Tommy Roper
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Tommy Roper
| image =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|6 July 1940}}
| birth_place = Bradford, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| career1 = Bradford Panthers
| years1 = 1960, 1962
| career2 = Middlesbrough Bears
| years2 = 1961
| career3 = Sheffield Tigers
| years3 = 1962–1965
| career4 = Long Eaton Archers
| years4 = 1965
| career5 = Halifax Dukes
| years5 = 1965–1966, 1972
| career6 = Belle Vue Aces
| years6 = 1967–1971
| career7 = Oxford Cheetahs
| years7 = 1971
| career8 = Hull Vikings
| years8 = 1974
| indivyear1 =
| indivhonour1 =
| indivyear2 =
| indivhonour2 =
| teamyear1 = 1966, 1970
| teamhonour1 = British League Champion
| teamyear2 = 1966
| teamhonour2 = British League Knockout Cup Winner
| teamyear3 = 1966
| teamhonour3 = Northern Cup Winner
| teamyear4 = 1963, 1964
| teamhonour4 = Provincial Northern League Champion
}}
Thomas Roper (born 6 July 1940) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2466/tommy-roper|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=28 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Bradford%20Greenfield.htm|title=Bradford Speedway (Greenfield)|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=28 July 2021}} He earned four international caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=28 December 2023}}
Speedway career
Roper rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1965 to 1974, riding for various clubs.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=History Archive|website=British Speedway|access-date=27 July 2021}}
Roper switched from Middlesbrough Bears to Sheffield Tigers in 1962 and would spend four seasons with the South Yorkshire club.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003295/19640515/306/0016 |title=Tommy Roper carried off |website=Halifax Evening Courier |date=15 May 1964 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }}
Roper left Sheffield to join Halifax Dukes in 1965 and was an integral part of the Halifax Dukes team that won the double during the 1966 British League season,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005231/19660801/017/0002 |title=Tommy Roper top scorer |website=Halifax Evening Courier |date=1 August 1966 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 October 2024 }} scoring a season average of 7.54.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=4 October 2024}} In 1967 he moved to Belle Vue Aces and was a member of the 1970 title winning team.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roper, Tommy}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:Belle Vue Aces riders
Category:Bradford Panthers riders
Category:Long Eaton Archers riders
Category:Middlesbrough Bears riders
Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders
Category:Sheffield Tigers riders
Category:Sportspeople from Bradford
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