Stephen Brian Cooper (22 June 1964 – 15 February 2004) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Best known for his time spent with Airdrieonians, his headed goal in the semi-final at Hampden against Hearts ensured that his side made it to the 1995 Scottish Cup final and he played the full 90 minutes against Celtic as the Diamonds lost 1–0 to a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal.[3][4]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Brian Cooper[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 June 1964[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham,[1] England | ||
| Date of death | 15 February 2004 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982–1984 | Birmingham City | 0 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | → Halifax Town (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 1984 | → NAC Breda (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 1984–1985 | Newport County | 38 | (11) |
| 1985–1988 | Plymouth Argyle | 73 | (15) |
| 1988–1990 | Barnsley | 77 | (13) |
| 1990–1993 | Tranmere Rovers | 32 | (3) |
| 1992 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1993–1994 | York City | 38 | (6) |
| 1994–1999 | Airdrieonians | 133 | (42) |
| 1999–2000 | Ayr United | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 414 | (92) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Before joining Airdrie, Cooper played for a number of clubs in England, most notably Tranmere Rovers, where he scored twice in Tranmere's successful playoff campaign in 1991, which resulted in the club's promotion to the First Division,[5] and also scored in the club's 3–2 defeat against Cooper's former club, Birmingham City, in the Associate Members' Cup Final, also in 1991.[6] In 1984, he had a loan spell in the Netherlands with NAC Breda.[7]
For Peterborough United, Cooper came off the bench to score a late diving header, winning the 1992 Third Division play-off semi-final second leg against Huddersfield Town.[8][9]
He was inducted into the Airdrie United Hall of Fame in 2004 as recognition of his service to the club.[10]
He died in his sleep at his home in Yardley, Birmingham, on 15 February 2004, unknowingly having had a bleed on the brain.[11][12]
Honours
editAirdrieonians
References
edit- ^ a b c "Steve Cooper". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ Traynor, John (9 April 1995). "Cooper leads cup coup". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ O'Hagan, Simon (28 May 1995). "Celtic's compensation". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Football mourns Cooper". BBC Sport. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Dick, Brian (28 May 2015). "Birmingham City nostalgia: John Gayle blows Tranmere away with Wembley double". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Spelers: Steve Cooper". VI.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ "Cooper's cruel strike ends hopes of Wembley". Examiner Live. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Matches: Huddersfield Town 1–2 Peterborough Utd (14/05/1992)". Up The Posh. Chris Wilkinson. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Steve Cooper". Greens on Screen. Steve Dean. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Ex-City striker Steve Cooper dies at 39". The Press. York. 16 February 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Greatest Strikers: 25–21". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Bell's Cup". SPFL. Retrieved 22 April 2021.