Ian Roper

Ian Roper

Personal information
Full name	Ian Robert Roper
Date of birth	(1977-06-20) 20 June 1977 (age 46)
Place of birth	Nuneaton, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [1]
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–2008	Walsall	325	(7)
2008–2009	Luton Town	19	(3)
2009–2011	Kettering Town	70	(1)
2011	Tamworth	0	(0)
2011–2013	Bedworth United	?	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:03, 10 May 2012 (UTC)

Ian Robert Roper (born 20 June 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a defender.

He made over 300 appearances in the Football League for Walsall between 1995 and 2008.

Career

Walsall

Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Roper worked his way up through the Bescot Stadium ranks to sign professional forms in May 1995. He collected the 2002–03 Player of the Year award to add to the Young Player of the Year prize that he earned a couple of years earlier. He was an important member of the back-line who did well to get his Saddlers' career back on track after falling out of favour for a spell under former boss Ray Graydon, which saw him placed on the transfer list. He completed his resurgence by signing a new three-year contract at the end of the 2003–04 season, but suffered at the hands of suspension and injury for much of 2004–05. He returned to the side in early February 2005 and was soon back to his solid best with some commanding displays in the heart of the back-line.

In March 2007, Roper suffered significant damage to his knee following an injury picked up during the 1–0 defeat at Stockport County on 20 February. ^[2] In May of the same year, Roper agreed a new one-year contract with Walsall. ^[3] Roper, along with eight other players was released at the end of the 2007–08 season by the managerless club. ^[4]

Luton Town

Roper joined Luton Town on a free transfer in August 2008. ^[5] His no-nonsense defending and important goals soon turned him into a fan favourite.^{[ citation needed ]} Injury and the return of George Pilkington to central defence limited Roper's chances during the second half of the season, but he played a total of nineteen league games for Luton in 2008–09, scoring three goals.

Kettering Town

On 30 July 2009, Roper signed for Conference Premier side Kettering Town on a free transfer. ^[6] He was appointed Kettering captain in September 2009. He scored his first goal for the club against Leeds United in the FA Cup and followed this up with a neat finish against Grays Athletic in the league. In May 2010, Roper signed a new two-year contract with the club. ^[7]

Tamworth

After impressing during a pre-season trial, Roper followed former Poppies manager Marcus Law to rivals Tamworth in July 2011. ^[8] Roper however decided a week later that he did not want to continue his playing career in the Conference, and asked for his Tamworth contract to be cancelled, as he wished to continue his playing career at a lower level. Tamworth manager Marcus Law accepted Roper's request, and he went in search of a new club.

Bedworth United

Roper agreed to drop down three levels to join Southern Football League side Bedworth United in August 2011. Bedworth United manager Steve Farmer said Roper was drawn in by the clubs ambitions and described it as a major "coup" to get someone of his experience. Roper joined having played in the club's three previous friendlies, and will have a major influence on the younger players at the club, said Farmer. ^[9]

Honours

Walsall

• Football League Second Division play-offs: 2001
• Football League Two: 2006–07

Luton Town

• Football League Trophy: 2008–09 ^[10]

References

1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2006). Sky Sports Football Yearbook: 2006–2007. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 550. ISBN   0-7553-1525-1. OCLC   68771078.
2. "Ligament damage rules Roper out". BBC Sport. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
3. "Ince and Roper stay at Saddlers". BBC Sport. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
4. "Wrack and Roper leaving Saddlers". BBC Sport. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
5. "Luton Town bring in 11 new faces". BBC Sport. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
6. "Kettering sign Roper from Luton". BBC Sport. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
7. "Ian Roper and Nathan Abbey sign new Kettering contracts". BBC Sport]. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
8. Chris Philpotts (14 July 2011). "Veteran pros give Law perfect mix". Tamworth Herald. p. 108.
9. "Bedworth pull off Roper coup". NuneatonNews. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
10. Fletcher, Paul (5 April 2009). "Luton 3–2 Scunthorpe (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2024.

External links

• Ian Roper at Soccerbase