Player Of The Month June 2010
EVERY MONTH THE ARGYLE LEGENDS WEBSITE FEATURES AN INTERVIEW WITH A PLAYER
This month we thank Leigh Cooper for taking the time to answer the 15 questions we put to him.
Q: What was your most memorable match for Plymouth Argyle?
A: Two games stick out, both pretty obvious I guess! The FA Cup semi final against Watford and the promotion winning fixture against Bristol City at home. The Watford game was a real bittersweet experience but the Bristol game was a pleasure to play in (the party after wasn't bad either!!).
Q: Who was the best Argyle player you played with?
A: Too many to choose from!!! Over the years there was some real quality there. Would have been interesting to see how they would have faired in today's game.
Q: Who was your toughest opponent?
A: The next one!!!
Q: You must have an amusing story you could share with us about your time at Argyle?
A: Big Gerry Mac had had a bit of a night on the ‘town' and turned up for training slightly worse for wear. Of course Dave Smith spotted this in the warm up and decided it would be a good idea for the big man to do some defensive heading practice!!! The gaffer had the apprentices pinging in 40-yard balls for Gerry to come and attack in the air. Needless to say he was swearing quite a bit as the balls were reigning in on him and he missed quite a few!! Never saw him like that again though so ‘Smudger' won the day!!
Q: If you could invite 5 celebrities around for dinner who would it be and why?
A: Beyonce Knowles (obvious reason I think!), Ayrton Senna (I'm a formula 1 fan), Freddie Mecury (what an entetainer!), Michael Parkinson (he can tell a story or two I bet!!) and Bill Shankly (Now there is a TRUE legend!!)
Q: Can you recall your most embarrassing moment?
A: Lots over the years unfortunately!! But none that I am going to share quite yet!! Most recently though every time I try to get in to the current legends kit – it gets tighter each time!!
Q: How has football changed over the years?
A: Too much money if you can have such a thing!! The big boys have lost touch with reality and how important the game is to your average fan in the street. England world cup 2010!! I rest my case.
Q: Who was the best manager you ever played under?
A: Very diplomatically, the one that was picking me for the first team at the time. They all were different and had different plus points.
Q: What was your pre-match routine? E.g. lucky item, superstitions.
A: Not mega superstitious really. Used to bang to top of the exit to the tunnel at Home Park and pray for the best!!
Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your former Argyle teammates? If so, who?
A: Just through the vet's games really. We always say we will meet up for a meal sometimes but it never seems to happen!! (Come on Mr Uzzell, sort it out!!!)
Q: Do you think England will do well in the World Cup?
A: I always thought the best we could of hoped for was Semi-final, how optimistic was I?
Q: If you could choose any player in the world you would have liked to have played with, who would it have been?
A: Mine would have been George Best. Would have loved to have seen how good he really was.
Q: Do you follow Argyle's progress or attend any of their matches?
A: It's the first result I always look for on a Saturday but with being involved with local football I rarely go these days.
Q: What is your favourite type of music?
A: Boring, but anything and everything really.
Q: What would be the highlight of your time at Argyle?
A: In good times and bad, just the pleasure of being a professional footballer. Even in my day I felt very privileged to do something that I loved.
