Don Roper
Encyclopedia
Donald George Beaumont "Don" Roper (14 December 1922 – 8 June 2001) was an English
football
er.
, Hampshire
, Roper was a prolific scorer as a schoolboy. He was spotted playing parks football by Toby Keleher, assistant manager to Tom Parker
, and in July 1940 was persuaded to sign for his local club, Southampton
, making his debut for them during wartime
matches. By the resumption of competitive football in 1946, Roper had established himself as a "two-footed powerful (right) winger
".
After impressing in the Second Division
in 1946–47 he was signed by Arsenal
in the close season for £10,000, with George Curtis
and Tom Rudkin moving in the opposite direction. Arsenal had been so keen to secure Roper's signature that their manager Tom Whittaker
had made eleven visits to The Dell.
Roper immediately became a regular for the Gunners, playing 40 times and scoring ten goals in 1947–48, as Arsenal won the First Division
. He switched to the left wing in 1949–50 but was displaced by Denis Compton
in Arsenal's FA Cup
-winning side of 1950. He regained his place the following season, and continued to be a near ever-present for Arsenal for the next five. He played in Arsenal's 1952 FA Cup Final
defeat to Newcastle United
, although in that match he was forced to deputise for full back Walley Barnes
after Barnes was stretchered off with an injury.
In 1952–53 Roper enjoyed one of his finest seasons — winning another League title and earned an England B
cap against Scotland B
, although he never played for the full England
side. He also scored five in a friendly match against Hibernian
in 1952, which was one of the first in the country to be played under floodlight
s.
Roper enjoyed another two seasons as a first-team regular, but lost his Arsenal first-team place during 1955–56, dropping down to the reserves. He played 321 matches for Arsenal in total, scoring 95 goals.
He rejoined Southampton (now in the Third Division (South)
) in January 1957, becoming club captain and playing alongside Derek Reeves
and the young Terry Paine
. At the end of the 1958–59 season Roper fell out with the club over terms and alleged promises from Ted Bates
of a place as trainer and left nursing a grudge which he never overcame, refusing to attend any club reunions or even to visit The Dell.
He finished his career by playing for Weymouth
and Dorchester Town
, finally retiring from the game in 1963.
He also played first class cricket for Hampshire
once in 1947 against Cambridge University
. After retiring from the game, he settled in Southampton
and worked as an engineer
. He died in 2001, at the age of 78.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Playing career
Born in BotleyBotley, Hampshire
Botley is a historic village in Hampshire, England that obtained a charter for a market from Henry III in 1267. The area has been settled since at least the 10th century....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, Roper was a prolific scorer as a schoolboy. He was spotted playing parks football by Toby Keleher, assistant manager to Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
, and in July 1940 was persuaded to sign for his local club, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, making his debut for them during wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
matches. By the resumption of competitive football in 1946, Roper had established himself as a "two-footed powerful (right) winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
".
After impressing in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1946–47 he was signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the close season for £10,000, with George Curtis
George Curtis (footballer born 1919)
George Frederick Curtis was an English professional footballer and coach, who played as an inside forward.-Arsenal:Curtis played as a youth for Anglo before signing for Arsenal in December 1936...
and Tom Rudkin moving in the opposite direction. Arsenal had been so keen to secure Roper's signature that their manager Tom Whittaker
Tom Whittaker (footballer)
Thomas James "Tom" Whittaker MBE was an English football player, trainer and manager, chiefly associated with Arsenal Football Club...
had made eleven visits to The Dell.
Roper immediately became a regular for the Gunners, playing 40 times and scoring ten goals in 1947–48, as Arsenal won the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He switched to the left wing in 1949–50 but was displaced by Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
in Arsenal's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
-winning side of 1950. He regained his place the following season, and continued to be a near ever-present for Arsenal for the next five. He played in Arsenal's 1952 FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final 1952
The 1952 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1951-52 staging of the Football Association Challenge Cup , English football's main cup competition. The match was contested by Newcastle United and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 3 May 1952...
defeat to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, although in that match he was forced to deputise for full back Walley Barnes
Walley Barnes
Walley Barnes was a Welsh footballer and broadcaster. He played for Arsenal, being part of their championship-winning side in 1947-48, and he captained the Welsh national side.-Early career:...
after Barnes was stretchered off with an injury.
In 1952–53 Roper enjoyed one of his finest seasons — winning another League title and earned an England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
cap against Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
, although he never played for the full England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
side. He also scored five in a friendly match against Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1952, which was one of the first in the country to be played under floodlight
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
s.
Roper enjoyed another two seasons as a first-team regular, but lost his Arsenal first-team place during 1955–56, dropping down to the reserves. He played 321 matches for Arsenal in total, scoring 95 goals.
He rejoined Southampton (now in the Third Division (South)
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
) in January 1957, becoming club captain and playing alongside Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves was an English footballer, born in Poole, Dorset, who played as a centre forward for Southampton and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the Football League....
and the young Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
. At the end of the 1958–59 season Roper fell out with the club over terms and alleged promises from Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
of a place as trainer and left nursing a grudge which he never overcame, refusing to attend any club reunions or even to visit The Dell.
He finished his career by playing for Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
and Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
, finally retiring from the game in 1963.
He also played first class cricket for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
once in 1947 against Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
. After retiring from the game, he settled in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and worked as an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He died in 2001, at the age of 78.
Honours
ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship: 1947–48 & 1952–53 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 1952