Quillan Roberts (born 13 September 1994) is a professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

who plays as a

goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or intercepting ...

for

Electric City FC Electric City Football Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer team based in Peterborough, Ontario, that competes in League1 Ontario's men's and women's division. History Formation The presence of soccer in Peterborough is large despite ...

League1 Ontario League1 Ontario (L1O) is a semi-professional men's soccer league in Ontario, Canada. The league began play in 2014 and is sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Ontario Soccer Association as a pro-am league in the Canadian ...

. Born in Canada, he currently represents the Guyana national team after having previously represented Canada at youth and senior level After spells in the youth ranks of

Toronto FC Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...

and Portugal FC, Roberts signed a first-team contract with

in 2012. After loan spells with the

Wilmington Hammerheads Wilmington Hammerheads FC was a semi-professional American soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team last competed in the Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid in 2017. Histo ...

and

Toronto FC II Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well as ...

, he was released after the 2016 season. A move to

Woodbridge Strikers Woodbridge Strikers Soccer Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Woodbridge, Ontario. The club was founded in 1976 as a youth soccer club and added its semi-professional club in League1 Ontario in 2014. The team plays home ...

saw Roberts record a league and cup double, while also being named First Team All Star and Goalkeeper of the Year. That year, he also appeared for York University Lions and lifted the title in the

Ontario University Athletics Ontario University Athletics (OUA; french: Sports universitaires de l'Ontario) is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providin ...

. He has been capped once for the Canadian national team, and scored from his own half in one of three appearances at youth level during the

FIFA Under-17 World Cup The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to U-17 in 1991 and to its current name in 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by ''Fédératio ...

in 2011.

Club career

Early career

Roberts began playing soccer at age six with Brampton Youth SC.

Toronto FC

A product of the

Toronto FC Academy Toronto FC Academy, also known as TFC Academy, is the youth academy and development system of Canadian Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. The academy has divisions from U14 to U19 and includes over 110 young players. The senior academy team is ...

, Roberts also had a brief spell in the youth ranks of Portugal FC in the Canadian Soccer League. On April 10, 2012, he became the seventh graduate to join

after signing a first team contract. On July 21, 2012, he made his first appearance as a second-half substitute for Freddy Hall in a 1–1 draw against a Liverpool side including

Joe Cole Joseph John Cole (born 8 November 1981) is an English football coach and former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or winger in the Premier League, Ligue 1, League One and United Soccer League. He is regarded as on ...

Martin Škrtel Martin Škrtel (born 15 December 1984) is a Slovak former professional footballer, a former player and captain of the Slovakia national team and Liverpool Football Club. Škrtel previously played for FK AS Trenčín and Zenit Saint Petersburg, ...

and

Raheem Sterling Raheem Shaquille Sterling (born 8 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for club Chelsea. Born in Jamaica, he represents the England national team. Born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, S ...

. After five years in the first team squad without making a senior appearance, Roberts was released in December 2016.

Wilmington Hammerheads (loan)

After failing to make a competitive appearance in two seasons with Toronto, Roberts was loaned to

United Soccer League United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the ...

side the

alongside teammates

Manny Aparicio Manuel "Manny" Aparicio (born September 17, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Pacific FC. Club career Toronto FC Aparicio signed his first professional contract in 2013 at the age of 17 years old, bec ...

and

Daniel Lovitz Daniel Harry Lovitz (born August 27, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Nashville SC in Major League Soccer. Club career Early career Lovitz grew up playing youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania for Low ...

. On April 6, 2014, he kept a clean sheet on his debut in a 0–0 draw with the

Harrisburg City Islanders Penn FC (formerly the Harrisburg City Islanders) was an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2003, the team most recently played in the USL Pro, the second tier of the United States soc ...

. On August 6, Roberts was recalled having made 17 appearances for the club.

Toronto FC II (loan)

On March 20, 2015, Roberts was one of seven players loaned to Toronto FC II. He was joined by

Alex Bono Alexander Nicholas Bono (born April 25, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. College career Born and raised in Baldwinsville, New York, Bono attended high scho ...

, Ashtone Morgan,

, Jay Chapman, Chris Mannella and Jordan Hamilton. On April 19, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw with the

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Whitecaps FC 2 is a professional soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that serves as the reserve team of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer. History Prior to the MLS Next Pro iteration the team played its ...

. After making 15 appearances during the

2015 USL season The 2015 USL season was the fifth season of the United Soccer League (USL) and the first under its new name (previously the league was called USL Pro). This season represented a substantial expansion from 14 teams in 2014 to 24 teams in 2015, and ...

, Roberts' loan was extended and he went on to make a further nine appearances for the club.

Woodbridge Strikers

Following an unsuccessful trial with United Soccer League club the

Rochester Rhinos Rochester New York FC, formerly known as the Rochester Rhinos, are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, as the Rochester Raging Rhinos, they changed their name to Rochester Rhinos t ...

, Roberts signed with

club

for the 2017 season. Recording nine clean sheets in 19 games, he was named League1 Ontario Goalkeeper of the Year on November 10. Roberts was also named as a League1 Ontario First Team All Star as his team won the league championship. He also appeared in every match as Woodbridge Strikers went on to clinch the League1 Ontario Cup. They saw off

Sanjaxx Lions Sanjaxx Lions was a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club was founded in 2012 as a soccer academy and added its semi-professional club in League1 Ontario in 2015. The club was one of the ten original foundi ...

FC London FC London is a Canadian semi-professional association football, soccer club based in London, Ontario, London, Ontario. The club was founded in 2008 and plays in the League1 Ontario men's and League1 Ontario (women), women's divisions. The team pl ...

and North Mississauga before a 3–1 win against Vaughan in the final.

York University

In 2017, Roberts joined York University Lions while studying Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. He started six games in the regular season and all three in the

play-offs. He suffered just a single defeat while keeping clean sheets, including in the final of the Ontario University Athletics where they emerged successful.

Los Angeles FC

Roberts began the 2018 season on trial with United Soccer League club Ottawa Fury. He later featured for

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Cana ...

side

Los Angeles FC Los Angeles Football Club, commonly referred to as LAFC, is an American professional Association football team based in Los Angeles. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The club ...

in their first ever pre-season match. He officially signed for the club on May 30, 2018. In November 2018, his contract option was declined by Los Angeles.

Forge FC

Roberts joined

Canadian Premier League The Canadian Premier League (CPL or CanPL; french: Première ligue canadienne, links=no) is a professional men's Association football, soccer league in Canada. At the top of the Canadian soccer league system, it is the country's primary nationa ...

club

Forge FC Forge FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Hamilton, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Premier League, the top tier of Canadian soccer. The club plays its home matches at Tim Hortons Field. Forge FC joined the CPL in 2019 as ...

on March 2, 2019. He made his debut on May 8, 2019, recording a clean sheet in a 3–0 win over

Pacific FC Pacific Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League, playing home matches at Starlight Stadium located in Langford. History On May 5, 20 ...

. He made eight league starts and one in the

Canadian Championship The Canadian Championship (french: Championnat canadien) is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams. The winner is awarded the Voyageurs Cup and Canada's berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. It is contes ...

that season on route to a CPL Championship win for Forge. On January 8, 2020, the club announced Roberts would not be returning for the 2020 season.

1812 FC Barrie

In 2021, he joined

side

1812 FC Barrie 1812 FC Barrie (also known as 1812 FC) was a Canadian semi-professional soccer club that played in League1 Ontario in 2021. In their sole season of operation, the club played home matches at Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Ontario. The team wa ...

as a player-coach. He was named the East Division Top Goalkeeper and an East Division All-Star.

Electric City

In early 2022, he went on trial with

club

Valour FC Valour Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays its home matches at IG Field. The team is coached by Phillip Dos Santos and community owned ...

. In March 2022, he joined

in League1 Ontario. He was named a league Third Team All-Star in 2022.

International career

Canada

In 2011, Roberts was called up to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

Under-17s ahead of the

2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup The 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the fourteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the eleventh played since the change in age limits from under 16s to Under 17s in 1991. It was held in Mexico with games being played amongst various venue ...

in Mexico. He headed to the tournament as the backup goalkeeper to

Maxime Crépeau Maxime Crépeau (born May 11, 1994) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Canadian national team. He is regarded as one of the best active goalkeepers in Major Le ...

, but injuries forced Roberts to play in the second group stage game against

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

. In the 87th minute, with Canada trailing England 2–1, Roberts kicked the ball into the England box from inside his own half, which bounced over English keeper Jordan Pickford and into the back of the net. The goal was the first scored by a goalkeeper in any FIFA finals tournament, and earned Canada a point as the game ended 2–2. Roberts made a further two other appearances in the tournament as Canada failed to progress past the group stages. On March 30, 2015, Roberts made his international debut at senior level in a 3–0 win against Puerto Rico. He replaced

Milan Borjan Milan Borjan ( sr-cyr, Милан Борјан; born 23 October 1987) is a professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Red Star Belgrade and the Canadian national team. Early life Borjan was born on 23 October 1987 in Knin, SFR Yu ...

in the 86th minute of the friendly. Later he represented his country for

2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 13th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and the 23rd CONCACAF regional championship overall in the organization's fifty-four years of existence. It was held in the United States, with two matches bein ...

. Canada was eliminated from championship after group stage.

Guyana

As the only match Roberts played for Canada at senior level was a friendly, he could still change his affiliation to the national teams of Guyana or

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...

, the countries of birth of his father and his mother, respectively. On May 20, 2019, he was named to Guyana's 40-man provisional squad for the

2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 15th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the biennial international men's soccer championship of the North, Central American, and Caribbean region organized by CONCACAF. The tournament was primarily hosted in th ...

. He was named to the final squad on May 30. He debuted for Guyana in the final group stage match on June 26 at the Gold Cup against

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, small ...

in a 1–1 draw.

Personal life

Roberts was born in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...

, Ontario to a Guyanese father and a Jamaican mother. He has one brother, Jamal, and moved to

Brampton, Ontario Brampton ( or ) is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Brampton is a city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is a lower-tier municipality within Peel Region. The city has a population of 656,480 as of the 2021 Census, making it th ...

aged six. He studied at

Heart Lake Secondary School Heart Lake Secondary School, commonly known as HLSS or Heart Lake, is a public secondary school in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the corner of Conestoga Drive and Wexford Road. The school was founded in 1988 and is a part of the Peel ...

between 2009 and 2012, and joined

York University York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,000 faculty and staf ...

five years later. In his spare time, Roberts has volunteered for the

Toronto Humane Society Toronto Humane Society is a Toronto charity that operates animal shelters and animal rescue operations. It was founded in 1887 by John J. Kelso dedicated to promote both children's aid and the humane treatment of animals. Since 1891, the society f ...

, Youth Without Shelter, St Margaret's School and Young Street Mission.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Toronto FC *

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

, 2016 Woodbridge Strikers *

Cup:

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

Forge FC *

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

Individual *League1 Ontario Goalkeeper of the Year:

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...

*League1 Ontario First Team All Star:

References

External links

* * *
Toronto FC profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Quillan 1994 births Living people Association football goalkeepers Canadian soccer players Guyanese footballers Soccer players from Brampton Soccer players from Toronto Black Canadian soccer players Canadian sportspeople of Jamaican descent Canadian sportspeople of Guyanese descent Guyanese people of Jamaican descent Canadian expatriate soccer players Guyanese expatriate footballers Expatriate soccer players in the United States Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Guyanese expatriate sportspeople in the United States SC Toronto players Toronto FC players Toronto FC II players Wilmington Hammerheads FC players Los Angeles FC players Forge FC players Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players USL Championship players League1 Ontario players Canadian Premier League players Canada men's youth international soccer players Canada men's international soccer players Guyana international footballers Dual internationalists (football) 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Homegrown Players (MLS) Woodbridge Strikers players 1812 FC Barrie players Electric City FC players