Footy For The Culture
My mission’s always been to speak up and make a difference in this game. A mission that I will always fight for.
Roberts has returned to the Charlotte Independence, now in USL Leaguue 1. In now his 11th season he’s excited to return to an organization he’s familiar with!
He was Monterey Bay Fc’s captain in the USL Championship for their first 2 years of existence. His creativity also helped him start his podcast and brand ( Backyardfooty), highlighting behind-the-scenes experiences of professional soccer players and anyone involved in the game. He also uses his brand to discuss important current topics to educate listeners from athletes’ perspectives. His experience in multiple cities and other professional organizations has helped him excel.
He was the co-founder of the UBPUSL ( United Black Players of the United Soccer League), a current board member of the USLPA ( United Soccer League players union), and an entrepreneur and founder of his charity; leadership skills have helped him excel in every facet. Now in his 10th season as a professional, his wide variety of experiences on and off the field allows him to excel today.
Now entering the 11th campaign of his professional career, Roberts finished the 2023 season ranked #1 all time in minutes played in USL Championship history with 21,627 regular-season minutes and 3rd all-time in USL Championship history in regular-season appearances with 250+.
Hugh Roberts Professional Career
Charlotte Independence of USL LEAGUE 1. 2024- CURRENT
Monterey Bay F.c.
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Monterey Bay F.c. 〰️
USL Championship — 2022- 2023
He was the captain for the inaugural season of Monterey Bay. He started in 30 of 34 games and helped lead the team close to a playoff push, going on an eight-game unbeaten streak to finish the season. He scored the game-winner against Oakland Roots to give the club its first-ever victory. He scored three goals and had one assist; he also finished the season third all-time in USL minutes played in 2022. Club finished a game out of playoffs.
Follwing season Roberts played 30/ 34 games. Led the team in clearances and blocks. Halfway through the season, Monterey Bay was in 3rd place in the western conference, a first in the clubs history. It came down to the very last game of the season but after a few mishaps the club finished short of playoffs.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds 〰️
USL Championship — 2018-2019
He started in 21 games for a Pittsburgh Riverhounds side which posted a league-best 0.76 goals against average. Led the team to a league best 17 shutouts and hosted the first ever home playoff game in team history. He also scored 2 goals and 1 assist
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Charlotte Independence 2019-2021
〰️ Charlotte Independence 2019-2021
USL Championship — 2019-2021
In 2019 he started in 30 of 34 USL matches. He scored 4 total goals and led the team in clearances. He was also voted the defender of the year for the club that year.
In the 2020 season he started in every game and helped lead the team to a 1st place finish in the group and was voted team defender of the year for a consecutive year. He also scored in the playoffs and finished top 5 in the USL in clearances. Currently top 15 in USL history in minutes played
In the 2021 season, he started in 31 of 32 matches and helped lead the club to it’s best season, hosting and winning it’s first ever home playoff and making it to the Eastern conference semi-finals. Finished with 1 goal and 1 assist while being top 5 in minutes played in the league.
Bethlehem Steel
USL Championship — 2017-2018
During the 2017 campaign, he led Bethlehem Steel FC with 112 clearances. Started in 23 of 30 matches scoring once and helped the club reach the playoffs for the first time in history. Rated best defender in the Philadelphia Union Organization that year
Richmond Kickers
USL Championship — 2014-2016
Three seasons in USL for Richmond Kickers, in which he played over 6,000 minutes during that time. He anchored a backline that had the third best defensive record in the Eastern Conference in 2016, allowing only 28 goals and earning 13 shutouts. He played every minute, was one of just two players in USL that season to play 2,700 minutes and was named to the USL All-League 1st Team and was a finalist for the 2016 USL Defender of the Year! Helped reach playoffs in all three years.