Cooper: We’re losing the spirit of the game
Yeovil Town took home all three points from Southend this afternoon but Mark Cooper was far from pleased with his afternoon in Essex. The Yeovil boss praised the ‘incredible’ travelling support and his players, but during his interview with BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, took aim at Southend, the FA and some of the things he heard during the match.
Here’s the full transcript of the interview:
Josh Perkins: Mark, I imagine you’ve got to be fairly happy with that one?
Mark Cooper: Yeah, I’m happy with the result. It was a horrible atmosphere. Yeah, I lost a little bit of what is in my soul about football today, some things I’ve seen and heard, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it at all.
Josh Perkins: Can I ask what you heard?
Mark Cooper: No, just ridiculous stuff.
Josh Perkins: Okay, focusing on the game when you’re in those moments, be it with the red card from their keeper and the red card for their head coach and things. How difficult is that to kind of get on top of? And you know, make sure that you play your game?
Mark Cooper: You have to stay calm, of course. All our players stayed calm. One of our players [Charlie Cooper] got a yellow card which means he’s suspended. Is, honest to God, some of the stuff like that. Again, I’ve seen and heard full respect to our players. They kept they kept it together, and played our football that we do, and dominate the ball for long periods and just a matter of time if we were going to score.
Josh Perkins: And, you won’t go in to what you heard potentially. But was it from a Yeovil or Southend contingent?
Mark Cooper: No comment. I’ll not comment on it, it’s just ridiculous. What I’ve heard.
Josh Perkins: Okay. And I guess happy with James Plant’s first goal for the club as well? You know, he said to me earlier, he didn’t mean it, but, you know, across ends up with a goal.
Mark Cooper: It was a great cross wasn’t it? So yeah, listen, we deserved to win the game. It was tough on them. The goalie gets sent off. It ruins the game as a spectacle. But I thought it was a sending off – he handled the ball outside the box. They appealed for a penalty. I’ve just seen it wasn’t a penalty. I feel really sorry for referees and fourth officials, because they’ve been put in a really difficult position where you can get booked, as a player, as a manager, for adopting a winning attitude. Or I’ve been sent off this season for raising my arms above my waist, so which was rescinded. Their manager has had the same, but the referees and the officials have nowhere to go with it because they’re instructed. And we’re just losing the spirit and the emotion of the game.
Josh Perkins: Okay. And looking forward, we’ve got the next game, you mentioned that Charlie Cooper is suspended for. But you know, what do you take from this game going into next week?
Mark Cooper: Three points. I can’t wait to get out, get home. I wanted to come and watch Southend last week, and they wouldn’t leave me a ticket. They wouldn’t even reply to our emails. They’ve refused to make any food for our players, which is a National League rule. So, yeah, I can’t wait to get home to be honest, Can I just say tremendous turnout from our supporters. Incredible. They follow us through thick and thin, and they’re unbelievable. Great turnout.