Brian Cooper (rugby league)
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Bryan Cooper | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 December 1931 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 February 2022 (aged 90) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 4 May 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bryan Cooper (27 December 1931 – 5 February 2022) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He played at club level for Hull F.C. (Heritage No.), usually as a right-centre, i.e. number 3. He was one-club man who represented his home town club throughout the 1950s.
Background[edit]
Cooper was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he worked as a joiner.
Playing career[edit]
Championship final appearances[edit]
Cooper played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in Hull FC's 10–9 victory over Halifax in the Championship Final during the 1955–56 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 12 May 1956, in front of a crowd of 36,675,[1] he did not play in the 14–15 defeat by Oldham in the Championship Final during the 1956–57 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 16 May 1957, in front of a crowd of 62,233, and he played right-centre, i.e. number 3, and scored a try in the 20–3 victory over Workington Town in Championship Final during the 1957–58 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 17 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 57,699.[2]
Challenge Cup Final appearances[edit]
Cooper played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in Hull FC's 13–30 defeat by Wigan in the 1958–59 Challenge Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Wembley Stadium, London, in front of a crowd of 79,811.[3]
Yorkshire Cup Final appearances[edit]
Cooper did not play for Hull F.C. in the 10–10 draw with Halifax in the 1955–56 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 22 October 1955, in front of a crowd of 23,520, and the 0–7 defeat by Halifax in the 1955–56 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1955–56 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 2 November 1955, in front of a crowd of 14,000.[1]
Death[edit]
Cooper died on 5 February 2022, at the age of 90.[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "This Week In… 1956". hullfc.com. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ "Sixty Years on Since 1958 Rugby League Championship Final!". hullfc.com. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "1958-1959 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Remembering Bryan Cooper". Hull F.C. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Legendary Hull FC centre Brian Cooper passes away". Serious About Rugby League. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
External links[edit]
- Search for "Cooper" at rugbyleagueproject.org
- (archived by web.archive.org) Stats → PastPlayers → C at hullfc.com
- (archived by web.archive.org) Statistics at hullfc.com
- Search for "Brian Cooper" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
- Search for "Bryan Cooper" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk