John William Cope (23 November 1899 – 1 April 1979) was an English footballer who played at left-back, and was noted for his tough- tackling ability. He played a total of 200 league games in a nine-year career in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

with

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club () is a professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in . The club played at Burnden Park for 102 years from 1895 after moving from their original home at Pike's ...

and Port Vale. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title in the 1929–30 season. He returned to Port Vale shortly after World War II, and remained as a

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

at the club until shortly before his death.

Career

Cope played for Leek Alexandra, before he joined

, as the "Trotters" posted an eighth-place finish in the First Division in 1925–26. They rose up to fourth place in 1926–27, before dropping down to seventh position in 1927–28. In the 1928–29 campaign, his last at Burnden Park, Bolton finished in 14th spot. They twice won the FA Cup during his time there, though he never featured in a cup final. Cope signed with Port Vale in July 1929. He was a member of the 1929–1930 Third Division North title winning season, featuring in 43 of the "Valiants" 45 games. He appeared 37 times in the 1930–31 season, as Vale posted a club record finish of fifth in the Second Division. He featured 33 times in the 1931–32 campaign, as the club sunk to just finish above relegated

Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough has ...

on goal average. He then lost his first team place at The Old Recreation Ground, and played just three games in the 1932–33 season. He went on to feature 14 times in the 1933–34 campaign, before he was released from the club. In October 1947, he returned to Port Vale as the assistant trainer, and remained a part of the back-room staff until he retired in January 1976.

Career statistics

Source: :A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Honours

Port Vale * Football League Third Division North: 1929–30

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cope, Bill 1899 births 1979 deaths Footballers from Stoke-on-Trent English men's footballers Men's association football fullbacks Bolton Wanderers F.C. players Port Vale F.C. players English Football League players Association football coaches Port Vale F.C. non-playing staff