Mainstay of great side had drive to succeed

They played in two different eras but former Aberdeen forward David Robb says Neale Cooper epitomised what it took to be a Gothenburg Great.

Cooper was just 14 when Robb left the Dons in 1977 for a new life in the US.

His departure was soon followed by that of Billy McNeill, the man who sold him to Tampa Bay Rowdies. His replacement was Alex Ferguson and it ushered in an era of unprecedented success at Pittodrie.

Robb believes Cooper was an integral cog in the Aberdeen machine which should not be overlooked.

“We’ve lost a wonderful man,” he said.

“He was one of the mainstays of the all-

“Everyone will tell you what a wonderful man he was”

conquering team in the 1980s who, because of some of the wonderfully talented players around him, did not get the credit he should have had for his contribution.”

Robb knows from some of his old Pittodrie team-mates just how focused Cooper was on wringing out every last drop of ability he had in his pursuit of glory.

He said: “When I think of Neale I think of dedication. He was a great believer in himself and trying to be the best he could be.

“His attitude was fantastic and he was a player who believed if he had the drive to succeed then everyone around him should have it, too,” he said.

“Neale was a player who was always willing to go above and beyond his call of duty no matter which club he played for.

“Whether you were a team-mate, an opponent or a friend, everyone will tell you what a wonderful man he was.”