A Golden Moment in Angling History

Florence, Italy, 1985. On the banks of the River Arno, Dave Roper produced one of the most memorable performances in British match-fishing history.

Against some of the finest anglers in the world, Dave used the traditional waggler and maggot approach to claim the individual World Championship title, completing a remarkable weekend for English angling.

England had already secured the team championship, and Dave’s individual victory made the occasion even more special.

The Dave Roper I Knew

I got to know Dave particularly well during the 1985 World Championships in Florence, when I was representing Wales.

One memory has stayed with me ever since. Some of the English lads and our Welsh team began a competition to see who could throw a stone across the River Arno.

It was an enormous stretch of water, and most of us struggled to get anywhere near halfway.

But Dave was different. He launched his stone right across the river, clearing the opposite bank with ease!

That was Dave Roper. An extraordinary character with an extraordinary talent.

His fishing achievements were equally impressive. From the fiercely competitive Lancashire canal circuit, where matches could attract hundreds of anglers, he progressed to international recognition and eventually the greatest individual prize in match fishing.

In Florence, Dave sat out the opening day’s team competition, which England won. On the Sunday, he took his opportunity, catching 14 lb on waggler and maggot to become the individual World Champion.

It was a golden day for Dave Roper, and one I was privileged to witness.

Why I Wrote This Song

I got to know Dave Roper particularly well during the 1985 World Championships in Florence. He was a special character, and I’ll never forget watching him throw a stone right across the mighty River Arno while the rest of us struggled to reach halfway! But Dave’s greatest achievement came on the Sunday, when he produced a magnificent performance with waggler and maggot to become World Champion. Having shared those unforgettable days with him, I wanted to celebrate not only his remarkable victory but the man himself. Dave was, and always will be, a legend in my eyes.