role.[9]

## Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals England League FA Cup League Cup Total 1986–87 Newport County Division 3 13 0 - - 13 0 1986–87 Chelsea Division 1 6 0 - - 6 0 1987–88 15 0 2 0 17 0 1988–89 Division 2 21 0 - - 2 0 23 0 1989–90 Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0 1989–90 Hereford United (Loan) Division 4 8 0 - - 8 0 1989–90 Swansea City (Loan) Division 3 14 0 - - 14 0 1990–91 Chelsea Division 1 0 0 - - 0 0 1991–92 Swansea City Division 3 42 0 - - 42 0 1992–93 Division 2 46 0 - - 46 0 1993–94 46 0 - - 46 0 1994–95 45 1 - - 2 0 47 1 1995–96 45 2 - - – - 45 2 1996–97 Division 3 45 0 0 0 2 0 47 0 1997–98 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0 1998–99 38 0 5 0 2 0 45 0 1999–2000 46 0 2 0 4 0 52 0 2000–01 Division 2 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0 2001–02 Division 3 43 0 2 0 1 0 46 0 2002–03 33 0 1 0 1 0 35 0 2003–04 37 0 5 0 0 0 42 0 2004–05 Newport County Conference South 14 0 - - 14 0 Total England 643 3 19 0 18 0 680 3 Career total 643 3 19 0 18 0 680 3

## Honours

**Chelsea**

- [Football League Second Division](/source/Football_League_Second_Division): [1988–89](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_Football_League#Second_Division)

**Swansea City**

- [Football League Third Division](/source/Football_League_Third_Division): [1999–2000](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_Football_League#Third_Division)

- [Football League Trophy](/source/Football_League_Trophy): [1993–94](/source/1994_Football_League_Trophy_Final)

- [FAW Premier Cup](/source/FAW_Premier_Cup) runner-up: [2000–01](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_FAW_Premier_Cup), [2001–02](/source/2001%E2%80%9302_FAW_Premier_Cup)

- [Football League Third Division](/source/Football_League_Third_Division) play-offs runner-up: [1997](/source/1997_Football_League_Third_Division_play-off_Final)[10]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). *Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88*. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 122. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-356-14354-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-356-14354-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hollins hits out"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1330888.stm) [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport) Retrieved on 3 November 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Keeper Freestone leaves Newport"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4046361.stm) [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport) Retrieved on 3 November 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Swansea City - 18 - Roger Freestone"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153455/http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=161805). Archived from [the original](http://www.swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=161805) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Centurion de Vries loving Swansea"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/8321595.stm). *BBC News*. 23 October 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Swansea 3–0 Scunthorpe"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8595494.stm). [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport). 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Wales vs Brazil match report"](http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/matches/fr_00003.htm#match%20details) Dragonsoccer Retrieved on 3 November 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Mark Aizlewood:"No cause for celebration"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/bbc_pundits/1907333.stm) [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport) Retrieved on 3 November 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Where are they now? Roger Freestone"](https://www.swanseacity.com/news/where-are-they-now-roger-freestone). Swansea City FC. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Fox, Norman (25 May 1997). ["Football: Swansea run over by Frain"](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-swansea-run-over-by-frain-1263330.html). *The Independent*. Independent Digital News & Media. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181027002521/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-swansea-run-over-by-frain-1263330.html) from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

## External links

- [Roger Freestone](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=2670) at Soccerbase

- [Wales stats](http://www.11v11.com/players/roger-freestone-1275/) at 11v11

v t e Swansea City A.F.C. – managers Whittaker (1912–14) Bartlett (1914–15) Bradshaw (1919–26) Thomson (1927–31) Harris (1934–39) Green (1939–47) McCandless (1948–55) Burgess (1955–58) Morris (1958–65) Davies (1965–66) Sykesc (1966–67) Lucas (1967–69) Robbinsc (1969) Bentley (1969–72) Gregg (1972–75) Griffiths (1975–78) Toshackp (1978–83) Livermorec (1983) Toshack (1983–84) Chappellc (1984) Appleton (1984) Chappellc (1984) Bond (1984–85) Hutchisonp (1985–86) Yorathp (1986–89) Evans (1989–90) Yorath (1990–91) Burrows (1991–95) Smithc (1995) Rimmerc (1995–96) Cullis (1996) Rimmerc (1996) Mølbyp (1996–97) Adamsp (1997) Cork (1997–98) Hollins (1998–01) Addison (2001–02) Freestone & Cusackp (2002) Cusack (2002) Flynn (2002–04) Curtisc (2004) Jackett (2004–07) Nugentc (2007) Martínez (2007–09) Sousa (2009–10) Rodgers (2010–12) Laudrup (2012–14) Monk (2014–15) Curtisc (2015–16) Guidolin (2016) Bradley (2016) Curtisc (2016–17) Clement (2017) Brittoncp (2017) Carvalhal (2017–18) Potter (2018–19) Cooper (2019–21) Martin (2021–23) Duff (2023) Sheehanc (2023–24) Williams (2024–25) Sheehan (2025) O'Deac (2025) Matos (2025–) (c) = caretaker manager; (p) = player-manager; (cp) = caretaker player-manager

Authority control databases International VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Roger Freestone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Freestone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Freestone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.