Terry Cooper, the Leeds United legend responsible for scoring the winning goal in the 1968 League Cup final against Arsenal, has sadly passed away aged 77.
An integral member of the great Don Revie side, Terry Cooper played a total of 351 times for Leeds, scoring 11 times between 1964 and 1975 - one of the biggest moments in the club's history.
Not only did he score that transformational goal for the club, as the years went by he also became revered as one of the inventors of the modern wing-back role.
"A club legend, Cooper amassed 351 appearances for the Whites, scoring 11 goals, during the Leeds’ most successful era to date.
"The thoughts of everyone at Leeds United are with Terry’s family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Terry."
He also won 20 England caps, making his debut in 1970 and being picked as the team's first=choice left back that same year.
After leaving Leeds, he then went on to manage a raft of other teams including Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Exeter twice, and Birmingham.
Tributes have poured in from the clubs he was associated with, as well as many others who took the time to share their sadness at his passing and celebrate his great contribution to football.
Exeter tweeted: “Exeter City is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Cooper at the age of 77. Terry managed the Grecians to the Fourth Division championship in 1990. Our thoughts are with Terry’s friends and family.”
Whilst Birmingham said: "We are devastated to hear of the passing of our former Manager, Terry Cooper. Everyone’s thoughts at #BCFC are with Terry’s family and friends"
Football writer Henry Winter tweeted: "Such sad news. Another #lufc legend gone. Thoughts with Terry Cooper’s family and friends. RIP."
Former footballer Keith Waugh said "Just heard of the passing of the best manager I worked for. A brilliant player in his day, a superb man manager & a top bloke. You gave me some of the best days of my career and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you and RIP Terry Cooper."
Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling said: "Terry Cooper, a wonderful buccaneering full back who was part of my childhood has gone. Incredibly sad."
And fan Mert Brown said: "RIP Terry Cooper. He got City back on track, boxed clever in the transfer market (Alan Walsh 18k) brought exciting football back to the Gate and, as a young kid at that point, I will never forget the Wembley trips in the mid 80’s"
An absolute icon and one of football's greats, Terry Cooper did so much for football and his loss will be felt for some time.
In gutting news for the Owls, the already struggling Sheffield Wednesday FC have been informed that they could very well be starting next season with an immediate points deduction.
From bad to worse, it seems, at the moment.
Wednesdayites have been through it all over the past few years, with unpaid debts and salaries resulting in administration, sparking protests; now relegation to the third tier and the threat of complete collapse.
And as if things weren't hard enough already, Sheffield Wednesday have now been told that they will automatically be deducted 15 points from the beginning of the 2026/67 League One campaign if creditors aren't paid in full - starting with outgoing and controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri...
BREAKING: Sheffield Wednesday look set to start life in League One next season with a 15-point deduction, because none of the bidders currently trying to buy the club is prepared to pay £15m to the outgoing owner, Dejphon Chansiri. pic.twitter.com/UoAgIMsB4p
Chansiri has loaned over £60 million to the organisation during more than 11 years in charge, but because this money was never converted into share capital, he is the entity that the club owes the biggest amount to.
Addressing supporters in a statement back in September 2023, the 57-year-old member of the millionaire family that controls the Thai Union Group, wrote: "I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly.
"Those fans who create trouble [for] the club and me, and believe that they are the real owner of the club, need to be responsible for the financial matters of the club from now on."
It's fair to say that relations with the fans have far from improved since then, and they've been left even more furious following this most recent development.
At present, Chansiri must be paid at least £15m (effectively almost half of the entire organisation's total purchase price at current valuation), but none of the interested bidders has ultimately been willing to do so thus far.
However, the Arise Capital Partners LLC consortium - led by David Storch and son Michael, as well as Tom Costin - has been identified as the 'preferred' party to complete a buyout.
Newcastle United Mike Ashley was also said to be in the running to take over the club, but ultimately was unprepared to settle this fee with Chansiri, and there remain doubts over whether or not Storch is willing to either.
As for the loyal Hillsborough matchgoers, they have accused the EFL of punishing them and the club rather than the ownership and wider executive board, who have overseen this turbulent period for the historic local institution.
One person wrote underneath the post in social media: "So a club gets penalised because their owner is a piece of shit, but Man City and others just get away with it, makes sense"; many others have simply added that the pending treatment is "unfair" and targets the wrong people. What do you make of it all?
Elsewhere in the Steel City, fresh hope and a new chapter are coming to the world's oldest football club as native musician Jon McClure has been confirmed as the new chairman. Find out more down below.
Featured Images — Kenneth Yarham (via Geograph)/Kivo (via Wikimedia Commons)
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People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in next series of BBC’s popular Gladiators reboot
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is back casting for the next series of Gladiators, and producers are looking for people from Yorkshire to take part.
The gladiators are ready for a new series… but are the contenders?
That’s right – arguably the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game show of all time is coming back for another series following its long-awaited reboot back in 2025, and that means that the BBC is looking for some brave new contestants to take part.
Yorkshire residents are among those producers are calling on to consider sticking an application in.
Unfamiliar with the premise of Gladiators? The massively-popular series – which is based on an American show of the same name – sees four contestants compete in a number of physical challenges against the ‘Gladiators’, all with the aim of securing as many points as possible for the final event, which is known as ‘The Eliminator’.
Image: BBC
Contestants battle against each other to win a place in the grand final, and ultimately be crowned the champion for the series.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Hungry Bear Media wrote: “Gladiators, one of the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game shows ever is back for a fourth series.
“We are on the look out for the bravest members of the British public who have the speed and skill to take on our superhuman Gladiators.”
Reckon that’s you then?
With filming set to start soon, applications are now open for the new series of Gladiators, and all you need to do to be in with a chance of being selected as a contestant is being over 18 years old, and fill out an application form.
You can apply on the BBC website here, before applications close on 31 May 2026.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd August 2021 
