| Wilf Copping |
| Personal information |
|---|
| Full name | Wilfred Copping |
| Date of birth | August 17, 1909 |
| Place of birth | Barnsley, Yorkshire, England |
| Date of death | June 1980 |
| Place of death | Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England |
| Playing position | Left half, Centre half |
| Senior clubs1 |
|---|
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
1929-34
1934-39
1939-42 | Leeds United
Arsenal
Leeds United
| 162 (0)
166 (0)
012 (0) |
| National team |
|---|
| 1933-39 | England | 020 (0) |
1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals) |
Wilfred "Wilf" Copping (August 17, 1909 – June 1980) was an English footballer.
Copping was born in Middlecliffe, Barnsley, Yorkshire, and played for a variety of local boys' clubs. After being rejected by Barnsley, and working for a time in the pits while playing for Middlecliffe Rovers, he joined Leeds United in 1929. He had to wait a year before making his debut at the start of the 1930-31 season but soon became a regular in the Leeds half-back line. He made his debut for England, against Italy on 13 May 1933. He played over 160 League games for Leeds in five seasons, and won six caps for his country in his time there.
Copping was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 1934 for £8,000, as a replacement for Bob John, and immediately took a first-team place at left half. He made his debut against Portsmouth on August 25, 1934, and was an ever-present in his first season for the club, until suffering a serious knee injury in the third-last match of the season against Everton; Copping soldiered on and remained on the pitch to ensure Arsenal would win, which they did 2-0; this greatly helped the club to the 1934-35 First Division title.
Copping recovered from his injury to continue playing for Arsenal regularly, turning in over 35 appearances in each of his first four seasons with the club. With Arsenal went on to win the FA Cup in 1935-36 and another League title in 1937-38, and two Charity Shields. His England career also continued strongly, and he was one of seven Arsenal players to start England's match against Italy in November 1934 (the "Battle of Highbury"), and was named man of the match for a strong tackling display. In total he won 20 caps for England between 1933 and 1939.
He remained a near-ever present for Arsenal up until March 1939; with World War II looming, Copping put in a transfer request so that he could return to the North with his family. Arsenal duly complied with his wishes, and Copping re-signed for Leeds United. In all he played 189 matches for Arsenal, never scoring a goal.
Copping played out the rest of the 1938-39 season with Leeds United, but as he predicted war broke out in September 1939 and all first-class football was cancelled. Copping joined the Army at the start of the war, and served in North Africa, eventually becoming a Sergeant Major. He played the odd wartime game for Leeds, but retired from playing football in 1942.
Copping was known as a hard and strong player; his most famous quote was "The first man in a tackle never gets hurt". Despite this, his nickname of "The Iron Man", and his image (he took to the field unshaven, a remarkably unusual practice at the time), Copping was never booked or sent off in his career.
After the war ended, Copping became a trainer and coach at various clubs, including Beerschot in Belgium, Southend United, Bristol City and Coventry City. He retired to live in Southend-on-Sea. He died in 1980, aged 70.
In 1998, the Football League, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Copping on its list of 100 League Legends.
