The 78-year-old is currently playing his 35th consecutive season playing softball and now playing with the Dale Districts Men’s Softball Association in, who play in Langford.
He began getting involved in softball in the early 1980s before moving to play for Thornlie.
Prior to playing softball he was playing lawn bowls, but after 20 years he gave that up because he loved playing softball.
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READ NOW“I fell in love with the game of softball,” he said.
“The activity, the competitiveness of the sport, it’s just one of those things.”
Mr Roper’s wife is also involved in sport as a scorer and that has kept Mr Roper involved and playing for so long.
He said there had been so many moments throughout his career as a softballer.
“There have been so many things happen to try and pick one out has been very difficult,” he said.
“I think my greatest enjoyment has been with the young ones and helping them progress.”
Mr Roper said the key to him playing for so long was that he always took care of himself.
After 35 years of softball, he said he had thought of giving it up and indicated the end of his playing days could be soon.
“Yes, I have thought of giving it up,” he said.
“This could be my last year of playing.
“It’s a younger persons sport and you get to a point in your life and you get niggling injures and arthritis and things like that.
“I can concentrate more on the umpiring and maybe coaching.”