Since news broke of the tragic death of club legend, Neale Cooper earlier this week, there have been many tributes sent into the club from across the world. Below are a selection of tributes from our RedMatchday contributors.

Richard Gordon

As the decades rolled by and the anniversaries were ticked off, we all knew the sad inevitability was that this day was coming; the day we bid farewell to the first of the Gothenburg Greats.

But not yet. These are all still relatively young men, they’ve got years left.

Or so we thought.

And certainly not Neale Cooper. One of the babies of the group. Not Tattie…

The outpouring of disbelief and sympathy from right across Scottish football, and beyond, is a measure of the impact Neale made on the game, and all our lives.

He was an intelligent, stylish and classy central defender as he emerged through the youth ranks, but couldn’t get into the first-team ahead of Miller and McLeish. So, Alex Ferguson turned him into a “midfield assassin” and the rest was history.

But more than that; he was a warm, funny, caring guy who lived life to the full and rarely, if ever, left you without a smile on your face.

On the many nights we worked together he was engaging company. A natural story-teller with the gift of comedic timing, the tales rolled easily off his tongue. The Charlie Nicholas one; the balaclava one; the Ian Angus with the snooker cue one… I’d heard them over and over and over again, but every time he told them, I’d be in tears of laughter because Neale just had that delivery, that stage presence, and he clearly loved recalling those early years.

I last saw him at the Player of the Year event where, unbelievably, he won the ‘Heads or Tails’ fundraiser which kicked-off the night, and he was loving it up there, shaking his head, grinning that beaming grin, as he collected his prize. I bumped into him throughout the night as he signed autographs, had selfies taken, chatted with old pals and charmed everyone he came in contact with. He was a people person Neale, and the people, his people, loved him.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of announcing his induction to the Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame, and interviewing him on stage. As we sat there, emotion overtook him; there was a tear in his eye as he reflected on what he had achieved, realising perhaps that he was truly one of the legends, that he would never, ever be forgotten. His place in the history of our club had been etched indelibly in granite.

I looked back on my notes for Glory In Gothenburg – I still have the audio recordings, and will take time to sit down and listen to those – and I remembered the afternoon, sitting quietly with him, when I interviewed him for the book. We drank cups of tea and he talked and talked for hours, that big smile lighting up his whole face as he remembered those halcyon days.

There were so many moments to recall from his career, so many iconic images spring to mind as I think back, but that afternoon he surprised me when he spoke about the 1982 Scottish Cup Final. I always assumed that Gothenburg would have been the pinnacle for all of them, but for Neale, while that rainy night in Sweden was truly special, ’82 at Hampden was his most cherished memory.
“The Rangers keeper that day was big Jim Stewart, a lovely guy, and I still slaughter him about this every time I see him. I was running through and he came out and kicked the ball against me. It hit me on the chest but I had no idea where it had landed. Next thing I’m in front of the Rangers end, no goalie, and the ball at my feet. There I was, 17, a huge Dons fan, an open goal and a wall of Rangers supporters in front of me. It was just a case of, bang, get in there!”

“You talk about Gothenburg, but for me that was my biggest thrill ever with Aberdeen. There I was, just a kid, my first ever Scottish Cup Final and we won it. Fantastic.”

As a youngster in that incredible squad, Neale was forever getting into trouble with Archie Knox and Alex Ferguson, but he somehow charmed even them, and as long as he did the business on the park, was forgiven his many indiscretions. After one illicit visit to Champers – and its inevitable discovery by his manager – Cooper spent the week in purgatory, anticipating being dropped for a League Cup tie against Berwick Rangers. He only discovered shortly before kick-off that he was playing, and took to the field with the manager’s threat ringing in his ears, “You’d better play well today Cooper!” He did. Early on, he scored the only League Cup goal of his career, and celebrated by moon-dancing in front of the home dugout, “Fergie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, he just stood there going ‘bwoody Cooper’ as I celebrated with a big smile on my face.”

And that’s an image all of us can so easily conjure.

Neale may have been born in Darjeeling; his football career may have taken him all across the country, but he was always a North East loon, always an Aberdeen fan, always one of us; and his place in our hearts and memories was long since secured.

Sweet dreams min. You deserve them.

Derek Rae

For those of us who were pupils at Airyhall Primary and Hazlehead Academy in the 70s and early 80s, it was impossible to ignore Neale Cooper. Even the non-football fans knew of him and his footballing ability.

Neale was talented and it was clear when you saw him playing, whether for the school or just in the local park, his skill level was extraordinary.

When I think of Neale, I think simultaneously of Ernie Youngson, the school janitor at Airyhall for many years. Ernie was a father figure to Neale and was always encouraging him. Neale confirmed to me when I bumped into him in Aberdeen a few years ago that he might not have taken the big step to the professional game had it not been for Ernie’s sage advice.

From being the school role model, it all seemed to happen so fast for him. Before we knew it, he was in the Aberdeen first team and being praised by Franz Beckenbauer. It made it all the more special that we were truly watching one of our own.

In more recent years, I saw him at football grounds, particularly when he was working for Ross County. Neale was always affable, quick with a joke or an impersonation. So many fans of other clubs have told me they always found him friendly and likeable.

A Gothenburg Great, but so much more than that. Neale was the Aberdeen loon who lived the dream. RIP, Tattie.

Charlie Allan

I write this tribute to Neale Cooper with a heavy heart.

Like many, I’ve shed tears since the untimely death of my dear friend.

How can he be gone at the age of just 54?

When Joe Harper broke the news to me while on holiday in Spain it was hard to handle.

Life will never be the same, or as much fun.

Neale was more than just a fantastic footballer who earned legendary status by winning two league titles, four Scottish Cups, a League Cup and two European trophies.

(It’s a scandal the once blonde curly haired boss of the greatest ever Dons midfield never gained a single full Scotland cap.)

He was an irreplaceable, loveable, amusing, amazing man. One of a kind.

He was a master story teller – as Neale proved with a star performance at the recent 35th anniversary celebration of his greatest triumph in the Legends Lounge at Pittodrie.

We had no idea that night would be the last time we would see Neale deliver his note perfect ‘Fergie’ impersonation as he enthralled the packed audience – and 12 of his fellow Gothenburg Greats – with a tale about Alex Ferguson mucking up a training session before they faced Bayern Munich in Germany back in 1983.

Neither did I know the huge bear hug and trademark broad smile from Neale as I made my exit that May evening, with a promise to catch up for drink and a chat when I returned from holiday, would be the last and lead to me writing this.

Neale was always generous with his time to friends and strangers alike, happy to pose for pictures or share the vast catalogue of tales about his career in football.

During my time working for the Evening Express I was fortunate to evolve from a reporter seeking precious interviews with the youngest of the Dons Legends of 1983 into a man who will always treasure the fact Neale liked me enough to forge a friendship that led to many memorable nights sharing drinks and laughter in pubs in Aberdeen and beyond.

My job meant I was lucky to share Neale’s thoughts about his career playing for the Dons, Aston Villa and Rangers and Dunfermline.

It’s a testament to how special Neale was that the Red Army has always been happy to overlook that brief period with their biggest rivals and treat him as one of their own, which he was.

Neale was born in India but was as Aberdonian as grey granite or rowies.

We once did a series ‘The Neale Cooper Story’ for the newspaper. We talked often of maybe expanding that into a book, oh what fun that would have been, sadly it wasn’t to be.

What I do know is Neale was proud of his achievements in football. He loved that old black and white picture of Dons boss Ally MacLeod losing the plot with Neale the Pittodrie ball boy because he was a little slow getting the ball back in play.

“I thought that was my chances with the Dons gone already,” he said.

History shows it wasn’t and the highlights of his Pittodrie career are many.

My favourite is Neale scoring the fourth goal in their 1982 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers, battering the ball into the empty net from close range then celebrating with a tumble and a snarl in front of the opposing fans.

It was a moment every Dons fans, including this one, dreams about, scoring in a final at Hampden for our team. Neale lived that dream although he once admitted footage of that celebration almost came back to haunt him.

“When I signed for Rangers they played it on a big screen behind me at Ibrox, hardly the best way to start my bid to win their fans over,” he said.

It also meant a lot to Neale that he made his family proud because of his achievements. When we spoke after his well-publicised heart operation he admitted just that.

“If I had gone I would have done so having had a good life,” he said.

“I have three wonderful kids and had a great time thanks to football.

“I’ve been very lucky.”

Neale made it clear he was relishing the second chance to enjoy being with those who mattered most to him. It’s cruel to see that taken away from him at far too early an age.

The pain we are all feeling in the wake of his passing will be far,far, worse for his mother, children, sister and wider family.

Hopefully the knowledge Neale was admired and loved by so many will help.

I certainly loved him and will miss him dearly.

 

Ally Begg

Like everyone connected with the club I was left devastated by the news that our Gothenburg Hero Neale Cooper had passed away. He was one of my first true heroes, that goal against Rangers in the 82’ Cup Final still stands as my favourite Scottish Cup memory.

He lived his dream through us the fans but what I will miss the most is that cheeky grin and infectious giggle. Thoughts and prayers firmly with his family. RIP Tattie.

We will bring you more of the tributes to Neale in the coming days.