Roger Freestone

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Roger Freestone
0Full Name	Roger Freestone
0Date of Birth	19 August 1968
0Place of Birth	Caerleon, Wales
0Position	Goalkeeper
0Chelsea career	1987-1991
0Debut	18 April 1987
0Games (goals)	53 (0)
0Other clubs	Newport County Hereford United (loan) Swansea City

Roger Freestone (born 19 August 1968 in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire) is a former Wales international goalkeeper who played for Chelsea from 1987-1991.

Contents 1 Chelsea career 2 After Chelsea 3 International 4 Statistics

Chelsea career

Freestone began his career at Newport County as a trainee before moving to Chelsea in 1987 for £95,000. Despite being selected regularly for a spell in the middle of the 1987-88 season, and again over the first half of 1988-89, during his time at the club he was never the established first choice, being behind Eddie Niedzwicki, Kevin Hitchcock and Dave Beasant. He made what turned out to be his last first team appearance in January 1989, a Full Members Cup defeat against Nottingham Forest, and was subsequently loaned out to Swansea City and Hereford United.

After Chelsea

Freestone eventually joined Swansea City on a permanent deal in 1991, for a fee of £45,000, where he went on to spend over a decade, and the majority of his career. In 2001 a rumoured move to rivals Cardiff City was met with anger from Swansea fans as they did not want to lose him[1]. He left the club after thirteen years and went on to sign for Newport County in 2004, but his contract was cancelled several months later by mutual consent due to recurring injury problems [2] and he eventually retired.

In May 2003 he was granted a testimonial for the Swans, against former club Chelsea. Despite fielding a team mainly consisting of youngsters, Chelsea won the game 2-1. Freestone played both in goal, and for a brief time up front, in front of around 4,000 fans of both sides at the Vetch Field.

Subsequently, Freestone had a short-lived stint as manager at Swansea along with Nick Cusack. As of early 2010 he was managing youth side Risca & Gelli United in the Islwyn Youth League.

International

Freestone played for Wales at Schoolboy, under-21 and B level before winning his first, and only, cap against Brazil in 2000.

Statistics

Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1986-87	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
1987-88	15	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	20	0
1988-89	21	0	1	0	2	0	3	0	27	0
Total	42	0	3	0	2	0	6	0	53	0