Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
187	187	0	43	9	0	147

When the Rovers signed Gary Cooper in 1958, his only taste of rugby league had been a short season with Featherstone juniors.  In the opening game of the 1958/59 season, Jack Fennell the recognised full-back was injured and two days later Cooper was thrust into his senior debut at Bramley. It immediately became obvious that he was a stylish player with a fantastic tum of speed and the only criticism in those early days was his tendency to hang on to the ball. Yet his talent was evident. He made 33 appearances in that first season but strangely only scored one try that season, at home to Doncaster on 7 February 1959.

Cooper was in pole position at the start of 1959/60 and he got off to a blistering start. As if to erase the memory of a solitary try in the previous season, he dazzled with six tries in six games, including an impressive hat-trick in the 26-9 Yorkshire Cup victory against Hull KR.  Then suddenly the sparkle went and after helping Rovers to a 14-7 win over Leeds in the semi-final, he asked the club not to select him as he was not satisfied with his own form. He was studying in London at the time, but did return to play five matches at the end of the season.

He only made 13 senior appearances in 1960/61 which included a brief flirtation at centre in two games. He was however, back at full-back in March in the controversial third round RL Cup tie at the Boulevard when Rovers hopes of a fourth successive semi-final were dashed with a debatable last minute try by Hull.  The following week at Keighley he was at his most spectacular best, running 70 yards to score and then 60 yards to send Charlesworth in. The following season he decided to make a positive switch to centre, where his attacking style of play was even more pronounced and resulted in him scoring 18 tries - form which was enough for him to be selected for the 1962 tour of Australasia. He did not make the Test teams but scored 13 tries in 16 appearances.

The captaincy of the club was bestowed on him in August 1962 but he asked to be relieved in December as he considered his form was affected. It soon returned and the try he engineered for Waterworth at home to Oldham on 15 May 1963 was one of the best seen at Post Office Road.

Cooper had his differences with the club and asked to be transfer-listed for the second time in September 1963. The fee of £8,000 was the highest asked by the club, and his form seemed to justify the asking price. On 9 October in the Yorkshire Cup semi-final at home to Huddersfield, he tore a hole in the visitor's defence after 90 seconds, to send Jordan in for a try and 13 minutes later, side-stepped Haywood to put Lingard in and the game was won. He was then absent until December and upon his return was back in the full-back position, and for most of the rest of his Rovers career.

That career came to an end in September 1966, when he said he would not play again for the Rovers. His last game was at home to Batley in April 1966. He was then transferred to Wakefield Trinity for £3,000, where he enjoyed more success playing in both the Championship and RL Cup Finals of 1968. He was an unorthodox player but it was this which made him so elusive. He was deeply reflective about his game, could read play astutely and opponents struggled to contain him. It was once said that 'Cooper contributes class to every game'. There could be no better description nor tribute.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey