*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.
Roberto Corbishley
Appearances: 18+4 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 28th January 1986
Position: Right-back
Season of first appearance: 2007/08
Season of last appearance: 2009/10
Also played for: Bearsted, Maidstone United and Sevenoaks Town
Pacy Maidstone-born player who started out in Bearsted's youth set-up aged 12 and progressed through the club's junior ranks. Roberto captained the Kent Schools' side as well as playing for Kent at Under-18 level.
In the summer of 2003 he played for Great Britain's football team in the FISEC (International Sports Federation For Catholic Schools) Games in Spain and the side won the gold medal. The Great Britain goalkeeper was Jordan Yorath, nephew of former Margate player Dai Yorath and son of future Margate manager Terry Yorath.
During the 2003/04 campaign Roberto played in some Kent League games for Maidstone aged 17 as well as helping Bearsted's Under-18's to win the Kent Youth League South Division and John Ullmann Under-18 Cup double. Future Margate keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens was also in the Bearsted side.
Shortly after the start of the 2004/05 season Roberto started a university course in Reading but he managed to make a few appearances for Bearsted's first team in the Kent County League during the campaign. Roberto also played university football and eventually completed his course in the summer of 2007.
He featured in some of Maidstone's pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2007/08 campaign but the Stones' management team of Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker didn't see Roberto play due to Hume being on holiday and Walker being in hospital after breaking his neck. As a result Roberto wasn't offered a deal by Maidstone and a few weeks into the new season he started training with Margate but broke a metatarsal which ruled him out for three months.
Roberto resumed training at the end of November 2007 and in December 2007 he officially signed for Margate. Coach Steve McKimm told the Thanet Times "He trained with us before but did his metatarsal in the warm-up. He's a solid player from what I can gather, he can play full-back and the gaffer's signed him because he thinks he can do a job."
Roberto made his debut in the number two shirt as Margate beat Carshalton 4-2 in an Isthmian League Premier Division game at Hartsdown Park on 19.1.08 and he then played in midfield in a 2-1 home win over Chatham in the Kent Senior Cup on 22.1.08. Roberto didn't feature again until he came on as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat at AFC Wimbledon on 26.2.08 and after making one further sub appearance in Margate's next five games he played at right-back in a 4-1 home defeat against Ebbsfleet in the Kent Senior Cup on 26.3.08.
After sitting out another three matches Roberto had an outing as a substitute in a 5-4 defeat against Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 19.4.08 and then played at right-back in Margate's final game of the season - a 1-0 win at Harrow on 26.4.08. He ended the campaign having made seven appearances (three as sub) without scoring.
Roberto featured in several friendlies ahead of the 2008/09 season and played at left-back on the opening day of the new campaign - 16.8.08 - as Margate lost 2-1 at Carshalton in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The Thanet Times said he was "excellent" and he also wore the number three shirt in the next two matches. On 25.8.08 Roberto switched to right-back as Margate took on Dover at Crabble but he had to go off with an ankle injury after 30 minutes having been the victim of what the Isle of Thanet Gazette described as a "diabolical challenge". Dover won the game 1-0.
After two months on the sidelines Roberto made his comeback at right-back as Margate lost 1-0 to Wealdstone at Hartsdown Park on 25.10.08 but he then sat out the next three matches before wearing the number two shirt in a 2-1 win at Boreham Wood on 11.11.08. Roberto kept his place for a 3-2 home defeat against Harrow on 15.11.08 and the Thanet Times said he "showed up as a decent attacking right-back in the first half". His three game run in the side then ended on 22.11.08 when he went off 13 minutes into a game at Hendon after being on the wrong end of a tackle that the Isle of Thanet Gazette called "appalling".
After missing seven matches Roberto returned to action when he played in midfield as Margate lost 2-0 at Sutton on 13.1.09 and he also started the next four games before his injury jinx struck again. After he'd played at left-back in a 2-0 win over Tooting & Mitcham at Hartsdown Park on 7.2.09 Roberto suffered a thigh strain which led to him another two months' football.
He only played once more before the end of 2008/09 - as a substitute in a 2-0 home win over Sutton on 18.4.09 - and finished the season having made only 14 appearances (one as sub) without scoring.
In May 2009 Roberto wasn't included on Margate's retained list but manager Terry Yorath explained to the Isle of Thanet Gazette "We've come to an agreement that he will come and do pre-season with us, then we'll take it from there."
Shortly before the start of the 2009/10 campaign Terry Yorath spoke about Roberto once again in the Isle of Thanet Gazette and said "He's near to fitness and I expect him to play some part in the next two weeks. He's 100 per cent honest and a nice kid who wants to play football."
As it turned out, Roberto only featured once for Margate during 2009/10 when he started at right wing-back in an Isthmian League Cup tie at VCD on 10.11.09. Unfortunately he only lasted half an hour before succumbing to an ankle injury. Margate won 1-0 and it was Roberto's final outing for the club.
After nine months out of football he signed for Kent League club Sevenoaks in September 2010 but sadly Roberto's injury curse immediately returned to haunt him yet again. He made his debut as a 75th minute substitute as Sevenoaks lost 4-1 at Deal on 18.9.10 but within minutes Roberto went down with a knee injury and had to leave the field. He was diagnosed with damaged ligaments and didn't play senior football again after that.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2007/08 (MFC) |
4 (53) |
3 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
3QR |
2QR |
2R |
SF |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2008/09 (MFC) |
13 (46) |
1 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (19TH OF 22) |
1QR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
|
Margate finished in
relegation position but were reprieved and remained in the Isthmian League
Premier Division. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
||
|
2009/10 (MFC) |
1 (51) |
0 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (19TH OF 22) |
1QR |
1QR |
3R |
QF |
|
Margate finished in
relegation position but were reprieved and remained in the Isthmian League
Premier Division. | |||||||||