Steve Cooper (footballer, born 1964)

For other people of the same name, see Stephen Cooper (disambiguation).

Steve Cooper

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Brian Cooper
Date of birth	(1964-06-22)22 June 1964
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Date of death
Place of death	Birmingham, England
Height
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1982–1984	Birmingham City	0	(0)
1983–1984	→ Halifax Town (loan)	7	(1)
1984	→ NAC Breda (loan)	3	(1)
1984–1985	Newport County	38	(11)
1985–1988	Plymouth Argyle	73	(15)
1988–1990	Barnsley	77	(13)
1990–1993	Tranmere Rovers	32	(3)
1992	→ Peterborough United (loan)	9	(0)
1992–1993	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	4	(0)
1993–1994	York City	38	(6)
1994–1999	Airdrieonians	133	(42)
1999–2000	Ayr United	0	(0)
Total		414	(92)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Steve Cooper (22 June 1964 – 15 February 2004) was an English footballer best known for his time spent with Airdrieonians. His headed goal in the semi-final at Hampden against Hearts ensured that his Airdrie side made it to the 1995 Scottish Cup final and he played the full 90 minutes against Celtic as the Diamonds lost 1–0 to a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal.

Before joining Airdrie, Cooper played for a number of clubs in England, most notably Tranmere Rovers, where he scored twice in Tranmere's successful playoff campaign in 1991 that saw the club promoted to the first division, and also scored in the club's 3–2 defeat against Cooper's former club Birmingham City in the Leyland DAF Cup final, also in 1991. In 1984 he had a loan spell in the Netherlands with NAC Breda.

Cooper is also remembered by fans of Peterborough United after he came off the bench to score a late diving header from a Worrell Sterling cross in the 1992 Division 3 playoff semi final against Huddersfield Town.

He was inducted into the Airdrie United Hall of Fame in 2004 as recognition of his service to the club.

He died in his sleep on 15 February 2004, having unknowingly cracked his skull in a fall.