WORKING his way up through the Banks's Stadium ranks to sign professional forms in May 1995, he gave sterling service to the club over the years.

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

Picking up the 2002/2003 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 central defender was an important member of the back-line who did well to get his Saddlers' career back on track after being placed on the transfer list by Ray Graydon.

He completed his resurgence by signing a new three-year deal at the end of the 2003/2004 season, but suffered at the hands of suspension and injury for much of 2004/2005. 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 was able to reflect on a number of impressive performances after coming back into the side in late October. He remains a firm favourite amongst the fans and did well during the 2006/07 Championship-winning campaign as he weighed in with four goals before a freak injury following a collision with team-mate Michael Dobson at Stockport ended his season in February.

He put pen to paper on a new 12-month deal in May 2007 and having found himself in the team in the early matches of 2007/08, he then lost his place until Scott Dann's departure to Coventry City in January 2008. Returning to the first-team fray, he let no-one down and gave his all before being released in May 2008.