Steve Cooper (footballer, born 1964)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Brian Cooper | ||
| Date of birth | 22 June 1964 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 15 February 2004 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982–1984 | Birmingham City | 0 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | → Halifax Town (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 1984 | → NAC Breda (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 1984–1985 | Newport County | 38 | (11) |
| 1985–1988 | Plymouth Argyle | 73 | (15) |
| 1988–1990 | Barnsley | 77 | (13) |
| 1990–1993 | Tranmere Rovers | 32 | (3) |
| 1992 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1993–1994 | York City | 38 | (6) |
| 1994–1999 | Airdrieonians | 133 | (42) |
| 1999–2000 | Ayr United | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 414 | (92) | |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Steve Cooper (22 June 1964 – 15 February 2004) was an English footballer best known for his time spent with Airdrieonians. His headed goal in the semi-final at Hampden against Hearts ensured that his Airdrie side made it to the 1995 Scottish Cup final and he played the full 90 minutes against Celtic as the Diamonds lost 1–0 to a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal.
Before joining Airdrie, Cooper played for a number of clubs in England, most notably Tranmere Rovers, where he scored twice in Tranmere's successful playoff campaign in 1991 that saw the club promoted to the first division, and also scored in the club's 3–2 defeat against Cooper's former club Birmingham City in the Leyland DAF Cup final, also in 1991. In 1984 he had a loan spell in the Netherlands with NAC Breda.[1]
Cooper is also remembered by fans of Peterborough United after he came off the bench to score a late diving header from a Worrell Sterling cross in the 1992 Division 3 playoff semi final against Huddersfield Town.
He was inducted into the Airdrie United Hall of Fame in 2004 as recognition of his service to the club.
He died in his sleep on 15 February 2004, having unknowingly cracked his skull in a fall.[2]