Charlie Cooper (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Charlie Cooper
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Charlie Terrence Cooper{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/june/efl-club-retained-and-released-lists-published/ |title=EFL: Club retained and released lists published |publisher=English Football League |date=23 June 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|1|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/233146/charlie-cooper |title=Charlie Cooper: Overview |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=9 April 2020}}
| birth_place = Stockton-on-Tees, England
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/charlie-cooper-254360/ |title=Charlie Cooper |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=10 August 2017}}
| position = Central midfielder{{cite web |url=https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/wood-secure-midfield-coop/ |title=Wood secure midfield coop |first=Craig |last=Draycott |publisher=Boreham Wood F.C. |date=11 March 2019 |accessdate=11 July 2019}}
| currentclub = Yeovil Town
| clubnumber = 24
| youthyears1 = 2007–2015
| youthclubs1 = Birmingham City
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Birmingham City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → York City (loan)
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = → Forest Green Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 21
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2019
| clubs5 = Forest Green Rovers
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2018
| clubs6 = → Newport County (loan)
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019
| clubs7 = → Boreham Wood (loan)
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs8 = FC Halifax Town
| caps8 = 27
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2020–2021
| clubs9 = Woking
| caps9 = 38
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2021–2022
| clubs10 = Wealdstone
| caps10 = 36
| goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2022–2023
| clubs11 = Oldham Athletic
| caps11 = 15
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2023–
| clubs12 = Yeovil Town
| caps12 = 93
| goals12 = 2
| club-update = 18:01, 26 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Charlie Terrence Cooper (born 1 May 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for {{English football updater|YeovilTo}} club Yeovil Town.
Cooper began his career with Birmingham City, but never played for their first team. He spent time on loan at National League clubs York City and Forest Green Rovers before joining the latter on a permanent basis in 2017 after their promotion to the Football League. In 2018–19, he spent time on loan at League Two club Newport County and Boreham Wood of the National League. Cooper subsequently spent seasons with National League clubs FC Halifax Town, scoring once from 31 appearances, Woking and Wealdstone, before joining Oldham Athletic in 2022.
Life and career
=Early life and career=
Cooper is the son of former footballer Mark Cooper{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140115-blue-kid-on-the-block-charlie-cooper-1296559.aspx |title=Blue kid on the block – Charlie Cooper |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=15 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119050306/https://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140115-blue-kid-on-the-block-charlie-cooper-1296559.aspx |archivedate=19 January 2014}} and grandson of England international Terry Cooper.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-youngster-charlie-cooper-12300619 |title=Birmingham City youngster Charlie Cooper goes on loan with his dad Mark |first=Mat |last=Kendrick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=9 December 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham,{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/charlie-cooper/ |title=Charlie Cooper: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=9 April 2020}} while his father was a Hartlepool United player.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=1639 |title=Mark Cooper |website=Soccerbase |access-date=1 May 2024}} The family later moved to the Midlands, where Cooper attended Alderbrook School in Solihull. He was noticed by representatives of Birmingham City when playing in a cup final, and joined their Academy in 2007. He took up a scholarship with the club in July 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2013.ashx |format=PDF |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2013 and 31/07/2013 |publisher=The Football Association |page=41 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} Interviewed in early 2014, he assessed his strength as passing, and felt he needed to improve his heading.
Cooper signed his first professional contract, of two years, in May 2015. According to coach Steve Spooner, "Charlie is like the conductor of the orchestra; he sets the tone. He's learnt how to slow games down and speed games up. His range of passing has improved, as well as his goal scoring. And I think there is more to come from him in that area."{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2015/youngsters-sign-first-pro-deals/ |title=Youngsters sign first pro deals |first=Peter |last=Lewis |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=6 May 2015 |accessdate=5 August 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805223441/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2015/youngsters-sign-first-pro-deals/ |url-status=dead }}
=National League football=
Cooper joined National League club Forest Green Rovers on a month's youth loan on 23 January 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/14225923.FOREST_GREEN__Birmingham_City_starlet_Charlie_Cooper_joins_Forest_Green_on_one_month_loan_deal/ |title=Forest Green: Birmingham City starlet Charlie Cooper joins Forest Green on one-month loan deal |first=Ashley |last=Loveridge |newspaper=Western Telegraph |location=Haverfordwest |date=23 January 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He was an unused substitute for four matches before Birmingham recalled him.{{cite tweet |author=Birmingham City F.C. |user=bcfc |number=700695080173223937 |date=19 February 2016 |title=Blues have implemented their recall option on Charlie Cooper, who has been at @FGRFC_Official on a Youth Loan |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He was a member of the Birmingham reserve team that lost the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final to National League North champions Solihull Moors.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-senior-cup-final-birmingham-11291593 |title=Birmingham Senior Cup final: Birmingham City U21s 1 Solihull Moors 2 |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=5 May 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2017}}
On 26 October of the following season, he was loaned to another National League club, this time York City.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14825164.SIGNING_ALERT__Birmingham_City_youngster_Charlie_Cooper_joins_York_City_on_loan/ |title=Signing alert: Birmingham City youngster Charlie Cooper joins York City on loan |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=26 October 2016 |accessdate=10 August 2017}} He went straight into the starting eleven for the next match, at home to Sutton United. According to Dave Flett of the York Press, Cooper "introduced some much-needed forward thrust" to the midfield as the match ended 2–2.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14833608.Five_Things_We_Learned_from_York_City_s_2_2_home_draw_with_Sutton/ |title=Five Things We Learned from York City's 2–2 home draw with Sutton |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=31 October 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He started four more matches, all in the league, before returning to Birmingham after one month.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14940878.York_City_to_unveil_new_on_loan_striker_and_centre_back_in_time_for_Tranmere_test/ |title=York City to unveil new on-loan striker and centre back in time for Tranmere test |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=1 December 2016 |accessdate=10 August 2017}}
On 9 December, Cooper rejoined Forest Green Rovers{{snd}}who were by that time under his father's management{{snd}}for another month.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38269923 |title=Charlie Cooper: Forest Green Rovers add Birmingham City midfielder on loan |website=BBC Sport |date=9 December 2016 |accessdate=10 August 2017}} After he made five appearances during the month, Birmingham allowed the loan to be extended to the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38561035 |title=Charlie Cooper: Birmingham City youngster extends loan with Forest Green Rovers |website=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He was a regular starter throughout his loan spell, and helped the club gain promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.
=League football with Forest Green Rovers=
Birmingham had confirmed in March that Cooper would be released when his contract expired at the end of the season,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/club-makes-decisions-on-young-prospects/ |title=Club makes decisions on young prospects |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=30 March 2017 |accessdate=17 January 2018}} and he signed a two-year contract with Forest Green on 15 June 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40292975 |title=Charlie Cooper: Forest Green sign Birmingham City loanee on two-year deal |website=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} He made his Football League debut on the opening day of the 2017–18 season, in the starting eleven for the League Two visit of Barnet to The New Lawn. He took the corner kick from which Christian Doidge headed Forest Green's first Football League goal, and played the whole of the match, which finished 2–2.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/forest-grn-vs-barnet/report/374074 |title=Forest Green 2–2 Barnet: Debutants blow two-goal lead |website=Sky Sports |date=5 August 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2017}} Cooper scored his first senior goal on 19 August, contributing Forest Green's third goal with a "speculative strike" as his team came back from 2–0 and 3–1 down to beat Yeovil Town 4–3 and record their first win in the Football League.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11750/10994405/league-two-round-up-forest-green-get-first-win |title=League Two round-up: Forest Green get first win |agency=PA Sport |website=Sky Sports |date=19 August 2017 |accessdate=19 August 2017}} He established himself as a regular in the midfield, until knee damage, diagnosed as hyperextension of his left knee and bruising to the bone, sustained following a tackle in a match against Coventry City in mid-October,{{cite news |url=http://www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/15611424.Charlie_Cooper_sidelined_for_minimum_of_six_weeks_following_horror_tackle_at_Coventry_City/ |title=Charlie Cooper sidelined for minimum of six weeks following horror tackle at Coventry City |first=Ashley |last=Loveridge |newspaper=Cotswold Journal |date=21 October 2017 |accessdate=17 December 2017}} kept him out for six weeks. He returned to the side as a second-half substitute in an EFL Trophy match on 5 December, and then resumed his place in the starting eleven.{{cite web |url=https://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/news/first-team-news/2017/cooper-relieved-to-be-back |title=Cooper relieved to be back |publisher=Forest Green Rovers F.C. |date=9 December 2017 |accessdate=17 December 2017}}
Cooper joined Forest Green's League Two rivals Newport County on 22 June 2018 on loan for the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44580026 |title=Newport County: Exiles sign Forest Green Rovers midfielders Marsh-Brown and Cooper |website=BBC Sport |date=22 June 2018 |accessdate=22 June 2018}} He made his Newport debut on the opening day of the season, as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 defeat at Mansfield Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989421 |title=Mansfield Town 3–0 Newport County |website=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2018 |accessdate=9 October 2018}} He made 15 appearances in all competitions without scoring before his loan was ended early on 13 December.{{cite news |url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2018/december/charlie-cooper-departs/ |title=Charlie Cooper returns to Forest Green Rovers |publisher=Newport County A.F.C. |date=13 December 2018 |accessdate=17 March 2019}} In mid-March 2019, he went out on loan to National League club Boreham Wood, finishing the season with five appearances.{{cite news |url=https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/17492157.forest-green-midfielder-joins-boreham-wood-on-loan/ |title=Forest Green midfielder joins Boreham Wood on loan |newspaper=Stroud News and Journal |date=11 March 2019 |accessdate=17 March 2019}}
=Return to the National League=
Forest Green took up their option to retain Cooper's services for the 2019–20 season,{{cite news |url=https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/17641857.forest-green-publish-released-and-retained-list/ |title=Forest Green publish released and retained list |newspaper=Stroud News and Journal |date=15 May 2019 |accessdate=15 May 2019}} but cancelled his contract by mutual consent in August. He had trained with Bury, but a potential contract fell through after the club was expelled from the EFL. On 12 September 2019, Cooper signed for National League club FC Halifax Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/17899478.former-forest-green-midfielder-charlie-cooper-joins-fc-halifax-town/ |title=Former Forest Green midfielder Charlie Cooper joins FC Halifax Town |first=Ashley |last=Loveridge |newspaper=Stroud News and Journal |date=12 September 2019 |accessdate=20 March 2020}}
On 5 September 2020, Cooper agreed to make the switch to fellow National League side, Woking, on a one-year deal.{{Cite news |title=Charlie Cooper signs for Woking |url=https://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/7146/charlie-cooper-signs-for-woking/ |publisher=Woking F.C. |date=5 September 2020 |accessdate=7 September 2020}} Cooper made a total of 46 appearances, netting 4 times for the Cards before departing the club at the end of the season.
On 11 August 2021, it was announced that Cooper had signed a one-year contract with another National League club, Wealdstone.{{cite web |url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/stones-make-quintuple-signing |title=Stones make quintuple signing |publisher=Wealdstone F.C. |date=11 August 2021 |access-date=14 September 2021}} His debut came a week later, in a 2–1 defeat to his former club, Woking. His first goal for Wealdstone, scored from the edge of the penalty area, proved to be the decider away to King's Lynn Town on 25 September.{{cite news |url=https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/kings-lynn-town-v-wealdstone-match-report-8364390 |title=Charlie Cooper guides Wealdstone to victory at King's Lynn Town |first=Jacob |last=Ranson |newspaper=Kilburn Times |date=25 September 2021 |access-date=14 September 2022}} Cooper scored once more for the club, as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat away to Altrincham,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61125084 |title=Altrincham 4–2 Wealdstone |website=BBC Sport |date=23 April 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022}} and made 38 appearances in all competitions before leaving at the end of thee season after talks to extend his contract came to nothing.{{cite news |url=https://www.westlondonsport.com/non-league/wealdstone-close-to-more-signings-but-cooper-unlikely-to-return |title=Wealdstone close to more signings but Cooper unlikely to return |first=Dan |last=Bennett |website=West London Sport |date=22 June 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022}}
After a trial, Cooper signed for Oldham Athletic ahead of the 2022–23 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/20601880.oldham-athletic-land-cooper-ahead-first-game-torquay/ |title=Oldham Athletic land Cooper ahead of first game at Torquay |first=Suzanne |last=Geldard |newspaper=Oldham Times |date=4 August 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022}} He left the club in December 2022 when his six-month contract expired.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2023/january/01012023-squad-update/ |title=Squad Update |publisher=Oldham Athletic AFC |date=1 January 2022 |accessdate=1 January 2022}}
On 14 January 2023, Cooper signed by his father Mark for fellow National League side Yeovil Town on an 18-month contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.ytfc.net/transfer-charlie-cooper-is-our-latest-addition/ |title=Transfer {{!}} Charlie Cooper is our latest addition |publisher=Yeovil Town F.C. |date=14 January 2023 |access-date=14 January 2023 }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://fchalifaxtown.com/players/charlie-cooper/ Profile] at the FC Halifax Town website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Yeovil Town F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Charlie}}
Category:Footballers from Stockton-on-Tees
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:York City F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players
Category:FC Halifax Town players
Category:Wealdstone F.C. players
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players