*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Karl Rolls
Appearances: 36 Goals: 13
Date / Year of birth: 18th January 1970
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1987/88
Season of last appearance: 1988/89
Also played for: Gillingham (0), Canterbury City, Sheppey United, Whitstable Town, Herne Bay, Chatham Town, Lordswood, Sittingbourne, Snodland and Bly Spartans
Diminutive skilful striker born in Clacton who began his career as a youth team player at Gillingham during the 1986/87 season. Karl joined Thanet United on loan from the Gills at the end of February 1988.
He made his debut as United went down 2-1 at home to Waterlooville on 2.3.88 and in his next appearance, a Southern League game against Erith & Belvedere at Hartsdown Park on 5.3.88, Karl scored twice in a 4-0 win. The Thanet Times said he turned in "an impressive performance" up front, combining well with Neil Cugley. Karl only played alongside Cugley once more before the big striker was sacked and from then on he became the focal point of the Thanet attack. Karl scored regularly during the remainder of the 1987/88 campaign and didn't miss a match after his debut, always appearing in the number 11 shirt. On 16.3.88 he got two goals in a 3-1 win at Canterbury, prompting the Isle of Thanet Gazette to describe him as "a livewire" and the paper said that Karl was "the hero" in a 2-1 win over Burnham on 22.3.88 after he'd set up one goal and scored the other. He was said to be a "constant threat" in a 1-0 defeat at Erith & Belvedere on 29.3.88 and Karl ended the season having scored eight goals in 18 appearances.
In the summer of 1988 Karl joined Thanet on a permanent basis and he was in good form at the start of the 1988/89 campaign. The Thanet Times said that he "always carried ample threat...but suffered from an indifferent service" during United's first Southern League game of the season - a 3-1 home defeat against Salisbury on 20.8.88. On 29.8.88 Karl missed two first half penalties in a 2-0 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown, firing one over the bar and having the other one saved, but the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "made amends by putting in some penetrating runs down the left". On 13.9.88 he scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Corinthian and Karl then got the only goal of the game as United beat Portfield 1-0 in an FA Cup tie at Hartsdown on 17.9.88. The Thanet Times said that he was "talented" and "led the Portfield backs a merry dance with his darting runs". He found the net for the third game in a row to clinch a 1-0 home win over Hitchin in an FA Trophy tie on 24.9.88 but Karl then failed to score in his next eight games. The last of those matches was a 2-1 defeat at home to Trowbridge on 5.11.88 and a few days later Karl signed for Canterbury. The Thanet Times said it was a "shock departure" as "he had made a tremendous impact...with his direct style and ability to finish". Karl had been ever-present at the time of his move, making 18 appearances and scoring five goals, one of them from the penalty spot.
His spell at Canterbury turned out to be brief and after scoring twice in 14 Southern League games for City Karl joined Sheppey in February 1989. After just a few months there he moved on to Whitstable for the 1989/90 season.
Karl settled at Whitstable and scored 74 goals in 169 games for the Oystermen before rejoining Sheppey in September 1992. His goal tally included four in a 7-2 win over Thames Poly on 14.9.91.
Karl scored over 20 goals for Sheppey during 1992/93 and then moved to Herne Bay in the summer of 1993. In December 1993 he rejoined Whitstable and scored regularly for them during the remainder of the 1993/94 campaign.
Karl's next move took him to Chatham for the 1994/95 season and he scored over 20 goals during the campaign. He stayed with the club for 1995/96 too and then went back to Canterbury in the summer of 1997.
He linked up with Lordswood for 1998/99 and then had spells with Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Canterbury during the 1999/00 season.
Karl was playing for Snodland in the Kent County League during the 2003/04 campaign.
He was still playing during the 2006/07 season when he turned out for Bly Spartans in the Kent County League. Karl scored 14 goals for Spartans' reserves during 2007/08 and was their manager by the 2008/09 season.
He was still registered as a Spartans player for the 2010/11 campaign.
During 2011/12 he was assistant manager of Bly's first team.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1987/88 (TUFC) |
18 (56) |
0 |
8 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2QR |
GR |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1988/89 (TUFC) |
18 (52) |
0 |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (20TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |