The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
John reveals ‘last autograph’ of footballer who died too young
Piece of paper with Davie Cooper’s signature has been souvenir since 39-year-old was a young fan
It is the autograph of a Scottish football hero which might have been the last he ever gave.
Dundee man John Brown has kept the unique piece of memorabilia safe for 25 years and has admitted he will never part with it.
Davie Cooper died at the age of 39 on March 23 1995, just a day after being rushed to hospital with a brain haemorrhage.
Cooper collapsed while making a film at Clyde’s Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld with Celtic’s Charlie Nicholas and Scotland under-21 coach Tommy Craig.
Just a few days earlier, Cooper – who was due to retire at the end of that season – was part of the Clydebank squad which won 3-2 against Dundee at Dens Park in the First Division.
“I was invited along to the match by a school friend Stuart Squire whose dad Nigel was a director,” said John, who runs The Longest Forty Production
Company, which puts on events across the country, mainly with footballers.
“I would have only been 14, I think, so I can’t remember much about the game, but I do remember two Clydebank players – James Grady, who would later end up at Dens, and Davie Cooper because, of course, everybody knew who Davie Cooper was.
“I wasn’t lucky enough – or old enough – to have seen him in his prime, but I was well aware how highly he was thought of in the Scottish game.
“After the game, Stuart and I sat in the players old lounge at Dens.
“I remember Teletext was on the TV and both sets of players would come in and grab a cup of tea and a sandwich and stand and watch the scores.
“Stuart and I were sat waiting patiently on Nigel finishing his duties as a director in the boardroom when Davie Cooper came and sat in an empty seat beside me.”
John was taken aback when the legend casually chatted to him for about 10 minutes.
“He asked who I played for, what position I played, if I lived locally, who I supported, and if I enjoyed the game,” said John.
“I couldn’t believe this Scottish football legend had just come across and started chatting to me.
“I remember him being the last Bankies player to leave the lounge, and indeed someone came and shouted on him that the bus was leaving, so he said his goodbyes and headed off.
“Thinking I couldn’t miss this opportunity to leave empty-handed, I quickly found a piece of paper and a pen.
“I ran after him, and shouted on him just as he was on the steps of the bus – there was certainly nobody that day in Dundee got a signature after me.”
John got home and told his father all about it.
“He told me to keep his autograph somewhere safe,” said John.
“A few days later, I think I was having my lunchbreak from school at my grandad’s when he told me it just came on the radio that Davie Cooper had died.
“I told him all about meeting him at the weekend, and he said I’d maybe been the last person to get his autograph.
“Obviously there was no way to prove that, but it was humbling to think I may have a unique piece of Scottish football memorabilia.
“I’ve kept it safe in my parents house in Broughty Ferry ever since.
“I don’t think I’d ever part with it. “It’s quite a special thing to have, and a good little story to tell also.”