Chay Cooper
English footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chay Cooper (born 17 November 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League side Braintree Town.
|
Chay Cooper warming up for Hartlepool United | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chay Cooper[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 November 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Harlow, England[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Braintree Town | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2016 | Southend United | ||
| 2016–2021 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| 2020–2021 | → Southend United (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Colchester United | 12 | (3) |
| 2023 | → St Albans City (loan) | 22 | (6) |
| 2024 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2024– | Braintree Town | 72 | (6) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:59, 1 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
Cooper began playing for Southend United at the age of 10. Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southend as a scholar.[4] He was loaned back to Southend to play in their Under-23 team to get some game time in October 2020.[5]
At the end of the 2020–21 season, Cooper was released by Tottenham. After featuring in a number of pre-season friendlies for Colchester United's Under-23 side, he signed a deal with the club on 3 September 2021.[4]
On 28 September 2021, Cooper made his first-team debut for Colchester, starting in their 1–0 EFL Trophy victory against West Ham United Under-21s.[6] In Cooper's football league debut he came off the bench to score the second goal away at Hartlepool United which Colchester won 2–0.[7] On 2 February 2023, Cooper joined National League South club St Albans City on loan until the end of the season.[8] His goal in a match against Harrogate Town was voted as Colchester's Goal of the Season for the 2023–24 season.[9]
On 16 February 2024, Cooper signed for National League club Hartlepool United on loan.[10]
In June 2024, Cooper turned down a new contract at Colchester and opted to sign for newly promoted National League side Braintree Town instead.[11]
Career statistics
- As of match played 28 February 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Colchester United | 2021–22[12] | League Two | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022–23[13] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[13] | League Two | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | 15 | 3 | |
| Total | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 4 | ||
| St Albans City (loan) | 2022–23[14] | National League South | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6 | |
| Hartlepool United (loan) | 2023–24[14] | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Braintree Town | 2024–25[14] | National League | 43 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 2 | 49 | 6 | |
| 2025–26[14] | National League | 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 6[c] | 2 | 37 | 5 | ||
| Total | 72 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | 11 | 4 | 86 | 11 | |||
| Career total | 115 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 138 | 21 | ||
- Appearances in EFL Trophy
- Appearances in National League Cup