Lewis Cooper was an

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footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played 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 ...

for

Derby County Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Derby, Derbyshire, England. In 2022, it was announced that DCFC was acquired by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, a Derbyshire-based property group. Founded in 1884 ...

Playing career

Lewis Cooper began his playing career at Darley Dale F.C., a club based in the Peak District, in 1885. In 1886 he moved on, signing for Derby County and playing one of the last two seasons of the pre Football League era for Derby County, 1886–87. He then moved across to Lincolnshire, and signed for

Grimsby Town Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that in the 2022–23 season will compete in , the fourth tier of the English football league system, following the victory in ...

. In season 1887–88 Grimsby Town reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second time since the club was formed. In June 1888 Cooper returned to Derbyshire and re-signed for Derby County. Lewis Cooper made his League debut on 8 September 1888, playing as a forward, at

Pike's Lane Pike's Lane was a football ground in Bolton, England. It was the home ground of Bolton Wanderers between 1880 and 1895, and the venue of the first goal scored in league football anywhere in the world. History Pike's Lane opened in 1880, with the ...

, the then home of

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 ...

. Derby County defeated the home team 6–3. Lewis Cooper also scored his debut League goal in this match, in fact, scoring twice. Lewis Cooper scored the third and fifth of Derby County' six goals. Lewis Cooper appeared in 15 of the 22 League matches played by Derby County in season 1888–89 and scored eight goals. As a forward (nine appearances) he played in a forward–line that scored three–League–goals–or–more on four separate occasions. As a winger (six appearances) he played in a midfield that achieved big (three–League–goals–or–more) wins once Of his eight League goals four were scored in two matches, two–in–a–match in two appearances. Although Derby County had had a poor season Cooper was retained to play alongside the more experienced professionals being brought in during the close season in 1889. Cooper stayed with Derby County for four seasons leaving in 1892. He played 50 games and scored 23 goals. He also played 4 FA Cup ties and scored three times. Lewis Cooper was nicknamed "Kid" Cooper and when he ceased playing he worked at Haslam's Foundry for more than 50 years.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Lewis 1864 births 1937 deaths English men's footballers Darley Dale F.C. players Derby County F.C. players Grimsby Town F.C. players English Football League players Men's association football forwards People from Belper Footballers from Derbyshire