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Terry Cooper

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by MassiveAttack, Jul 31, 2021.

  1. MassiveAttack

    MassiveAttack Well-Known Member

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    Just heard the sad news that TC had passed away.

    A manager that we greatly respected, the way he turned City around from oblivion to Wembley winners.
    Rest In Peace TC
     
    #1
  2. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    I read this and it's tragic to see, he really was a gentle and humble man, I feel so sad at this terrible news, I can only say thankyou TC, RIP Mr Cooper, thoughts and sympathy are with your family and friends, <rose>
     
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  3. MassiveAttack

    MassiveAttack Well-Known Member

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    My Club: Terry Cooper
    Sunday, May 24th 2020

    The former England and Leeds United full-back ended his playing career at Ashton Gate and managed the club during its fight back from near extinction in 1982 – taking the Robins to Wembley for the first time in their history.

    I was at Middlesbrough, nearing the end of my playing career, when I got a phone call from my old Leeds United team-mate the late Norman Hunter, who was then in Bristol City’s team, to say that manager Alan Dicks was looking for a left-back. Did I fancy joining him at Ashton Gate?

    That call changed the course of my life. When I discussed it with my wife Rose, she reasonably pointed out that I was 34 and it would mean uprooting to go to the other end of the country when our kids were settled at school. I don’t know why, but I just fancied it and agreed terms in no time when I came down to speak to the club. Along with the family, I ended up spending the next 13 years in the Bristol and never regretted moving to such a lovely city.

    Unfortunately, I didn’t play much because of problems with an Achilles tendon, but I still enjoyed being involved at what was then a top-flight club with a fantastic spirit and a good team. Little did I know then that I would return as manager in 1982 after launching that part of my career at Bristol Rovers with so little experience that I contrived to cock them up completely! I did learn a lot from that 18 months, however, and was more prepared for the role when City came calling.

    Director Bob Boyd, who ran the schoolboy team my son Mark played for, was first to ask if I fancied the job. The club had survived almost going out of business a matter of months earlier and, although a new company had taken over, only a few players had signed on for the following season. It was like an artist being offered a blank canvas to work on. With virtually no money to spend, there was an entire team to build.

    I still told Bob that City would be brave to take me on as manager after what I had done at Rovers. Fortunately, I don’t think anyone else wanted the job! I agreed to take charge and brought in Clive Middlemass, who I had known since our early days as youngsters at Leeds, to be my assistant. Together we did almost everything, training, scouting, the laundry, and even acting as removal men for Alan Walsh when I signed him from Darlington.

    I reckoned there was only one way Bristol City could go after three successive relegation seasons, unless I was a complete imbecile. But I was wrong. By December of my first season in charge, we were bottom of the entire Football League. I made a comeback on the pitch as player-manager and, with Tom Ritchie and Chris Garland recruited to join John Shaw in what was basically a team of kids, the tide started to turn.

    Results improved and, with a few more signings in the summer, we went up the following season, thanks to there being four promotion places available. I’ll never forget during the coach trip home from Chester, where we clinched a place in the Third Division, seeing a car full of supporters with a big banner saying ‘Jesus Said Come Forth.’

    And We Did. Two years later came the Freight Rover Trophy final at Wembley and the sight of 30,000 City fans cheering the lads on against Bolton Wanderers made it the most emotional occasion of my entire football career. I had played for England and in a great Leeds side, but this was the team Clive and I had built from nothing and seeing them grace Wembley with some fantastic football in a 3-0 win was too much for me. I choked up during a TV interview on the pitch after the game and couldn’t talk. Memories of that day remain so vivid and a couple of reunions in recent years have reminded me how special it was for players and supporters alike.

    I wish I could have won another promotion for the club, but I left it in good hands when Joe Jordan, a player I had signed thinking he might one day replace me as manager, did exactly that in 1988. We had gone close to reaching the Second Division on a couple of occasions and I was delighted when Joe achieved that aim in 1990.

    I still keep a close eye on results from my home in Tenerife and enjoy reminiscing with fans on trips to visit Mark at Forest Green Rovers. He loved growing up in Bristol and it’s always nice to hear long-standing City supporters speak fondly of those days back in the 1980s when the club was close-knit and united in its determination to become a force in English football again.

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  4. Gessa

    Gessa Well-Known Member

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    RIP

    What a player. What a man
    As someone who played LB, TC was always a hero.
     
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  5. Cliftonville

    Cliftonville Well-Known Member

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    A memory of Terry Cooper for City the walking attacking full back. No pace left but still a class above and some more above that.
     
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  6. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

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    TC..One of my favourites when playing for the great Leeds team along side another, the great Norman Hunter...(my glory hunting club back in the 70s) for me it was the icing on the cake both joining us at Ashton Gate.....such quality in their time, loved watching them with happy memories...RIP Terry
     
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  7. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    I only found out later than most, due to the lack of football news here in Canada during my first 15 years as an ex-pat, that he even had any association with Bristol City. My memories of him were in a Leeds shirt and boy was he a top class player who really was the epitome of what a footballer should aim to be in their career. When he donned the England shirt his dedication to the cause always impressed the audience. When you add in his pride at representing his country you really are describing the quintessential model of a truly professional footballer.

    My deepest sympathies go out to his family at this difficult time.
     
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  8. Red Alert

    Red Alert Well-Known Member

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    Great player. His dealing with a budget of next to nothing put to shame recents. Alan Walsh 99 goals cost £180 quid each top Manager at BCFC. !!
     
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  9. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    Bought us back from the brink, without him goodness knows where we’d be. The blue few would be ribbing us about there domination of Bristol football. Legend . RIP Sir Terry
     
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  10. Red Robin

    Red Robin Well-Known Member

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    RIP TC a proper legend of Bristol City and Leeds Utd.Wembley was so so special.
     
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  11. smhbcfc

    smhbcfc Well-Known Member

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    We will always remember what he did for us
    RIP TC
     
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  12. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    Along with Alan Dicks, TC was the most important manager during my so far nearly 64 years of support. He selflessly saved us from oblivion and brought an immense amount of pride back into the club from what had been it's darkest days.

    My overriding memory will always be the December 10th 1983 FA cup game at Eastville, when after going 1 down we won 2-1. Whilst the rest of the team were celebrating with the fans at the Muller Road end. TC headed off to the dressing room (which was now in the North stand due to the suspicious fire in South stand a few years earlier). He was getting grief from the gasheads in the North stand and as he jogged off of the pitch, he held up his right index finger signifying that City were still the number 1 biggest team in Bristol, I loved his honesty and passion.

    RIP Terry Cooper a true BCFC legend, without you we may have ended up like the other mob.
     
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  13. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    I too remember that game, I was in the gas end and had to hold back my joy,it was really difficult but worth it to see their faces, amazing memories, also the Freight Rover Wembley win, some of the best memories of supporting City.
     
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  14. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    As many have said, a real City legend. A shame he has passed! Terry Cooper, Joe Jordan and the Johnson's have been my favourite managers in my time ea s a City fan. I'm too young to know Alan Dicks, otherwise, he would also feature.
     
    #14
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
  15. bcfcredandwhite

    bcfcredandwhite Well-Known Member

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  16. Reliant Robin TC2

    Reliant Robin TC2 Well-Known Member

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    All time hero. Growing up, although right footed, regularly played as left back as I was able to pass, cross and shoot with my left. I liked being an attacking full back so modelled myself on him as much as I could! Back in the day loved the Leeds defensive model (!), so was really glad when he came to City!! Also having the same initials helped!!
    RIP to yet another great (in my eyes anyway) of the game.
     
    #16
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2021
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  17. Red Robin

    Red Robin Well-Known Member

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    Alan Dicks red and white army :emoticon-0152-heart
    Terry Coopers red and white army:emoticon-0153-broke
    Both great managers for Bristol City.
     
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  18. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    Very sad news indeed

    I also remember vividly the game at Eastville where we were totally unfancied but won 2-1 with a team of kids, and the 3-0 win at Wembley in 1985 against Bolton.

    A great professional for Leeds, City and England, and the world of football and the world in general is a sadder place without him,
     
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  19. realred1952

    realred1952 Well-Known Member

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    RIP .. MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY <rose><rose><rose><rose><rose>
     
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