Dave Cooper: Lymington football hero who played until he was 62
FOOTBALL mad Dave Cooper who played for local teams until he was 62 has died.
He started out as a youngster at Pennington Lads before graduating to Lymington Town and Hampshire as he got older. He also played football for the army while doing his national service.
His family told the A&T that as a child, if he did not have a football to play with, he would scrunch up old newspapers to make one.
“He was absolutely football mad,” said his wife Clare. “When he was little he would always be out on the council estate where he lived in Lymington playing footie with his gang.
“He was a very talented player, especially at heading the ball - he could get it exactly where he wanted it. People even used to come and watch him play just for that!”
Dave, who died in December at the age of 87, was well known in the town for his skills. This month Lymington Town FC held a minute’s silence in his honour before a home game.
Clare (82) said: “We were sat in a pub once and a man came up and said, ‘You won’t know who I am but I used to come and watch you play when I was a teenager; I thought you were brilliant’. Dave was so chuffed.”
Dave, who was one of ten children and grew up on the Flushards estate, was also a talented darts player and played regularly for the Lymington Royal British Legion Club where he was also a committee member for over 40 years.
He met Clare while he was working for the council digging up a street in the town. “I worked in Bennetts at the time and I saw him working away,” she said. “There was an instant attraction and we got chatting.”
The couple married in 1956 when Clare was 19 and Dave 25. They went on to have children Andrew (61), Karen (59), Michael, who sadly died last year at the age of 54, and daughter Sarah (49).
Clare continued: “We were married for 62 years and even got a telegram from the Queen when we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary.
“Dave was very much a family man and doted on his three grandchildren, who all adored him.”
After leaving the council, Dave spent more than 40 years working for local building firm Dunford until the company went bust.
He then retired but continued to do odd jobs for friends and family.
He began to suffer vascular dementia and heart problems in recent years, and was admitted to hospital in December with heart problems.
“We were waiting on him going into a nursing home,” said Clare. “On 14th December we managed to have a lovely afternoon tea with mince pies and everything.
“Dave seemed fine but that night I received a phone call to say he had passed away in his sleep. It’s all been a bit of a shock.”
This week his family held Dave’s funeral at St Thomas’ Church followed by a burial in the cemetery.
Clare said: “Dave always said to me that all he needed in life was his family. He was a very content man, he liked to go for walks and read. And every week he would walk down to visit his sister Glad who is 92 and still lives on the Flushards estate.