Roy Cheetham
Encyclopedia
Roy Alexander Cheetham is an English
former footballer
who played for Manchester City
, Detroit Cougars
, Charlton Athletic
and Chester City
.
As a boy Cheetham watched Manchester City and Manchester United
on alternate Saturdays. His career began when he signed for Manchester City
as an amateur in 1956. Later that year he turned professional. He made his debut in the 1957–58 season
in a 2–1 win against Luton Town
. In the following match he was given a torrid time by Arsenal
's Jimmy Bloomfield
, and returned to the reserves. The following season he began to play more regularly, and he progressed to make 137 first team appearances over the course of a decade.
On 30 August 1965 he became the first Manchester City player to be used as a substitute
, replacing Mike Summerbee
in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
Cheetham played three times in Manchester City's 1967–68 championship winning season. He moved to Detroit Cougars of the NASL in January 1968. During his season in Detroit he scored three penalties in a single match against Dallas. In total, Cheetham made 17 apps in the NASL. He then returned to England, signing for Charlton Athletic. He did make any first team appearances for Charlton, and transferred to Chester City in December 1968, where he became club penalty taker. He made 124 league appearances at Chester before leaving in 1972, with his final appearance being a goalless draw at home to Crewe Alexandra
on 22 April 1972. This marked the end of his Football League
career. A second spell in North America followed in the form of a period at Windsor Stars
in Canada. He later managed non-league club Great Harwood Town
.
In 1999 Cheetham made a trip to Budapest
to meet childhood hero Ferenc Puskas
, and in 2006 represented Manchester City at Puskas' funeral. As of 2007, Cheetham is treasurer of Manchester City's Former Players' Association.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Detroit Cougars
Detroit Cougars (soccer)
The Detroit Cougars were a soccer team based in Detroit, Michigan, which played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Detroit club consisted of players from Glentoran F.C...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
As a boy Cheetham watched Manchester City and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
on alternate Saturdays. His career began when he signed for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
as an amateur in 1956. Later that year he turned professional. He made his debut in the 1957–58 season
1957-58 in English football
The 1957–58 season was the 78th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:In this season, Sunderland was relegated for the first time in their history.This was the last season in which Division 3 was split, North and South...
in a 2–1 win against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. In the following match he was given a torrid time by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's Jimmy Bloomfield
Jimmy Bloomfield
James Henry "Jimmy" Bloomfield was an English football player and manager.Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington, London, Bloomfield started his career at non-league Hayes before joining Second Division side Brentford in October 1952...
, and returned to the reserves. The following season he began to play more regularly, and he progressed to make 137 first team appearances over the course of a decade.
On 30 August 1965 he became the first Manchester City player to be used as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
, replacing Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee is an English former footballer, who played in the successful Manchester City side of the late 1960s and early 1970s....
in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
Cheetham played three times in Manchester City's 1967–68 championship winning season. He moved to Detroit Cougars of the NASL in January 1968. During his season in Detroit he scored three penalties in a single match against Dallas. In total, Cheetham made 17 apps in the NASL. He then returned to England, signing for Charlton Athletic. He did make any first team appearances for Charlton, and transferred to Chester City in December 1968, where he became club penalty taker. He made 124 league appearances at Chester before leaving in 1972, with his final appearance being a goalless draw at home to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
on 22 April 1972. This marked the end of his Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
career. A second spell in North America followed in the form of a period at Windsor Stars
Windsor Stars
Windsor Stars are a professional Canadian soccer team based in Windsor, Ontario. The club plays in the Canadian Soccer League , the third tier of soccer in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic pro league in Canada...
in Canada. He later managed non-league club Great Harwood Town
Great Harwood Town F.C.
Great Harwood Town F.C. was a football club based in Great Harwood, Lancashire, England. They joined the Lancashire Combination in 1979 and made their way up to the Northern Premier League Division One during the early 1990s. However after spending most of the decade in the league they were...
.
In 1999 Cheetham made a trip to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
to meet childhood hero Ferenc Puskas
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
, and in 2006 represented Manchester City at Puskas' funeral. As of 2007, Cheetham is treasurer of Manchester City's Former Players' Association.