Chay Cooper (born 17 November 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League side Braintree Town.

Chay Cooper
Chay Cooper warming up for Hartlepool United
Personal information
Full name Chay Cooper[1]
Date of birth (2001-11-17) 17 November 2001 (age 23)[2]
Place of birth Harlow, England[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Colchester United
Number 37
Youth career
2011–2016 Southend United
2016–2021 Tottenham Hotspur
2020–2021Southend United (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Colchester United 12 (3)
2023St Albans City (loan) 22 (6)
2024Hartlepool United (loan) 9 (0)
2024– Braintree Town 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:42, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Cooper began playing for Southend United at the age of 10. Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southend as a scholar.[4] He was loaned back to Southend to play in their Under-23 team to get some game time in October 2020.[5]

At the end of the 2020–21 season, Cooper was released by Tottenham. After featuring in a number of pre-season friendlies for Colchester United's Under-23 side, he signed a deal with the club on 3 September 2021.[4]

On 28 September 2021, Cooper made his first-team debut for Colchester, starting in their 1–0 EFL Trophy victory against West Ham United Under-21s.[6] In Cooper's football league debut he came off the bench to score the second goal away at Hartlepool United which Colchester won 2–0.[7] On 2 February 2023, Cooper joined National League South club St Albans City on loan until the end of the season.[8] His goal in a match against Harrogate Town was voted as Colchester's Goal of the Season for the 2023–24 season.[9]

On 16 February 2024, Cooper signed for National League club Hartlepool United on loan.[10]

In June 2024, Cooper turned down a new contract at Colchester and opted to sign for newly promoted National League side Braintree Town instead.[11]

Career statistics

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As of match played 16 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United 2021–22[12] League Two 1 1 2 0 0 0 2[a] 0 5 1
2022–23[13] League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2023–24[13] League Two 10 2 1 0 0 0 4[a] 1 15 3
Total 12 3 3 0 0 0 6 1 21 4
St Albans City (loan) 2022–23[14] National League South 22 6 0 0 0 0 22 6
Hartlepool United (loan) 2023–24[14] National League 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Braintree Town 2024–25[14] National League 16 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 18 0
Career total 59 9 4 0 0 0 7 1 70 10
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "EFL Squad List 2021/22 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). EFL.com. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. ^ Chay Cooper at Soccerbase
  3. ^ Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Waldron, Jonathan (3 September 2021). "Colchester United sign former Spurs youngster Chay Cooper". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. ^ Phillips, Chris (22 October 2020). "Chay Cooper returns to Southend United under 23s from Tottenham Hotspur to get game time". Echo. Basildon. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Colchester vs West Ham United U21". Sky Sports. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Hartlepool United 0–2 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  8. ^ "CHAY COOPER ARRIVES". St Albans City. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Read Scoops POTY Awards". Colchester United FC. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Chay Cooper joins on loan". Hartlepool United FC. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Chay Cooper has left Colchester United for Braintree Town". Colchester Gazette. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Games played by Chay Cooper in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Games played by Chay Cooper in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "C. Cooper". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
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