Gary Cooper (25 November 1938 – 18 August 2019), also known by the nickname of " Super Duper" Gary Cooper, was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and

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 ...

ed in the 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (non- Test matches), and at club level for Featherstone Rovers ( Heritage No. 396) (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

), and Wakefield Trinity ( Heritage No. 725), as an occasional goal-kicking , or , i.e. number 1, or, 3 or 5, and

ed at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Assistant Coach to Neil Fox), and York (Initially Assistant Coach to Tommy Harris, then Head coach).

Background

Gary Cooper was born in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he died aged 80 from a myocardial infarction (heart attack), and his funeral will take place at All Saints Church, North Featherstone at 1:15pm on Thursday 12 September 2019, followed a reception at Featherstone Rovers Clubhouse.

Playing career

International honours

Gary Cooper was selected for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers for the 1962 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, during which he played 16 non- Test matches.

Championship Final appearances

Gary Cooper played in Wakefield Trinity's 21–9 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final

replay Replay may refer to: * Replay (sports), a replayed match between two sport teams Technology * Game replay, a recording of a game session. * Instant replay, in motion pictures and television, a showing again of part of a film * Replay Professional, ...

during the 1966–67 season at

Station Road, Swinton Station Road was a stadium in Pendlebury, near Manchester, England. It was the home of Swinton Rugby League Club between 1929 and 1992 and was widely recognised as one of the finest grounds in the Rugby League. Swinton moved to Station Road w ...

on Wednesday 10 May 1967, and was man of the match winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy in the 17–10 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the Championship Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 4 May 1968.Hoole, Les (2004). ''Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES''. Breedon Books.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Gary Cooper played in Wakefield Trinity's 10–11 defeat by Leeds in the

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Januar ...

Challenge Cup The Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940, due to World War I and World War II respectively. It involves am ...

"Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100.

Club career

Gary Cooper made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Wednesday 20 August 1958, and he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers during the 1965–66 season,Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). ''Images of Sport - Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club''. The History Press. he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions,

penalties Penalty or The Penalty may refer to: Sports * Penalty (golf) * Penalty (gridiron football) * Penalty (ice hockey) * Penalty (rugby) * Penalty (rugby union) * Penalty kick (association football) * Penalty shoot-out (association football) * Penalty ...

, or

drop-goal A drop goal, field goal, or dropped goal is a method of scoring points in rugby union and rugby league and also, rarely, in American football and Canadian football. A drop goal is scored by drop kicking the ball (dropping the ball and then ki ...

s, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore "0" drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.

Coaching career

Club career

Gary Cooper was the Assistant Coach in York's 5–32 defeat by St. Helens in the 1971–72

quarter-final match during the 1971–72 season at Clarence Street, York on Saturday 4 March 1972.

Genealogical information

Gary Cooper was the older brother of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s for Wakefield Trinity ( Heritage No. 728); Brian Cooper (birth registered fourth ¼ 1940), Colin Cooper (birth registered first ¼ 1946), the rugby league executive (former chairperson of Hull F.C.); Kath M. Hetherington (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Cooper, birth registered second ¼ 1952), and the brother-in-law of her husband the rugby league player, coach and executive; Gary Hetherington, and the older brother of rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s for York and Wakefield Trinity (

A-Team '' The A-Team'' is an NBC television series that aired from 1983 to 1987. The A-Team may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups * The rap/ hip-hop duo, consisting of Aceyalone and Abstract Rude * The Nashville A-Team, a g ...

); Stephen "Steve" Cooper (birth registered fourth ¼ 1953).

References

External links

Gary CooperJune 2013Rugby Cup Final 1968
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Gary 1938 births 2019 deaths English rugby league coaches English rugby league players Featherstone Rovers captains Featherstone Rovers players Great Britain national rugby league team players Rugby league centres Rugby league fullbacks Rugby league players from Castleford Wakefield Trinity players York Wasps coaches