- For other people known by this name see the David Cooper disambiguation page. David Cooper may refer to David Cooper (psychiatrist (1931&ndash1986 South African anti-psychiatrist David Cooper (chaplain (born 1944
| Davie Cooper | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Cooper | |
| Date of birth | February 25, 1956 | |
| Place of birth | Hamilton, Scotland | |
| Date of death | March 23, 1995 (aged 39) | |
| Place of death | Cumbernauld, Scotland | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Cumbernauld ( Gaelic: Comar nan Allt) is a New town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. 78 m) | |
| Playing position | Winger | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1974-1977 1977-1989 1989-1994 1994-1995 | Clydebank Rangers Motherwell Clydebank | 90 (28) 377 (49) 157 (17) 21 (1) |
| National team | ||
| 1979-1990 | Scotland | 24 (6) |
1 Senior club appearances and goals | ||
David (Davie) Cooper (February 25, 1956 – March 23, 1995) was a professional football player. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered He was a Scotland international and played as a left winger. The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association.
He started his career at Clydebank F.C. where he was an instant success, helping the club to the second division championship in 1975-1976. Clydebank Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Some of the major clubs began to take notice of his ability and in 1977 he was signed by Rangers manager Jock Wallace for £100,000. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. John " Jock " Martin Bokas Wallace ( 6 September 1935 — 24 July 1996) was a professional football With Rangers, Cooper won three League Championships and three Scottish Cups. The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, usually known as the Scottish Cup, is the national football cup competition of Scotland By season 1988-1989 he was no longer a first team regular and moved to Motherwell for £50,000. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Motherwell Football & Athletic Club is a Scottish football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. He went on to win the Scottish Cup with Motherwell in 1991 before returning to his former club Clydebank in 1994. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)
He died of a brain haemorrhage on March 23, 1995 whilst he was filming a training video for youngsters. A cerebral hemorrhage (or intracerebral hemorrhage, ICH) is a subtype of Intracranial hemorrhage that occurs within the Brain tissue itself Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995
Contents |
The early years
Davie Cooper was born in Hamilton, Scotland on Saturday February 25, 1956. Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He attended Beckford Street Primary in Hamilton before moving on to Udston Primary, and it was to be at the latter that Davie's talent started to flourish as captain of the school team. He played then at left-half (the equivalent of left midfield in contemporary footballing terms) and at inside left (roughly equivalent to a modern-day deep-lying striker).
Cooper moved up to St. John's Grammar School (now Hamilton Grammar School), which had no team playing before third year. He soon went on to secure a regular starting place with local juvenile team Udston United.
As a boy he was a Rangers supporter and when he was not playing it was to Ibrox that he went with his father and brother. Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. Ibrox Stadium, originally Ibrox Park, is the Stadium of Rangers F His brother, John, had a two year spell with Hull City when he was 16, but he failed to secure a career as a professional footballer. Hull City Association Football Club are an English football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Cooper himself later moved on to Hamilton Avondale from where he would subsequently sign for Clydebank. Clydebank Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. He played with the Under-16 team before moving up to Under-18. At the time he was working as an apprentice printer with the brothers who ran Avondale.
He had gained a cap for the Scottish Amateur League, but his first International recognition came when he represented his country at Under-18 level against the Home Nations. A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports "Home nation" (common noun redirects here home nation is also used to refer to the host country of Multi-sport events (eg
Rangers, Motherwell, Clyde and Clydebank, together with English sides Coventry City and Crystal Palace, all expressed an interest in signing the young Cooper. Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. Motherwell Football & Athletic Club is a Scottish football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Clydebank Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip is an association football club based in Coventry, Crystal Palace FC is an English football club based in South Norwood, London. After his brother's less than pleasant experience on Humberside, however, Davie was hesitant about the step up to professional football. Humberside was a Non-metropolitan county of England from 1 April 1974 until 1 April 1996. But when Cooper became too old to play for Avondale in the younger age groups, and after having served his apprenticeship as a printer, a career in professional football began to become a more realistic prospect. Cooper's bosses asked Jack Steedman, owner of Clydebank, to help persuade the youngster to turn professional. Steedman is said, perhaps apocryphally, to have turned up with the takings from the 'puggy' - the fruit machine - in the 'Bankies' social club as the lure. The sum involved varies, but the story has it that the objective was to "persuade" Cooper to sign. The result was that in the summer of 1974, Davie Cooper became a Clydebank player. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.
Clydebank
Davie Cooper made his debut for Clydebank, as a substitute, against Airdrie in the League Cup, in one of the then mini-leagues around which the competition was organised, which also included St. Mirren and Stirling Albion. Airdrie United Football Club is a Scottish professional football team based in the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. The Scottish Football League Cup is an Association football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs Saint Mirren Football Club (commonly known by the shortening St Stirling Albion FC is a football club currently playing in the Scottish Football League. The game took place on Saturday, August 10 at Broomfield and it proved to be a rather inauspicious debut for the youngster as the home team won, after leading 1-0 at the break, 4-0. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Cooper came on to replace Joe McGovern.
Cooper's full debut came also against Airdrie and again in the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday August 28, but again Airdrie won, this time by 2-1. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital The game was also his first appearance at New Kilbowie Park. The 'Bankies' finished bottom of the section.
Davie's Scottish League debut came in the Second Division, in the last season before League re-construction, on Saturday, August 31. Founding members The Scottish League's first season of competition was in 1890-91. History Before 1975 the Second Division (sometimes also called Division B was the second highest level in the Scottish system Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne The game was against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park, with the 'Bankies' going down 3-0 at the hands of the 'Doonhamers'. Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries in south-west Scotland
Cooper was left on the bench for the visit of Stranraer in midweek and although he replaced Norrie Hall he was unable to help the Bankies win as they recorded their second 3-0 defeat in two games. Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. After that he drifted out of the team and it was not until the end of October that he became an almost permanent fixture in the Clydebank line-up.
Davie first played on the winning side for the Bankies on November 30, when Clydebank beat Cowdenbeath at Kilbowie by 2-1. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Cowdenbeath Football Club is a part-time professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. His first goal for the Bankies came two games later when, again at Kilbowie, he scored the third goal in the 4-1 defeat of Alloa Athletic. Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Davie ended the season with 29 starts, 2 as a sub, and scored 5 goals.
In the 1975-1976 League, the Bankies led from the off in the 26 game Second Division and Cooper was one of four ever-presents that season, He was amongst the goals that season too, finishing top of the Clydebank list with 13 in the League, three of which were penalties. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
His first hat-trick in Senior football included two penalties on a dark and cold Saturday, as the Bankies defeated Alloa Athletic 3-1. A hat-trick in Sports is associated with succeeding at anything three times in three consecutive attempts A penalty kick is a type of free kick in Association football, taken from twelve yards (approximately eleven metres out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Cooper played in all of the Bankies 49 games that season, scoring 22 goals and seeing the club promoted to the First Division. Sponsorship On July 20, 2007, it was announced that Scottish Football League would be sponsored by Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru
The 1976-1977 season saw Cooper make his international debut for Scotland's under-21s. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays It came in the Czech town of Pilsen. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Cooper played alongside the likes of Roy Aitken, George Burley and John Wark in a 0-0 draw. Robert Sime "Roy" Aitken (born 24 November 1958) is a former footballer who went on to become a coach with Leeds United and George Elder Burley (born 3 June 1956 in Cumnock, Kyle, East Ayrshire) is a Scottish football manager John Wark (born Glasgow, 4 August 1957) was a Scottish footballer who grew up in the Ipswich Town side of the 1970s and His cap that October night meant that he missed the Clydebank game Brockville the only match he missed all season. He secured another three caps that season - against Wales, Switzerland and England. The Wales national football team represents Wales in international men's football. The Swiss national football team (also known as the Schweizer Nati in German La Nati in French is the national football team of Switzerland The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football
In the League, the Bankies were the only real rivals to a superbly talented young St. Mirren side, steered by an inexperienced and fiery manager by the name of Alex Ferguson. The season involved a 6-0 win at Bayview and the Bankies record victory of 8-1 over Arbroath at New Kilbowie when Cooper scored his second and final hat-trick for the Bankies. Arbroath FC are a Scottish Association football club currently playing in the Scottish Football League.
The Bankies eventually sealed promotion to the Premier Division in the fourth last game of the season with a memorable win over Dundee. The Scottish Premier League, currently known as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for sponsorship reasons and often known as the Premier League or SPL Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893 are a football team based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. Clydebank finished runners-up to St. Mirren and became the first Scottish team to be promoted in successive seasons.
Davie Cooper's last goal for the Bankies was against Raith Rovers in a 2-0 win at New Kilbowie on April 23, 1977. Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays His last game was at Brockville in a 4-2 win, a week later.
Rangers
Davie was included in the Scotland squad for the Home International Championship and the trip to South America, but immediately before he left for Chile, he signed for Rangers to the dismay of the Clydebank support. The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The fee involved was £100,000 and it was reported that he received a signing on fee of £10,000 and was on a wage of £150 per week.
To say that Davie made a dream start to his Ibrox career would be an understatement, as he appeared in 52 of Rangers 53 major matches in the 1977-1978 season, as Jock Wallace's side won the domestic treble. Ibrox Stadium, originally Ibrox Park, is the Stadium of Rangers F Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) John " Jock " Martin Bokas Wallace ( 6 September 1935 — 24 July 1996) was a professional football The Treble is a term in Association football that refers to a club winning their country's top tier league primary domestic cup and continental level cup competition in the
Davie's first League goal in Rangers colours was netted against St Mirren at Love Street on the September 17, 1977 in a 3-3 draw. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays (His last goal for Rangers came almost exactly 11 years later also against St Mirren). His first Ibrox goal for the club came a fortnight later in a 4-1 win against Clydebank and he went on to notch another in the same match direct from a corner kick. A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of Association football. Cooper netted 8 goals in total in his first season, the most important of which was his only goal in the League Cup, which he saved for the final against Celtic, notching the first in a 2-1 victory. The Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the east end of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. This was to be the first of many Hampden appearances for Davie in a Rangers jersey and where he admitted himself, he played some of his best football. Hampden Park in Glasgow is Scotland 's National stadium. Its primary use is as the home to Queen's Park F
His contribution was impressive because the Rangers strike duo of Gordon Smith and Derek Johnstone scored 65 goals between them. Derek Joseph Johnstone (born November 4, 1953 in Dundee) is a Scottish former professional footballer.
The following season saw Rangers retain both cups with Davie playing in the majority of League Cup games and all the Scottish Cup ones. In the League they were runners-up to Glasgow rivals Celtic by a three point margin. However in the three competitions Coop netted 10 goals. The Rangers manager of the time John Greig had a problem with the laid-back attitude of Cooper, who was the complete opposite of Greig as a player. John Greig MBE (born September 11, 1942 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish professional football player who despite his
Davie scored an outrageous and widely remembered goal against Celtic in the 1979 Drybrough Cup Final. This cup was open to Scottish clubs from 1971 to 1980. It was similar to the Watney Cup in England which commenced the previous year He took the ball on his chest with his back to the goal, then proceeded to beat four defenders while playing keepie uppie, before slipping the ball into the back of the net. Keepie uppie is the art of Juggling with a football (soccer ball using feet, Lower legs Knees Chest, Shoulders This goal was voted the greatest ever Rangers goal ever as voted by worldwide fans.
The 1979-1980 season was the first of only three terms during his time at Ibrox that the club failed to win a trophy, with their final league position of 5th not winning the club a place in European competition. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Aberdeen won the Premier Division, Celtic the Scottish Cup beating Rangers in the Final and Dundee United the League Cup. Aberdeen Football Club (also known as The Dons, The Reds and The Dandies) is a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen
The summer of 1980 almost saw the end of Cooper's Rangers career as Brighton's Alan Mullery put in a bid for both Cooper and Gordon Smith. Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club are an English football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Alan Patrick Mullery MBE (born 23 November 1941, Notting Hill, London) is a former English football player and Greig however would only let one go and Mullery plumped, perhaps wrongly, for Smith.
The following season (1980-1981) was to be, in the main, another disappointing one for Davie, as John Greig used the Cooper talent sparingly in league matches (starting fewer than half the games) and even more sporadically in the Scottish Cup. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 He was recalled to the starting line-up for the final replay against Dundee United and promptly tore United to shreds as Rangers regained the Cup. This was to be Davie's last Scottish Cup winners medal for the Ibrox side.
1981-1982 saw Davie start his 21st consecutive League Cup tie for Rangers as they won through to the Final to defeat the holders, Dundee United, who were going for a hat-trick of victories in the competition. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar)
Davie's only goal in the Ibrox side's 11 ties came in the Final. Coop' also returned to the manager's plans in the League missing only 6 fixtures as Rangers finished third.
The end of the season brought the club's 7th successive Scottish Cup Final but they suffered a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Aberdeen. However, it saw yet another medal to add to the Cooper collection.
The 1982-1983 term saw two significant landmarks in the Cooper career: His first hat-trick for Rangers (in a Sectional League Cup tie against Kilmarnock) and his first and only European goal, netted against Borussia Dortmund at Ibrox, in the UEFA Cup. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. BV Borussia Dortmund is a German football club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia and one of the most successful clubs The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA.
1982-83 was also to prove to be his most prolific goalscoring season for the club, netting 12 times in all competitions. Despite this, it was to prove yet another season without trophies. Although Rangers reached both Cup Finals, Celtic were victorious in the League Cup and Aberdeen, for the second successive year, secured the Scottish Cup.
The following two seasons (1983-1984 and 1984-1985) saw Davie succeed again in the League Cup, wrapping up winners medals No 4 and No 5. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) The Rangers management changed, with Jock Wallace returning to Ibrox in place of John Greig. John " Jock " Martin Bokas Wallace ( 6 September 1935 — 24 July 1996) was a professional football John Greig MBE (born September 11, 1942 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish professional football player who despite his In hindsight, Greig's treatment of Cooper's mercurial skills was widely held to have been ineffective.
Rangers, despite Davie missing only six matches during this time, continued to disappoint in the Premier Division, securing only fourth in the table on each occasion.
Davie had become a regular in the Scotland team where, prior to the 1986 World Cup, he had played in 11 straight games. The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from May 31 to June 29. He played in the crucial match against Wales at Ninian Park, coming on as substitute for Gordon Strachan and scoring the penalty that took Scotland another step on the road to Mexico. Ninian Park is a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. This page is about the footballer and manager Gordon C Strachan was indicted in the Watergate scandal Gordon David Strachan (/strɔn/ The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The night also brought sadness as Jock Stein, the Scotland manager, died. John 'Jock' Stein CBE (5 October 1922 &ndash 10 September 1985 was one of the most notable managers in British football history
Scotland had to beat Australia for the privilege to cross the Atlantic and Cooper was on the score sheet in the 2-0 win. The Australian national football team represents Australia in international association football competitions Cooper, who had been prominent in the run up to the World Cup, was employed sparingly by Alex Ferguson in Mexico, making just two appearances. The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE, (born 31 December 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager
With the arrival of Graeme Souness as Rangers manager in April 1986, optimism was high for the following campaign and Davie Cooper was to play a major part once more. Graeme James Souness (ˈsuːnɨs (born 6 May, 1953 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
The League Cup returned to Ibrox with victory over Celtic in the Final of 1986-1987, the winner coming from the penalty spot after referee Davie Syme adjudged that Terry Butcher was impeded by Roy Aitken thus he pointed to the spot and it was netted by Davie Cooper. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) After a hesitant start, Rangers won the League championship for the first time in 9 years.
Cooper not only set up a substantial fraction of Rangers goals, but netted 8 in league matches himself.
1987-1988 saw Davie again produce the unexpected on the Hampden stage in the League Cup Final, with an unstoppable free-kick to net Rangers first goal in the 3-3 draw against Aberdeen. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The Ibrox side eventually won 5-3 on penalties and so Davie was able to claim his seventh winners medal. Celtic claimed the other two domestic trophies in their Centenary season.
In his last season at Ibrox, Cooper became increasingly frustrated as Graeme Souness used his talents sparingly and often favoured Mark Walters as his first-choice winger. Mark Everton Walters (born June 2, 1964) is a retired professional footballer from Birmingham, England. This lack of first-team games was to lead to his leaving the club. Davie Cooper's career as a Rangers player began to draw to a close at Hampden in May 1989 in another Scottish Cup Final, as Rangers chased their first treble in 11 years. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Unfortunately for Davie, who appeared as a substitute, a Joe Miller goal retained the cup for Celtic.
At the beginning of the 1988/89 season(Tuesday 9th August 1988), Cooper's testimonial match against Girondins de Bordeaux saw over 43,000 spectators watch Rangers win 3-2 with Butcher, Drinkell and McCoist netting for Rangers. A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports notably Football (soccer and especially FC Girondins de Bordeaux is a French football team playing in the city of Bordeaux.
Cooper finished his Rangers career with 75 goals in 540 appearances. When asked to describe the highlight of his time at Rangers, he simply responded "I played for the team I loved. "
Motherwell and back to Clydebank
Most commentators agreed that Davie Cooper's Rangers career placed him amongst the club's most celebrated players. Although he did not want to leave Rangers, the lure of regular first team football persuaded him to sign for former team-mate Tommy McLean at Motherwell in August 1989. Motherwell Football & Athletic Club is a Scottish football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) In his four and a half seasons at Fir Park, Davie played over 150 times for the "Steelmen" and was instrumental in the club winning its first major trophy in 39 years, in the epic Scottish Cup Final of 1991 which saw Dundee United defeated 4-3 after extra-time. Fir Park is a football Stadium situated in Motherwell Scotland. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The move also revived Cooper's Scotland career and he earned another four caps before injury put paid to his chances of going to the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest
While with Motherwell, Davie had been working in a coaching capacity with the reserve and youth sides. In December 1993 he returned to Clydebank as a player, but also to assist in coaching duties. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) As in his first period at the club, Davie began on the losing side as Clydebank lost 0-2 to Ayr United at New Kilbowie on January 4, 1994. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) In 1993-1994 he played in a total of 20 games, including sixteen starts and four as a substitute. In 1994-1995 he was almost an ever-present in the side, until the start of February when he played against Hearts in the Scottish Cup Third Round Replay at Tynecastle on February 7, 1995. Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in Edinburgh, Scotland. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 But despite the Bankies best efforts they were unable to overcome the Edinburgh team. That was Davie's last First XI appearance. The last goal he scored was against Airdrie in the B&Q Cup Semi-Final - typically it was a first class strike. Davie Cooper made his last appearance in a Clydebank jersey in a Reserve fixture at New Kilbowie on February 21 against Hamilton Academical. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Hamilton Academical is a football club from Hamilton Scotland.
Death
A month later on Wednesday March 22 he suffered a brain haemorrhage at Broadwood Stadium, where he and the former Celtic, Arsenal and Aberdeen Scottish international Charlie Nicholas were recording a coaching film for youngsters. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Charles "Charlie" Nicholas (born 30 December 1961) is a former Scottish professional football player He died in hospital the next day, aged 39 years.
His funeral took place at Hillhouse Parish Church, Hamilton on Monday March 27, 1995 and he was buried in the town's Bent cemetery. Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995
Davie Cooper is remembered as one of the most significant players in the histories of Clydebank, Rangers and Motherwell football clubs. In his eulogy to Cooper, the then Rangers manager, Walter Smith, said that "God gave Davie Cooper a talent. Walter Smith may refer to Walter Chalmers Smith (1824-1908 Scottish poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland Walter Parry Haskett Smith He would not be disappointed with how it was used. "
External links
- DavieCooper.com
- Rangers FC - Cooper's entry in the Rangers Hall of Fame.
- Scottish Football Association - International appearances.
- Sporting Heroes - Career record.
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