Cooper signed a one-year professional contract in June 2019,[5] and made his senior debut as a starter in the EFL Trophy against Manchester United U21 in August.[10] He played twice more in the EFL Trophy, and was an unused substitute in four cup ties and six League One matches,[2] before joining National League North club Gateshead on an initial one-month loan on 7 December.[11]
He made his debut the same day, "slott[ing] in seamlessly at the back" in a 3–5–2 formation as Gateshead beat Alfreton Town 3–1 to secure their first win in six attempts.[12] After the loan was extended to the end of the season,[13] he scored his first goal "with a finish a seasoned striker would have been delighted with" on 1 February 2020 as Gateshead beat Leamington 4–2 to climb into the play-off positions.[14]Player-manager and defensive partner Mike Williamson highlighted how Cooper "fitted perfectly into a back three, [and] has been very consistent", rating him a Championship player in the making.[15] Rotherham extended Cooper's contract by two years in March 2020[16] before allowing him to return to Gateshead in July for the play-offs. He opened the scoring in the quarter-final in first-half stoppage time, but Brackley Town's Shane Byrne equalised from his own half immediately following the kick-off.[17] Cooper converted his kick as Gateshead won 6–5 on penalties,[18] but they lost in the semi-finals to Boston United.[19]
Cooper returned to Gateshead for the first half of the 2020–21 season,[20] made 13 appearances,[2] and expressed gratitude for the regular football that he felt had "improved [him] massively".[19] He was an unused substitute in one Championship match for Rotherham before joining National League club Hartlepool United on loan in early March. Manager Dave Challinor made it clear that he was there as cover, and hoped "we don't need him too much for the foreseeable future". This proved to be the case, as he made only two appearances from a possible twenty.[21][2]
In August 2021, he signed on loan at Darlington. The team had started the National North season poorly defensively,[22] and Cooper made what manager Alun Armstrong called an outstanding start to his Darlington career.[23] However, his desire for regular football was soon thwarted when he was sent off against York City and the resulting three-match ban was upheld on appeal.[24][25] He had an eventful game against Kettering Town on 6 November: attempting to head the ball back to his goalkeeper after 8 minutes, he placed it over him for an own goal, gave his side the lead after 64, also with a header, and was fouled for a late penalty, converted by Will Hatfield to complete a 3–1 win.[26]
On 1 February 2022, Cooper signed an initial month's loan with National League club Altrincham, to reinforce the team's "leaky" defence.[27] The loan was extended to the end of the season, and he made 12 appearances (11 starts) and scored once, in a 5–0 defeat of Weymouth,[2] showing himself to be "solid and reliable defensively, and comfortable bringing the ball forward".[28] Cooper was released by Rotherham United at the end of the 2021–22 season,[29] and then rejoined Altrincham on a permanent basis.[28]
After injury interrupted his progress at Altrincham, Cooper rejoined Darlington on a month's loan on 24 February 2023.[30] After five starts in the first month, Cooper's loan was extended to the end of the season, and he made twelve appearances in total.[2][31]
Career statistics
As of match played 10 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
