Western Morning News (Saturday)
Cooper excited over new three-year contract
GOALKEEPER Mike Cooper has spoken of his excitement after signing a new three-year contract with Plymouth Argyle.
The highly-rated shot-stopper has been rewarded by the club after being an ever present in League One this season.
While Argyle’s defensive record is the second worst in the division, with 76 goals conceded in 44 games, that has been no reflection on the performances of Cooper.
The 21-year-old already had a contract with the Pilgrims until June 2022, which was signed in December 2019.
Now he has committed his future to the summer of 2024, which is when manager Ryan Lowe also has a deal with the club until.
Cooper told Argyle’s official club website: I got pulled to the side about a month or two ago and the manager said ‘We want to give you a new deal’, to which I said ‘100 per cent, love that’.
“I’m really excited, really happy to pen another three years with my club.”
Cooper was the back-up to on-loan West Bromwich Albion ‘keeper Alex Palmer last season when Argyle were promoted from League Two.
Lowe showed trust in Cooper to promote him to first choice for this term, instead of bringing in someone else, and that faith has paid off.
Cooper also played in all four of Argyle’s FA Cup ties this season, as well as both of their games in the Carabao Cup.
The only matches he missed were in the EFL Trophy, with Jack Ruddy starting two out of the three of them and Luke
McCormick the other.
Cooper was the winner of The Herald’s Argyle player-of-themonth vote for February.
The former Plymouth College pupil is currently one of the four nominees for the April award too.
Cooper has also been named as Argyle’s young player-of-theseason, with 18-goal top scorer
Luke Jephcott the runner-up and on-loan Newcastle United defender Kell Watts in third place.
“I just want to say thanks to everyone who has voted for me, the support has been much appreciated this season,” said Cooper. “I am just really grateful to receive the award.
“It means a lot, coming into my first full season, having all the backing that I have had has been a massive help for my confidence, and probably exceeded a few of my expectations, to be fair.
“All in all, I’m really happy with how my year has gone personally and I hope to take it into next year.”