 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.