Neale Cooper was part of a group of young Aberdeen players that broke through to the first team at a time when the Dons were on the verge of a golden era. A contemporary of the likes of Eric Black, Bryan Gunn, John Hewitt and Neil Simpson, Cooper emerged as a defender of great potential.

Once likened to the great Franz Beckenbauer after some impressive performances with the Scotland Youth side, it was unkind to burden such a young talent with such expectations.

Aberdeen were well served in defence with the Miller-McLeish combine firmly entrenched, so Cooper had to make his way as a midfielder, a task that he took to in uncompromising fashion and with his great friend Neil Simpson, he formed the Aberdeen ‘engine room’ that was so critical to the Dons success at home and abroad.

As a youngster, Cooper wasted little time in trying to establish himself in the side. After joining Aberdeen from King Street Boys in 1979, the former Hazlehead Academy pupil was thrust into the side against Kilmarnock on 11th October 1980, given his chance by Alex Ferguson after an injury to Alex McLeish. At only 16 years of age, Cooper was one of the youngest ever Aberdeen debutants but Ferguson said before the game that he was ready:

“Despite his youth, Neale is certainly above reserve team standards.

“I have liked what I have seen so far, so the rest will be up to him, he will get his chance with us.”

On the morning of his first team debut, the club sold their allocation of tickets for the forthcoming European Cup tie against Liverpool at Pittodrie. All 24,000 tickets were snapped up four at a time in less than two hours. League champions, the Dons were protecting an unbeaten league sequence of 23 games, but with Jim Leighton also missing this would be a tough test for Cooper. Even so, Aberdeen cruised to a comfortable 2- 0 win and extended their lead at the top of the table and in reaching the 24-unbeaten game mark, a new club record was set after goals from Ian Scanlon and Drew Jarvie. Cooper strolled through the game, rarely tested in defence but showing enough quality to leave Ferguson delighted:

“The form showed by young Neale was a real bonus for us. I knew he would be ok as I have belief in him and he certainly showed enough today. I expect him to be seriously challenging for a regular position within three months. He got better as the game went on and he fully deserved the great reception from the Dons support when he came off in the second half.”

Neale recalled his early days at Pittodrie for us. “I suppose I was always going to play for Aberdeen. I started at Pittodrie at the age of ten when I used to go home and complain that I couldn’t kick the ball because it was too hard! Then I became a ball boy which strengthened my connection and I was called in for training every time I was on holiday from school. When I signed professional it just seemed like the next logical step. It was really difficult at first but once I got a few games in the side it opened up all kinds of possibilities for me.

“I had been playing in defence with the reserves but with Willie and Alex in the side I knew my chances could have been limited. The manager was great at tactics though and he thought I would be well suited in a midfield role. Looking back it was an incredible time and a memorable one. I felt like a veteran at such a young age, as I never dreamt I would achieve so much so early in my career. It was more than most players win in a lifetime in the game. Aberdeen were a great side back then and there was never a dull moment with Fergie around.

“While I really preferred to play in the centre of defence I was happy to form a partnership in front of Miller and McLeish with Neil Simpson. I never resented the fact that I could not play there, I looked up to both Alex and Willie as I learned so much from them. After a few seasons I had the opportunity to move but I loved it at Pittodrie. I could have signed for Celtic in 1985 but looking back I would have been crazy to go to another club in Scotland. At that time Aberdeen were the dominant force and no matter which club I would have went to, they were never going to be as successful as Aberdeen.”

The teams on the day of Neale’s debut were:

Aberdeen: De Clerck, Kennedy, Rougvie, Watson, Cooper, Miller, Strachan, McMaster, McGhee, Jarvie, Scanlon. Subs; Bell, Cowan.

Kilmarnock: Brown, Robertson, Cockbirn, Clark, Clarke, McDicken, Houston, Mauchlen, Gibson, Crammond, Street.

Attendance: 11,164

Neale Cooper Statistics

D.O.B: 24.11.1963
Born: Darjeeling, India
Signed: 1.7.1979
Aberdeen Appearances: 220
Aberdeen Goals: 10
International: 13 Scotland U-21 Appearances
Debut: v Kilmarnock 11.10.1980
Other Clubs: Aberdeen, Aston Villa, Rangers, Reading, Dunfermline, Ross County