Former Lancashire Post angling columnist Dave Roper recalls ‘Italian job’

‘Born To Win’ charts the life of England star Tommy Pickering, who was a team-mate of Dave’s in several England teams in the 1980s.

Roper, 75, who now lives in Barton, was crowned world individual champion in 1985 on Italy’s River Arno in beautiful Florence.

It was a double success that weekend as England also took the team gold medal for the first time in their history after 25 years of near misses.

Talking about the book, Roper – a partner in a plywood business in Darwen – said: “I am mentioned in a chapter called The Italian Job. That’s all about how we won the world team gold in Italy.

“No nation had ever beaten Italy on home soil so it was a real feather in our caps, and being crowned individual world champion for me was simply the icing on the cake.”

In a glittering match fishing career, Roper was also captain for many years of the Preston-based Izaak Walton match fishing team, which won numerous competitions all over the UK including the prestigious Division One national.

The team used to meet at the Lamb Hotel at the bottom of Church Street, next door to what was formerly Ted Carter’s Fishing Tackle shop.

Tommy Pickering – Born To Win is available now only online in hardback or softback.

Simply go to www.tommypickeringangling.co.uk or visit the Facebook page: Tommy Pickering Angling Store. Price: £20 hardback, £15 softback.