John William "Bill" Cope (23 November 1899 – 1 April 1979) was an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 footballer, he was noted for his tough-tackling ability.

Playing career

Cope played for Leek Alexandra and Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers F.C.

Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....

 before joining Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

 in July 1929. He was a member of the 1929–1930

1929–30 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1929–30 season was Port Vale's eleventh consecutive season of football in the Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points they broke a division record...

 winning season and enjoyed regular first team football until August 1932, from then until May 1934 he made only the occasional appearance, at which point he was released.

Coaching career

In October 1947 he returned to Vale as the assistant trainer and was a part of the backroom staff until he retired in January 1976.

Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North
  Football League Third Division North
  The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
  
   winner: 1929–1930
  1929–30 Port Vale F.C. season
  The 1929–30 season was Port Vale's eleventh consecutive season of football in the Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points they broke a division record...