Jake Cooper (footballer, born 2001)

Jake Cooper[3] (born 2 January 2001), also known as Jake Southern-Cooper,[4] is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Altrincham.

Jake Cooper
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-01-02) 2 January 2001[1]
Place of birth Burnley, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Altrincham
Number 15
Youth career
20??–2015 Sheffield United
2015–2019 Rotherham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Rotherham United 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Gateshead (loan) 14 (2)
2020–2021 → Gateshead (loan) 12 (0)
2021 → Hartlepool United (loan) 2 (0)
2021–2022 → Darlington (loan) 11 (3)
2022 → Altrincham (loan) 12 (1)
2022– Altrincham 23 (2)
2023 → Darlington (loan) 13 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:09, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Cooper began his career with Sheffield United before joining Rotherham United's academy. He made his senior debut in the 2019–20 EFL Trophy, and spent time on loan at Gateshead, Hartlepool United and Darlington, before joining Altrincham, also on loan, in February 2022. Cooper was born in England and has been involved with Republic of Ireland squads at youth level.[5]

Life and career

Cooper was born in 2001 in Burnley, Lancashire, and raised in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.[6] He was on the books of Sheffield United as a striker until the under-14s,[7][8] but played as a centre back for Sheffield Boys and it was in that position that he joined Rotherham United in 2015.[6][1] He took up a two-year scholarship in 2017.[9] With several first-team players unavailable through injury or suspension, Cooper was named among the substitutes for the EFL Championship match at home to Preston North End on 1 January 2019, but remained unused.[4]

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 on 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 14 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rotherham United 2018–19[2] Championship 000000—00
2019–20[10] League One 0000003[lower-alpha 1]030
2020–21[32] Championship 000000—00
2021–22[33] League One 00—000000
Total 0000003030
Gateshead (loan) 2019–20[2] National League North 142——2[lower-alpha 2]1163
2020–21[2] National League North 120——1[lower-alpha 3]0130
Total 262——31293
Hartlepool United (loan) 2020–21[2] National League 20——0020
Darlington (loan) 2021–22[2][34] National League North 11320—1[lower-alpha 3]0143
Altrincham (loan) 2021–22[2] National League 121———121
Altrincham 2022–23[2] National League 13120—00151
2023–24[2] National League 10110—00111
Total 35330—00383
Darlington (loan) 2022–23[2] National League North 120———120
Career total 868500071989
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearances in National League North play-offs
  3. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References
  1. "Jake Cooper". Rotherham United F.C. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. "J. Southern-Cooper". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. "Squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contract players" (PDF). English Football League. September 2021. p. 112. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. "Report: Rotherham 2 v 1 Preston". Rotherham United F.C. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. "Cooper pens first professional contract". Rotherham United F.C. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. Davis, Paul (7 June 2020). "Bashed up and bruised ... but young Rotherham United defender Jake Cooper and boss Paul Warne wouldn't have it any other way". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. "Blades youngsters are finalists". Sheffield United F.C. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  8. "European success for Blades youngsters". Sheffield United F.C. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  9. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017". The Football Association. p. 48. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
  10. "Games played by Jake Cooper in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  11. "Rotherham defender Cooper joins Gateshead on loan". Non-League Daily. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  12. Bowron, Jeff (8 December 2019). "Heeding into pre-Christmas break on a high". Sunday Sun. Newcastle. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via PressReader.com.
  13. "Jake Cooper extends loan stay at Gateshead". Rotherham United F.C. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  14. Bowron, Jeff (8 February 2020). "Young stars have made strong case for defence". The Journal. Newcastle. p. 71. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  15. Bowron, Jeff (23 February 2020). "Heed keep their heads to battle back for a hard-earned draw". Sunday Sun. Newcastle. p. 56. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  16. Wobschall, Leon (23 March 2020). "Rotherham United defender signs new deal". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  17. Dunham, Jon (19 July 2020). "Shoot-out heartbreak again as Brackley's hopes are ended". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  18. "Brackley Town vs Gateshead: Con. North Playoff 2020". BeSoccer. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  19. Carruthers, Mark (5 January 2021). "Defender departs Gateshead and returns to Rotherham United". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  20. "Cooper returns to Gateshead on loan". Rotherham United F.C. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  21. Scurr, Dominic (12 March 2021). "Dave Challinor outlines the role Rotherham United defender Jake Cooper will play at Hartlepool United with honest admission". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  22. Simpson, Ray (10 September 2021). "Quakers capture Cooper on loan from Rotherham". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  23. Stoddart, Craig (21 September 2021). "Marske await winners of tonight's Chester v Darlington replay". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  24. Simpson, Ray (10 September 2021). "New defender Jake: I want to play regular football". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  25. Simpson, Ray (30 September 2021). "Quakers fail in Cooper appeal". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  26. Simpson, Ray (7 November 2021). "Cooper at centre of attention in Darlington's away victory". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  27. Edwards, John (2 February 2022). "Rotherham's Cooper drafted in to shore up leaky Altrincham backline". Sale & Altrincham Messenger. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  28. Edwards, John (16 June 2022). "Cooper returns as Alty boss Parkinson bolsters back line". Sale & Altrincham Messenger. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  29. "READ: Millers confirm retained list ahead of 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign". Rotherham United F.C. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  30. "Cooper joins Quakers on loan". Altrincham F.C. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  31. Simpson, Ray (23 March 2023). "Jake Cooper's loan extended". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  32. "Games played by Jake Cooper in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  33. "Games played by Jake Cooper in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  34. For FA Cup 2nd qualifying round: Simpson, Ray (18 September 2021). "Quakers held to a goalless draw in FA Cup". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
    Simpson, Ray (21 September 2021). "Quakers knocked out of Cup by lucky goal". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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