Ian Roper

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Personal information
Ian Roper

Full name	Ian Robert Roper
Date of birth	June 20, 1977 (1977-06-20) (age 30)
Place of birth	Nuneaton, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Unattached
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1995–2008	Walsall	306 (6)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:24, 9 May 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Ian Robert Roper (born June 20, 1977 in Nuneaton, England) is an English footballer, currently without a club.

Working his way up through the Bescot Stadium ranks to sign professional forms in May 1995, he has given sterling service to the club over the years and is currently in his Testimonial Year.

Dominant in the air and strong in the challenge, he is a reliable figure who has put in so many solid and no-nonsense displays during his Saddlers career.

Picking up 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, the unassuming 30 year-old is an important member of the back-line who has done 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 deal at the end of the 2003/04 season, but suffered at the hands of suspension and injury for much of 2004/05.

However, 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.

Whilst the 2005/06 campaign ended in disappointment with relegation, Roper can reflect on a number of impressive performances after coming back into the side in late October and he remains a firm favourite amongst the fans.