Cult Hero 43: Tom Cooper
Cult hero Tom Cooper: a local lad who handed the club a whopping 12,500% transfer profit and who went on to play for his country, Cooper is also remembered for his tragic death during World War Two.
Rob Fielding writes…
Local lad Tom Cooper was born in 1904 and began his career in teams based in Longton and Trentham before joining the Valiants for a cost of £20 in August 1924. A right-back, he was immediately promoted to the first-team and played some thirty-odd games in two seasons for the club.
A right-back, he was immediately promoted to the first-team and played some thirty-odd games in two seasons for the club…
In 1926, he was snapped up by Derby County who had just secured promotion to the First Division. The fee of £2,500 meant a £2,480 profit for the Valiants. Cooper was an automatic pick for County and after the side finished in fourth place in the top division in 1927, Cooper was picked for England.
He went on to earn 15 England caps including two as captain of his country.
After eight years at Derby, Cooper transferred to Liverpool for £7,500 and he was a regular at Anfield until World War Two caused football to be halted.
Cooper enlisted, joining the Royal Military Police but he was sadly killed in a motorbike accident in June 1940. He was just 36 years old.
Cult hero Tom Cooper
Cult credentials: Local lad, great defender, future International, untimely death
Games: 32
Goals: 0