Roe played for the Laois senior football team from the mid-1980s until the 1990s primarily as a defender but also in midfield.
In 1982, he was full back on the Laois team that captured the Leinster U21 Football Championship and in 1991, he played on the Laois team beaten by Meath in the final of the Leinster Senior Football Championship.
He began his club football career with Portlaoise with whom he won minor and under 21 honours but it with his second club The Heath that Roe played a starring role in 1993 when they won the Laois Senior Football Championship title.
A PE and English teacher at St Fergal's College in Rathdowney, Roe began his managerial career in The Heath in 1991 while still playing.
Roe, it was alleged in the minutes, had asked for a €5,000 bonus if Wexford won its 2005 National Football League final against Armagh, whilst €3,000 would suffice in the event of a loss.