John Cooper (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Cooper was an English footballer who had a brief professional career with Southampton
in the 1920s.
, Staffordshire
and joined Darlaston playing in the Birmingham & District League. Described as "the best inside-right in the Birmingham League", he topped the goalscoring charts whilst with Darlaston. He soon became the target for talent scouts from several top clubs, including Manchester United
, Cardiff City
and Sunderland
.
In April 1921, together with his Darlaston team-mate Henry Johnson
, he moved on a free transfer to the south coast
to join Southampton
, then playing in the Football League Third Division South
. Cooper was unable to live up to his reputation and found it virtually impossible to displace the Saints' veterans, Arthur Dominy
and Bill Rawlings
, from the forward positions. In his two seasons at The Dell, Cooper managed only five first-team appearances, failing to score.
In May 1923, he was placed on the transfer list at a fee of £200, but with no club willing to pay the fee he was eventually given a free transfer to Notts County
, although he failed to make any first-team appearances before fading into obscurity.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1920s.
Football career
Cooper was born in WednesburyWednesbury
Wednesbury is a market town in England's Black Country, part of the Sandwell metropolitan borough in West Midlands, near the source of the River Tame. Similarly to the word Wednesday, it is pronounced .-Pre-Medieval and Medieval times:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and joined Darlaston playing in the Birmingham & District League. Described as "the best inside-right in the Birmingham League", he topped the goalscoring charts whilst with Darlaston. He soon became the target for talent scouts from several top clubs, including Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
In April 1921, together with his Darlaston team-mate Henry Johnson
Henry Johnson (footballer)
Henry Edward Johnson was an English footballer who played as a forward in the 1920s for Southampton and Queens Park Rangers.-Football career:...
, he moved on a free transfer to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, then playing in the Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
. Cooper was unable to live up to his reputation and found it virtually impossible to displace the Saints' veterans, Arthur Dominy
Arthur Dominy
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton....
and Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
, from the forward positions. In his two seasons at The Dell, Cooper managed only five first-team appearances, failing to score.
In May 1923, he was placed on the transfer list at a fee of £200, but with no club willing to pay the fee he was eventually given a free transfer to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, although he failed to make any first-team appearances before fading into obscurity.