John William Cope (23 November 1899 – 1 April 1979) was an English footballer who played at left-back and was noted for his tough-tackling ability. He played a total of 200 league games in a nine-year career in the Football League with Bolton Wanderers and Port Vale. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title in the 1929–30 season. He returned to Port Vale shortly after World War II and remained as a coach at the club until shortly before his death.
 Cope in 1929 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John William Cope[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 November 1899[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Milton, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 1 April 1979 (aged 79)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Milton, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Leek Alexandra | |||
| 1925–1929 | Bolton Wanderers | 79 | (0) |
| 1929–1934 | Port Vale | 121 | (0) |
| Total | 200 | (0) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editCope played for Leek Alexandra before he joined Bolton Wanderers at the age of 26,[3] as the "Trotters" posted an eighth-place finish in the First Division in 1925–26. They rose to fourth place in 1926–27, before dropping down to seventh position in 1927–28. In the 1928–29 campaign, his last at Burnden Park, Bolton finished in 14th spot. They twice won the FA Cup during his time there, though he never featured in a cup final.
Cope signed with Port Vale in July 1929.[1] He was a member of the 1929–1930 Third Division North title-winning season, featuring in 43 of the "Valiants" 45 games.[1] He appeared 37 times in the 1930–31 season, as Vale posted a club record finish of fifth in the Second Division.[1] He featured 33 times in the 1931–32 campaign, as the club sunk to finish above relegated Barnsley on goal average.[1] He then lost his first-team place at The Old Recreation Ground, and played just three games in the 1932–33 season.[1] He went on to feature 14 times in the 1933–34 campaign before he was released from the club.[1] In October 1947, he returned to Port Vale as the assistant trainer and remained a part of the backroom staff until he retired in January 1976.[1]
Career statistics
editSource:[4]
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Bolton Wanderers | 1925–26 | First Division | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 1926–27 | First Division | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 1927–28 | First Division | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 1928–29 | First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 79 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 86 | 0 | ||
| Port Vale | 1929–20 | Third Division North | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 1930–31 | Second Division | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 1931–32 | Second Division | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 1932–33 | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1933–34 | Second Division | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 121 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 129 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 200 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 215 | 0 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.
Honours
editPort Vale
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 67. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Harricus (25 August 1924). "Ready for action: few changes in the First Division of the League. Bolton Wanderers". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ Fielding, Rob (21 May 2024). "Cult hero 73: Bill Cope". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Bill Cope at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.