 Copping in 1936 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wilfred Copping | ||
| Date of birth | 17 August 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Barnsley,Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | June 1980 (aged 70) | ||
| Place of death | Southend-on-Sea,Essex, England | ||
| Position(s) | Left half, Centre half | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1929–1934 | Leeds United | 162 | (0) |
| 1934–1939 | Arsenal | 189 | (0) |
| 1939–1942 | Leeds United | 12 | (0) |
| Total | 363 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1933–1939 | England | 20 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1946–1947 | K. Beerschot V.A.C. | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Wilfred Copping (17 August 1909 – June 1980) was an Englishfootball player who played forLeeds United,Arsenal and the England national team.
Copping was born inMiddlecliffe,Barnsley,Yorkshire, but was rejected by his local teamBarnsley, and worked for a time in the pits while playing for Middlecliffe Rovers. He eventually joinedLeeds United in 1929, and made his debut at the start of the1930-31 season, soon becoming a regular in the Leeds half-back line.[1]
Together with his Leeds United teammateBilly Furness, he made his debut forEngland, againstItaly on 13 May 1933. Copping played over 160 League games for Leeds in five seasons, and won six England caps during that time.[1]
Copping was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 1934 for £8,000, as a replacement forBob John, and immediately took a first-team place at left half. He made his debut againstPortsmouth on 25 August 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 againstEverton. Copping soldiered on and remained on the pitch to ensure Arsenal won the game 2–0; this ensured the club won the1934-35First Division title.[2]
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 theFA Cup in1935-36, another League title in1937-38, and twoCharity Shields.[2] 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.[1]
He remained a near-ever present for Arsenal until March 1939; withWorld War II looming, Copping put in atransfer 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.[2]
Copping played out the rest of the1938-39 season with Leeds United, but war broke out in September 1939 and all first-class football was cancelled. Copping joined theArmy at the start of the war, and served inNorth Africa, eventually becoming asergeant 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.
After the war ended, Copping became atrainer and coach at various clubs, includingBeerschot in Belgium,Southend United,Bristol City andCoventry City. He retired to live inSouthend-on-Sea. He died in 1980, aged 70.[1]
In 1998,the Football League, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Copping on its list of100 League Legends.[2]
