He progressed through the youth system at Plymouth Argyle to make his first team debut in November 1979 against Colchester United.
[3] He helped the club reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1984,[4] leading the side out against Watford at Villa Park, but his stray pass led to the winning goal for their opponents.
[5] He lost his place in the side the following year before being converted into a full back, and he was a key member of Dave Smith's team that gained promotion to the Second Division in 1986.
[6] Cooper was not far from making his 400th Argyle appearance when he broke his leg in the autumn of 1988, which effectively ended his career with the club.
[9] After retiring from playing, he has combined several managerial roles with a career at a training and development company in Plymouth.