Don Roper
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Donald George Beaumont Roper | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1922 | ||
| Place of birth | Botley, Hampshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 June 2001 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Southampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre forward / Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bitterne Nomads | |||
| Eastleigh | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1940–1947 | Southampton | 40 | (8) |
| 1947–1957 | Arsenal | 297 | (88) |
| 1957–1959 | Southampton | 80 | (32) |
| 1959–1960 | Weymouth | 33 | (10) |
| 1960–1963 | Dorchester Town | 103 | (31) |
| International career | |||
| 1953 |
England B | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Donald George Beaumont Roper (14 December 1922 – 8 June 2001) was an English footballer.
Playing career
Born in
After impressing in the
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.[3] 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
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.[3]
He rejoined former club Southampton who were now in the Third Division (South), in January 1957.[4] He went on to become club captain, playing alongside star player 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.[2]
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.[3]
Honours
- Arsenal[3]
- First Division championship: 1947–48, 1952–53
- FA Cup finalist: 1952
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
- ^ ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
- ^ a b c d "Don Roper". Arsenal.com.
- ^ "Don Roper". 11v11.com.
- ^ "1948/49 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "1953/54 F.A. Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.