William Cope (footballer)

William Arthur Cope (25 November 1884 – 18 February 1937) was an English footballer who played as a full-back. He played 287 league games in the Football League over a nineteen-year professional career.

For the British politician, see William Cope, 1st Baron Cope.
Not to be confused with Bill Cope (footballer).

William Cope
Personal information
Full name William Arthur Cope[1]
Date of birth (1884-11-25)25 November 1884[1]
Place of birth Stoke-upon-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 18 February 1937(1937-02-18) (aged 52)[1]
Place of death Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Playing position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Mount Pleasant
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1904–1907 Burslem Port Vale 73 (1)
1907–1908 Stoke 25 (0)
1908–1914 Oldham Athletic 62 (1)
1914–1922 West Ham United 137 (0)
1922–1923 Wrexham 13 (0)
Total 310 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He joined Burslem Port Vale in August 1904, and spent three seasons with the club, moving on to Stoke after Port Vale resigned from the Football League. Stoke also resigned from the league in 1908, and he moved on to Oldham Athletic. He spent six years with the club, helping the club win promotion out of the Second Division in 1909–10, and to compete for the First Division title. He switched to West Ham United in 1914, and spent eight years with the club, helping the club to the wartime London Combination title in 1916–17. During this time West Ham moved from the Southern League to the Football League. He served the club as captain in 1921–22. He ended his career at Wrexham at the end of the 1922–23 campaign.

Playing career

Cope joined Second Division Burslem Port Vale from Mount Pleasant in August 1904.[1] He played 25 games in 1904–05, scoring once in a 3–3 with Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.[1] The "Valeites" fared poorly, and finished third from bottom in the Football League, ahead of only Burton United and Doncaster Rovers.[1] Cope was a key part of the club's 1905–06 campaign, playing 38 games alongside defensive partner James Hamilton.[1] He played seventeen games in 1906–07, but left the Athletic Ground after the club resigned from the league.[1] In his three seasons at the club he made 80 appearances (73 in the league) and scored one league goal.[1]

He signed with nearby Stoke, also of the Second Division, and played 31 league and cup games in 1907–08. He was again without a club at the end of the season, as Stoke also resigned from the league due to financial difficulties.[2]

He left the Potteries and moved on to Oldham Athletic. The "Latics" finished sixth in 1908–09, and finished as runners-up in 1909–10 (one point behind champions Manchester City), thereby winning promotion to the First Division. Oldham pushed on in 1910–11, and posted a seventh-place finish. However they struggled in 1911–12, surviving relegation by finishing just one point ahead of Preston North End. Athletic then finished ninth in 1912–13 and fourth in 1913–14. He had played 62 league games for the club, scoring one goal.

Cope signed with West Ham United as World War I began. The "Hammers" finished fourth in the Southern Football League in 1914–15, and Cope made 33 appearances. He was with West Ham for the duration of the war, and made 111 wartime appearances; the club won the London Combination in 1916–17 and were elected to the Football League in 1919. West Ham posted a seventh-place finish in 1919–20 and a fifth-place finish in 1920–21. Cope was appointed as club captain for the 1921–22 season, and led the "Hammers" to a fourth-place finish. He left the club at the end of the season; over the course of the three Football League campaigns he made 114 appearances.

Cope joined Third Division North club Wrexham for the 1922–23 season. Making thirteen appearances, he retired at the end of the campaign at the age of 38.

Career statistics

Source:[3][4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burslem Port Vale 1904–05 Second Division 22120241
1905–06 Second Division 34020360
1906–07 Second Division 17000170
Total 73140771
Stoke 1907–08 Second Division 25060310
Oldham Athletic 1908–09 Second Division 300030
1909–10 Second Division 900090
1910–11 First Division 19100191
1911–12 First Division 10000100
1912–13 First Division 17020190
1913–14 First Division 401050
Total 62130651
West Ham United 1914–15 Southern League 31020330
1919–20 Second Division 29040330
1920–21 Second Division 36010370
1921–22 Second Division 41030440
Total 13701001470
Wrexham 1922–23 Third Division North 13000130
Career total 31022303332

Honours
Oldham Athletic
West Ham United
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 67. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  3. William Cope at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. "William Cope". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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