2 - 1 v Peterborough Sports (H) 10/12/2024 Gary Cooper
Real Name: Gary Smethurst Cooper
Born: 15/02/1955 (Horwich)
Heritage Number: 1096
Debut Match*: 13/08/1977 v Tranmere Rovers (Football League Cup)
Last Match*: 22/12/1984 v Morecambe (Northern Premier League Cup)
* Qualifying Games
As a centre-forward he appeared in the Cheshire League for his home-town club Horwich RMI when still only 15. Discarded after an apprenticeship at Bolton Wanderers, he had a three months’ trial at Oldham under Walter Joyce, whose first signing he was when appointed manager at Rochdale.In 1975–76 he played in the side that took Norwich City to three replays in the fourth round of the F.A. Cup. He joined Southport as a part-time on trial after being freed by Rochdale. He scored a spectacular goal in the League Cup-tie with Hull City when he hit home a vicious dipping volley from 30 yards. He was signed on for the season, but suffered two ankle injuries which limited his first team opportunities. He did have the honour of scoring Southport’s very last League goal in their 2200th game.He re-joined Southport in 1981 and was a regular scorer in their Northern Premier League team, notching 21 N.P.L. goals in his first season. He stayed on as a popular crowd-pleaser for two more years, accumulating 103 full N.P.L. appearances. He works at British Aerospace and has tried his luck in the USA in recent years.
Southport Playing Stats
First Team
| Heritage Qualifying | League Only | Cup Only | Other Only | All | ||||||||||||||||
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| 1977/1978 | 18 | (7) | 25 | 7 | 13 | (7) | 20 | 5 | 5 | (0) | 5 | 2 | 0 | (1) | 1 | 0 | 18 | (8) | 26 | 7 |
| 1981/1982 | 39 | (5) | 44 | 28 | 32 | (5) | 37 | 21 | 12 | (0) | 12 | 9 | 0 | (0) | 0 | 0 | 44 | (5) | 49 | 30 |
| 1982/1983 | 40 | (3) | 43 | 16 | 34 | (3) | 37 | 15 | 14 | (0) | 14 | 3 | 0 | (0) | 0 | 0 | 48 | (3) | 51 | 18 |
| 1983/1984 | 30 | (2) | 32 | 7 | 26 | (1) | 27 | 6 | 9 | (4) | 13 | 4 | 0 | (0) | 0 | 0 | 35 | (5) | 40 | 10 |
| 1984/1985 | 12 | (7) | 19 | 5 | 11 | (4) | 15 | 4 | 4 | (6) | 10 | 3 | 0 | (0) | 0 | 0 | 15 | (10) | 25 | 7 |
| Total | 139 | (24) | 163 | 63 | 116 | (20) | 136 | 51 | 44 | (10) | 54 | 21 | 0 | (1) | 1 | 0 | 160 | (31) | 191 | 72 |
Transfers
| Season | Date | Club From | Standard From | Club To | Standard To | Value/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977/1978 | 11/08/1977 | Rochdale | First Team | Southport | First Team | |
| 1977/1978 | 18/11/1977 | Southport | First Team | Southport | First Team | Agrees terms after Trial |
| 1977/1978 | 01/05/1978 | Southport | First Team | No Club | First Team | Released |
Pictures
Gary Cooper
