Roger Darvell played at centre-half for Banbury United from seasons 1965/66 to 1970/71. Prior to coming to Banbury, he had amassed 256 Football League appearances for then Football League side Southport. After starting out with Rickmansworth Town he joined then First Division Charlton Athletic in December 1953. However, he failed to make a first team appearance for the Addicks and moved on to Gillingham in the summer of 1957.

After making three Football League appearances for the Gills in season 1957/58 he moved once more to Fourth Division Southport where he established himself as a regular in their side over the course of the next seven seasons.

After leaving Southport in the summer of 1965 Roger joined Banbury United at the age of 34, moving to the town. He made 28 appearances for the club in season 1965/6 but it was his record in United’s first two seasons as a Southern League club which was remarkable, never missing a first team game in season 1966/67 or 1967/68 making 54 appearances in 1966/67 and 73 in 1967/68, the latter season the club entering and winning the Midland Floodlit Cup run on a league basis. In his six seasons at Banbury, Roger made a total of almost 300 appearances, scoring 14 goals.

After he stopped playing he would manage the Banbury United Reserve side and the Youth Team. Roger’s son, Colin, spent many seasons at Banbury making his debut just two seasons after his father had retired (1973/74) and then playing for the club in a number of spells up to and including season 1988/89.

The club would like to send their sincere condolences to Roger’s family and friends. His funeral is on Friday, October 31 at 12pm at Banbury Crematorium.