Wilf Copping
Encyclopedia
Wilfred "Wilf" Copping was an English
football
er who played for Leeds United, Arsenal
and the England national team.
, Barnsley
, Yorkshire
, but was rejected by his local team Barnsley
, and worked for a time in the pits while playing for Middlecliffe Rovers. He eventually joined Leeds United in 1929, and made his debut at the start of the 1930-31
season, soon becoming a regular in the Leeds half-back line.
Together with his Leeds United team-mate Billy Furness
, he made his debut for England
, against Italy
on 13 May 1933. Copping played over 160 League games for Leeds in five seasons, and won six England caps during that time.
, and immediately took a first-team place at left half. He made his debut against Portsmouth
on August 25, 1934, and was an ever-present in his first season for the club, until suffering a serious knee injury in the third-last match of the season against Everton
. Copping soldiered on and remained on the pitch to ensure Arsenal won the game 2-0; this ensured the club won the 1934-35
First Division
title.
Copping recovered from his injury to continue playing for Arsenal, making over 35 appearances in each of his first four seasons with the club. During his time at Highbury, Arsenal won the FA Cup
in 1935-36
, another League title in 1937-38
, and two Charity Shields. His England career also continued, and he was one of seven Arsenal players to start England's match against Italy in November 1934 (the "Battle of Highbury
") - a game for which he named man of the match. In total he won 20 caps for England between 1933 and 1939.
He remained a near-ever present for Arsenal until March 1939; with World War II
looming, Copping put in a transfer request so that he could return to the North with his family. Arsenal duly complied, and Copping re-signed for Leeds United. In all he played 189 matches for Arsenal.
season with Leeds United, but war broke out in September 1939 and all first-class football was cancelled. Copping joined the Army
at the start of the war, and served in North Africa
, eventually becoming a Sergeant Major
. He played the occasional wartime game for Leeds, but retired from playing football in 1942.
Copping was known as a hard and strong player; his most famous quote was "the first man in a tackle never gets hurt". Despite his nickname of "The Iron Man", and his image (he took to the field unshaven, a remarkably unusual practice at the time), Copping was never booked or sent off in his career.
and coach at various clubs, including Beerschot
in Belgium
, Southend United
, Bristol City
and Coventry City
. He retired to live in Southend-on-Sea
. He died in 1980, aged 70.
In 1998, the Football League
, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Copping on its list of 100 League Legends
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played for Leeds United, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and the England national team.
Leeds United
Copping was born in MiddlecliffeMiddlecliffe
Middlecliffe is a small South Yorkshire hamlet straddling the road between Darfield and Great Houghton, close to Barnsley, where Middlecliff Lane joins the B6273 road. It is mostly a collection of current and former council houses, served by a Post Office, small corner shop and a Working Mens club...
, Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, but was rejected by his local team Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, and worked for a time in the pits while playing for Middlecliffe Rovers. He eventually joined Leeds United in 1929, and made his debut at the start of the 1930-31
1930-31 in English football
The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
season, soon becoming a regular in the Leeds half-back line.
Together with his Leeds United team-mate Billy Furness
Billy Furness
William Isaac Furness was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Leeds United and Norwich City in the 1930s, making one appearance for England in 1933.-Career:...
, he made his debut for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on 13 May 1933. Copping played over 160 League games for Leeds in five seasons, and won six England caps during that time.
Arsenal
Copping was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 1934 for £8,000, as a replacement for Bob JohnBob John
Robert Frederick "Bob" John was a Welsh football player and coach.Born in Barry, John played for Barry Town and Caerphilly, before joining English club Arsenal, who signed him amongst stiff competition, in January 1922 for a fee of £750...
, and immediately took a first-team place at left half. He made his debut against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on August 25, 1934, and was an ever-present in his first season for the club, until suffering a serious knee injury in the third-last match of the season against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Copping soldiered on and remained on the pitch to ensure Arsenal won the game 2-0; this ensured the club won the 1934-35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
title.
Copping recovered from his injury to continue playing for Arsenal, making over 35 appearances in each of his first four seasons with the club. During his time at Highbury, Arsenal won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1935-36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
, another League title in 1937-38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
, and two Charity Shields. His England career also continued, and he was one of seven Arsenal players to start England's match against Italy in November 1934 (the "Battle of Highbury
Battle of Highbury
The "Battle of Highbury" was the name given to the football match between England and Italy that took place on 14 November 1934 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London...
") - a game for which he named man of the match. In total he won 20 caps for England between 1933 and 1939.
He remained a near-ever present for Arsenal until March 1939; with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
looming, Copping put in a transfer request so that he could return to the North with his family. Arsenal duly complied, and Copping re-signed for Leeds United. In all he played 189 matches for Arsenal.
Return to Leeds United
Copping played out the rest of the 1938-391938-39 in English football
The 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season with Leeds United, but war broke out in September 1939 and all first-class football was cancelled. Copping joined the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at the start of the war, and served in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, eventually becoming a Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
. He played the occasional wartime game for Leeds, but retired from playing football in 1942.
Copping was known as a hard and strong player; his most famous quote was "the first man in a tackle never gets hurt". Despite his nickname of "The Iron Man", and his image (he took to the field unshaven, a remarkably unusual practice at the time), Copping was never booked or sent off in his career.
Later career
After the war ended, Copping became a trainerAthletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
and coach at various clubs, including Beerschot
K. Beerschot V.A.C.
Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbal en Atletiek Club is a former Belgian football club from Antwerp. The club was founded in 1899 when most players of R. Antwerp F.C. left the club. It played in the 1920 Olympic Games Stadium named the "Kiel". After many financial problems over the years, the club was...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He retired to live in Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
. He died in 1980, aged 70.
In 1998, the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Copping on its list of 100 League Legends
Football League 100 Legends
The Football League 100 Legends is a list of 100 great association football players who played part or all of their professional career in English Premier season of League football...
.
Honours
ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19361936 FA Cup FinalThe 1936 FA Cup Final was a football match between by Arsenal and Sheffield United on 25 April 1936 at Wembley. The showpiece match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 64th Cup final, and the fourteenth at Wembley.Each team received a... - Football League championship: 1934–351934-35 in English footballThe 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, 1937–381937-38 in English footballThe 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...