A list of all of the appearances of this player in football cards in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 appears at the foot of this page.
 

1968/69 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars No. 94

1969/70 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars No. 125

1970/71 A&BC Gum,
Footballers (orange backs) No. 38

1970/71 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars No. 156

1971/72 IPC Magazines
My Favourite Soccer Stars,
Buster and Jet, No. 12

1972/73 Top Sellers,
Football 72, No. 149

1977/78 Topps Chewing Gum
Footballers (Red back), No. 151

Terry Cooper was born on July 12, 1944 in Yorkshire.

He joined Leeds United in May 1961 as an apprentice, two months after Don Revie took over as manager, signing professional terms in July 1962. He was originally a left-winger, though not the tallest or fastest player around.

He made his first team debut in the 1963/64 season, playing only two games in the season where Leeds finished as Second Division champions. This was the start of the 'Glory Years', when Leeds did not finish outside of the top four in the top flight in a 10-year period lasting until 1975, including Championships in 1968/69 and 1973/74.

Cooper's first appearance in football cards came in 1967/68 in the FKS album. The 1968/69 album notes "Yorkshireman from Pontefract he became a member of the paid ranks in July 1962 after his apprenticeship. Was regarded as an outside left or left back until (Willie) Bell's transfer established him at full-back. Defender with venturesome qualities, too."

The 1969/70 FKS album notes "Once on Wolves books, he switched frequently from left-back to left-wing in his early days, though now content as a defender of quality. Won first of four caps for England 1968-69."

The 1969/70 My Favourite Soccer Stars card, presented free with Smash, notes "He's not a giant in size but is worth his weight in gold to Leeds, and to England, for Terry played in five internationals at left-back last season."

Terry Cooper's England career began in March 1969, when he was 24 years of age. The 1969/70 A&BC Green Back card states "Made a brilliant international debut for England against France at Wembley in March, 1969, and is one of the best attacking full-backs in the country. Signed professional from school in 1963, he scored the goal which beat Arsenal in the 1968 League Cup Final".

His international career continued on a high through the Mexico 1970 World Cup, where Cooper was a stand-out performer.

The Top Sellers Football 72 card notes "England international full-back famous for his overlap runs. Was a winger in his younger days but Leeds manager Don Revie converted him to an attacking defender, and he has made a great success of the job".

Things were looking promising for Terry Cooper's career. He was 27 years of age and had exciting league and international prospects. However, on April 8, 1972 Terry Cooper broke his leg in a League match against Stoke City at the Victoria Ground, effectively ending his international career. The 1972/73 FKS album notes "Had the misfortune to break a leg late last season.".

The injury took a long time to recover, with Cooper not making a League appearance in 1972/73 and limited to only two appearances in 1973/74 (interestingly playing as number 10 against Chelsea in February 1974 and then three weeks later coming on as a substitute against Stoke at the Victoria Ground! In the Stoke game Leeds lost their unbeaten League run, losing 2-3 after leading 2-0).

With the departure of Don Revie to become England manager in 1974 Terry Cooper fell out of favour at Leeds and was transferred to Middlesbrough for a £50,000 fee. His league career with Leeds included 240 games, scoring 7 goals.

Middlesbrough, at the time, were vying for top spot in the Second Division. They ended up running away with the Second Division Championship by 15 points, beginning a spell in the top flight which would last for 9 years. In 1974/75 they finished 7th, followed by 13th and then 12th in 1976/77.

The 1975/76 FKS album notes "Moved to Middlesbrough before the transfer deadline last March having made a come-back after a leg injury kept him out for some time." Middlesbrough were being managed by Jack Charlton who obviously felt that Cooper still had a lot to offer.

He was an instant hit at Middlesbrough, being rarely out of the side over the next 3 seasons until another bad injury in a game at Everton in December 1977.

In July 1978 Cooper was transferred to Bristol City who were then in the First Division, but moved to Second Division Bristol Rovers as player-manager in August 1979 after making only 11 league appearances for the Robins.

He played 50 league games for Bristol Rovers before moving to Doncaster Rovers to join Billy Bremner (the manager). After one year there he returned to Bristol City as player-manager, making 60 more appearances. This was a brave move: when he first joined Bristol City in 1978 they were in the First Division but by the time he joined them as player-manager in 1982 they were in the Fourth Division having being relegated in 1979/80, 1980/81 and 1981/82.

In all Terry Cooper made 496 league appearances as a player, and won 20 full international caps for England. He remained in league management until 1995.

1969/70 IPC Magazines
My Favourite Soccer Stars,
Smash, No. 3

1970/71 A&BC Gum,
World Cup Footballers

1970/71 FKS,
Mexico 70, No. 9

1970/71 D.C. Thomson
World Cup Stars (Hotspur), No. 15

1976/77 Topps Chewing Gum
Footballers (Blue/Grey back), No. 141

1979/80 Topps Chewing Gum
Footballers (Pale blue back), No. 329