Home Sports Football Goldthorpe Veteran – Mexboro’ F.A. Chairman

Goldthorpe Veteran – Mexboro’ F.A. Chairman

October 1928

Mexborough and Swinton Times October 26 1928

Men of Note in Local Sport.

Goldthorpe Veteran
Mexboro’ F.A. Chairman.
George Henry Cooper.

Among the personalities is junior football in the Mexboro’ district Mr. G. H. Cooper, Market Square Goldthorpe is outstanding.

He went to Goldthorpe in 1908 after a long period of service in the army. He served, through the Boer War and played a good deal of army football and took part in running, walking and cycling events. When he went to Goldthorpe he took great interest in the sport of the district but it was not till 1918 that he took an official part.

In 1918 he was one of the prime movers in the formation of Goldthorpe Comrades P.C. now defunct and was its first secretary. A ground presented difficulties but eventually the club got the field from Lord Halifax on which Goldthorpe United now play. In those first years the club competed in the old Swinton Alliance and South Elmsall league competitions.

While Mr. Cooper was secretary the club went from strength to strength till in 1921 they decided to enter the Sheffield Association league con i:elition. In their second season in that competition Comrades opened with 13 wins and 9 draws. At the end of that season Mr. Cooper resigned secretaryship. This here he took office again for Goldthorpe United but after seeing the club successfully embarked on the season’s campaign was compelled to resign owing to ill health.

Mr. Cooper was one if the pioneers of the Mexborough Association and has been actively connected with it, since its inauguration. He was its first treasurer and two years ago was elected chairman. He is also president of the Mexborough’ League oompetition and chairman of the referee selection committee. He has for several years been a member of the Montagu Hospital Sports and Entertainment committee and two years ago was elected president, which position he still holds.

In addition to his football work, Mr. Cooper has been busy in other fields. After the war he was record- secretary for Pensions at Goldthorpe. He has twice been an unsuccessful candidate for the Bolton Urban Council.