To write about Sammy Roper is difficult, he was never a first team regular, but was with the club for nearly a decade.
Sammy Roper was one of Falkirk FC's most loyal fringe/squad players, playing mostly in the reserves for his local team [he lived in the Cow Wynd], but he was always at the beck and call of the first eleven.
Obviously I never saw him play so can not make any proper judgements, but whenever one of the first team was injured he was there, perhaps Falkirk & football in general need more players like him.
Only 28 games over nearly a decade [about three games a year] means Sammy either just accepted his place in Football, or the absolute opposite, maybe he never gave up trying. I don't know, I like to think the latter.
Here is to all fringe players, clubs could not exist without them.
There is no chance in hell of me having a contemporary picture him, but I did notice his grave on my travels.
Camelon Cemetery
Samuel Roper
b c1874, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 25th January 1937, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
Falkirk Debut – Saturday December 24th 1892 v Laurieston (H) Friendly
Positions – Outside-Right, Outside-Left
Minor League Matches/Goals [11/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [3/1]
Other Matches/Goals [14/6]
Total Matches/Goals [28/8]
Known Career – Falkirk [1892/93-1900/01],
Played for Queen's Park Strollers v Falkirk 1st May 1897 (H) Scottish Combination.
