*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.
Roger Wedge
Appearances: 25 Goals: 6
Date / Year of birth: 6th March 1944
Position: Winger
Season of first appearance: 1965/66
Season of last appearance: 1966/67
Also played for: Brighton & Hove Albion (0), West Ham United (0), Leyton Orient (1,0), Tunbridge Wells Rangers, Ashford Town, Hastings United, Canterbury City and Lancing
Fast, tricky two-footed winger born in Preston Park, Brighton who began his career with Brighton in 1958 immediately after leaving school and played for the Seagulls' junior sides.
In 1961 Roger's family moved to the East End of London and he joined West Ham, making his Youth team debut for the Hammers on 4.3.61. He went on to score seven goals in just four games before the end of the 1960/61 season. That led to Roger asking manager Ron Greenwood for a professional contract but after being told to wait six months he stormed out of the future England boss's office. A couple of weeks later Roger played in a FA Youth Cup tie for Leyton Orient by way of a trial and he starred as the O's thrashed Crittals Athletic 14-2. He scored four goals and then scored twice in a reserve team match against Birmingham. That led to Roger being signed as a professional on 30.10.61.
Roger went on to spend two seasons at Orient and on 15.10.62 he played for the O's first team as they beat Chester 9-2 in a Football League Cup tie - the club's record cup victory. It was his only senior appearance and in May 1963 Roger was given a free transfer.
He joined Tunbridge Wells for the 1963/64 campaign and then in March 1966 he moved to Margate for a small fee.
Roger made his debut on 16.3.66 and scored in a 2-1 defeat at Dover in the Kent Floodlight Cup, playing on the left wing. He put in what the local press described as a "perky" performance and took the eye with his accurate crossing. Roger went on to score in his next two games as well and by the end of the 1965/66 season he'd made a total of 17 appearances and scored four goals although Margate were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division.
In June 1966 Roger took part in Margate's three match tour of West Germany and scored two goals in a 5-1 win over Unter Kocken.
He made eight further appearances during the early part of the 1966/67 season and scored twice before moving on to Ashford in November 1966. He scored for them in their 2-1 defeat at Margate on 28.1.67.
He went on to make a total of 50 Southern League appearances for the Nuts & Bolts and scored 17 goals before leaving the club in June 1968.
Later in the summer of 1968 Roger toured Germany with Margate as a guest player and he then joined Hastings for the 1968/69 season.
Roger went on to spend over three years at Hastings and he twice scored over 30 goals in a season. During the 1970/71 campaign his tally included five goals in an 8-2 win over Ramsgate. He stayed at Hastings until November 1971 when he signed for Canterbury.
Roger finished the 1971/72 season as City's leading marksman, scoring seven goals in 21 Southern League appearances, and by the time he left the club in December 1973 he had scored 14 goals in a total of 70 Southern League appearances (one as sub).
Roger left Canterbury to return to his native Sussex and took up a player-coach role at Lancing. He became Lancing's player-manager for the 1974/75 campaign but resigned in October 1975.
Roger later became manager of Eastbourne United and he was in charge there during the 1980/81 and 1981/82 seasons. He was also involved with Horsham and Shoreham during the 1980's.
In later years Roger ran a golf club in Spain and in 2005 he was the owner of the Preston Park Tavern in Brighton. By 2006 he was running a bar called 'Wedgies' in Fuengirola harbour, Spain and also ran a golf society.
In 2008 Roger was still in Spain and having sold 'Wedgies' he'd bought a sports bar called the Village Inn and opened an Indian restaurant alongside it in a village called Mijas on the Costa del Sol. He'd had his left knee replaced having had the right one done in 2002. He was captain of Calanova Golf Club near La Cala and looking back on his time with Margate Roger said that he had "many good memories."
In November 2013 Roger was still living in Mijas and was running two sports bars as well as his Indian restaurant. By then he'd been married for 49 years and had two sons and six grandchildren. He still played golf regularly and recalling his spell with Margate Roger said "I look back to the early 1960's and remember the players I played with, Bob Harrop, Bryan Clifton, Tommy Marshall, Laurie Thomson etc, and my lodging partner in Germany where we had a lot of fun on tour at the meal times - Derek Grace." Roger also provided his thoughts on an epic encounter with Ramsgate played at Hartsdown Park on 3.10.66 and said it was a "fantastic game on a wet and windy night". He explained "We lost the toss and kicked up the slope against the gale force wind and were four down at half-time. Chairman Sonny Miles came into the changing rooms at the break and offered us a few bob extra if we could win and we knew we could turn it in our favour. Down the slope with the wind we won 6-4."
Sharing some more of his memories Roger added "When I left Margate I went to Ashford Town and then Canterbury who were managed by the fantastic Alf Bentley. I also went on to manage Eastbourne United. I always respected (Margate manager) Almer Hall and his bow tie, also all of the players I played with and against at Margate. Fantastic memories. I would leave home in Brighton for a home game, drive 100 miles to the ground and 100 miles home. Must have been mad but I loved every minute of the crack. How many would do that today ? My best wishes to anybody who remembers me - see you in Spain ?"
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC |
KSS |
|
1965/66 (MFC) |
17 (67) |
N/A |
4 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (22ND OF 22) |
1QR |
2R |
SF |
RU |
SF |
| Margate relegated to
Division One. Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 1st Leg (12.05.66 - lost 3-1 at Dartford). Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 2nd Leg (18.05.66 - lost 5-2 at home to Dartford). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC |
KSS |
|
1966/67 (MFC) |
8 (72) |
0 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 24) |
3QR |
QF |
RU |
GR |
2R |
| Margate promoted to Premier Division. | |||||||||