Victory snaps up Cooper
BEN Cooper is Tasmania’s latest footballing hopeful trying his luck on the big stage after he was signed to the youth academy of A-League giants Melbourne Victory.
As a 15-year-old Sacred Heart College student, Ben left Tasmania to pursue a career in professional football after he was successful in a trial with Victorian NPL side Pascoe Vale and was offered a spot in the under-18 team. “My dad was just on Facebook one day and [saw] an expression of interest for Pascoe Vale’s under-18 side so dad put my name down and the position I played and a few days later we went over and had a trial.”
After a season with Pascoe Vale, former Melbourne Victory and Socceroos defender Rodrigo Vargas identified Ben’s talent and a dream became a reality when Melbourne Victory came knocking.
“They [Melbourne Victory] asked me to come and train for six weeks and then after that they asked me to trial for them in practice games against Victoria’s Player Support Program. After that, a few weeks later, I got an email saying they wanted me for next season,” Ben said.
“I don’t know how to put it in words, you just get overcome with joy and happiness and emotional as well because it’s my dream to play for Melbourne Victory.
“As a little kid I used to watch them on TV. Words can’t describe how happy I was when I got that email.”
Despite signing for the Victorian side, it was another ALeague team that, in 2018, made Ben think he may have what it takes to go to the next level. “I was offered to go and train with Sydney FC for a week … that’s pretty much where I was like, ‘I’ve got some potential, I can really make a deal of myself and become a professional footballer’,” Ben said.
“So then that’s when I started working a lot harder.”
Seeing the success of fellow Tasmanian A-League players Josh Hope and Nathaniel Atkinson, currently with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City respectively, is something that Ben said made him believe in his dream.
Ben and his academy side will start competitive fixtures in March of next year.