Hourihane

Steve Cooper was one of, if not my all time favourite Barnsley player. That's not to say he was the best. He was a good player, but we've had much more skilful. However, he had the heart of a lion. South Riding, our excellent fanzine of the time, once commented that when Steve Cooper went in for a tackle he'd stick his head where many players wouldn't dare stick their boot. He was a bit of a nutter really, but the way he'd jump around and get stuck in was genuinely awesome. You couldn't believe a human being was doing that without springs on his heels. He was a footballer too though, he scored some cracking goals for us.

He became a bit of a hero wherever he went, in part due to his athleticism, but also because he had the knack of scoring some very important goals. He twice scored for Tranmere in the play-offs when they were promoted to the Championship and also scored in their Leyland Daf cup final. He scored for Peterborough too during their play-off campaign. At Airdrie he scored 42 goals including a header at Hampden Park that took the club in to the Scottish Cup final where they narrowly lost to Celtic.

His tragic and untimely death still saddens me deeply.

It's early days, but Hourihane looks like a skilful player. The goals have been belters, but even more impressive is the way he busts a gut to join every attack. For years we've seen crosses put in to the opposition box with only one striker in there and our midfield stood on the half way line. We now have 4 or 5 players pushing forward every time we attack. Whenever a ball is played in to the area, if Hourihane hasn't delivered it himself, he's in there trying to get on the end of it. I reckon there will be plenty more goals to come.

Best of luck to Plymouth for the rest of the season. I hope you've managed to put the money we paid for Hourihane to good use and signed a couple of skilful players.

Thanks for the above message.

 

Im impressed too, just wiipedia'd him and notice only 5 goals last season and one before that, bet he surpasses that easy this season

 

did Argyle put a sell on clause on him

if so that could prove profitable, or even a promotion clause.

 

He has always looked like he goals in him, we just somehow managed to cover up that ability for too long.

I'd like to think we did put a sell on clause into the deal, but it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't, we let Yannick Bolaise leave for about £15k and Bristol City sold him to Palace 12 months later for some ridiculous sum.

I certainly got the impression he is at heart a decent lad, i dont think he'd go chasing a move away unless it was a benefit to him and the club. It was time for him to leave Argyle for his own good, he is clearly better than League 2 and needed to show it sooner rather than later. He seems to have his head screwed on, hopefully he can get upto the Championship with you guys.

Back to Stevie Cooper, he was as you say, never a world beater, but boy did he give it 100%. He scored some absolute screamers for us, as well as blazing over from a yard at times. He was the perfect foil for our then super prolific Tommy Tynan. Coops also scored the funniest goal i've ever seen, where a cross came in from the right and he swung a powerful right boot at it, he had a complete air shot, fortunately the ball hit his standing leg and rolled in the other corner, the keeper never moved. Taken much too early, but a real fans favourite.

Good luck for the rest of the year, i'll be keeping a look out for Conor, dreaming what if he'd stayed with us, but hopefully he'll playing the standard of football he should be, with you guys.

 

Seems to go to ground a lot when tackling, in the few games I`ve seen him. So can understand your Paul Scholes comparison.

 

Here is Steve Cooper doing one of his somersaults! God rest his soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8YiFY0VMqo