This weekend Yeovil Town mananger Mark Cooper joins an elite list of Glovers’ managers. He will take charge of his 100th first-team fixture for the club when his side take on Dagenham & Redbridge at Huish Park.

With 99 on the clock, and a win rate percentage of a tiny bit over 43%, he sits second in a ‘Post-Gary Johnson’s First Stint in Charge’ table for games won ratio – for those wondering only Josh Staunton’s perfect one from one can boast a better percentage.

Presuming he sees the season out in charge at Huish Park, he’ll overtake Darren Sarll’s 134 games, and if he sees out his contract in full, he’ll have skipped past both Terry Skiverton (157) and Darren Way (152) for league games in charge.

By the end of October, Cooper will also have passed two complete years as Yeovil boss. All of these numbers are, in the grand scheme of football in 2024, impressive. But that doesn’t begin to tell the full story.

Like his predecessors, he’ll (hopefully) make a fortune telling the full story of his time at YTFC, but I don’t think anyone quite saw the rollercoaster that would unravel when we first saw Cooper in the stand at Oldham Athletic, with Chris Hargreaves’ tenure destined to end.

He said he was there to watch son Charlie, who appeared as 74th-minute substitute in a 2-0 win for the Latics and who would eventually follow his Dad to Somerset. Could they have predicted what would follow their arrival?

He watched from the stands as the Glovers drew with Maidstone United the day after after he was announced as manager and suffered more late heartbreak when a late goal led to a defeat at Woking in his first match on the touchline. But after that, he managed us through a seven-game unbeaten run over the Christmas and New Year period.

Mark Cooper watches on from the stand at Maidstone United in October.

He promised a “heavy possession style” with “a team that likes to get crosses in the box” in his first pre-match press conference. 100 games later, it feels like he’s kept that promise.

The back end of the 2022/23 season was a car crash off-the-field – we’ve talked the back legs off this stuff and don’t need to again – but one shining light in all the darkenss was the way that Josh Staunton as captain and Mark Cooper fronted up time and time again.

Not a single Yeovil fan would have blamed Cooper, or anyone associated with YTFC, from walking away after the Wrexham game that confirmed the Glovers’ relegation to the National League South – Cooper’s first-ever on his managerial CV, albeit one with a huge asterisk attached to it.

He said he “could have walked away six weeks ago”, but said he wanted to stay, he felt a loyalty and would “love to” rebuild the football club.

Following his takeover new owner Martin Hellier offered Cooper the stability to get on and build a team capable of bouncing back.

A massive club in a relatively small division, needed more than just money throwing at it. We may have had one of the biggest budgets in the National League South, but getting the people right was was crucial to preparing a side for challenges we had not seen since our last stint in regional football back in the 1990s.

We were big fish in a small pond. Cooper knew that and knew that we weren’t going to blitz teams away, but were still good enough to win games and entertain people. We did just that.

The unbeaten run that got everything up and running needed more than it’s fair share of patience, as late goals (mainly from Morgan Williams) were the norm. We kept the ball moving, sometimes sideways, sometimes backwards – but actually when you think about it, football is a simple game, you can’t concede if you have possession of the ball. 

With the help of assistant manager Chris Todd and first-team coach Marcus Stewart the playing staff was built, and then tweaked as the season goes on.  Will Buse out, Joe Day in, Zac Bell out, Michael Smith in.

Manager Mark Cooper with assistant Chris Todd. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Tough decisions, ones that many of us from the outside were shocked by, like Josh Staunton not getting the game time and eventually leaving the club, on paper made no sense. 

But when you look back now, and the defensive solidity that came from Smith-Wannell-Williams-Whittle built our title charge.

What we see in press conferences is a Mark Cooper with his guard up sometimes, a little shielded, maybe a little tense, with a professional head on – cards close to the chest with only a few nuggets offered out.

That same steely approach even creeps into warm ups, we’ve seen back fours warm up in a certain way only to start the game with wing-backs.

But off camera, off the record, he’s a carefully considered football man, someone who cares deeply, and can laugh and smile and joke about a referee’s decision – they are jokes, right, Mark?

See, he can smile. Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

I consider myself fortunate to have spent a few of those moments after games in Cooper’s company. After Wrexham, Boreham Wood when things are bad, after Boston this season when things were good and plenty more besides – at some point in the next 100 games, I think I’d like to see that side to Mark Cooper show itself a little more.

We saw it (just) after Worthing away, where he ended up in a Rhys Rosser hug and let out – by his standards – a roar of delight. Watch the HP Source after the Truro City win that secured our return to the National League Premier at the first time of asking. He tells his team they need to beat Dover Athletic in the next match, but then invites them to “go f***ing mental”.

He took very little limelight, almost apologetically lifting the trophy to a packed out Huish Park. But I really don’t think any of us should take lightly how he turned a losing dressing room into a winning one.

Super Cooper’s Greens are gunna blind you…
📸 Gary Brown

It was a Huish Park that wasn’t used to being packed out, by the way. You can improve the matchday experience as much as you like, add as many bars and entertainment channels as you like, if the results on the pitch aren’t there – the DJ is playing to nobody.

He has, at times, asked for more from Yeovil fans, particularly those behind the dug out – “Gerrit for’ard Cooper” they demand – but he’s a man of principals, we’ve only ever ‘parked the bus’ once that I can remember – Notts County away, the most ridiculous of 0-0 draws.

Players have come and gone, some have really shone, others have barely blinked an eyelid before their time is up.

But each one of them either knows before hand, or finds out very quickly, what it’s like being a Mark Cooper player. Some get it, Matt Worthington (who worked with Cooper before) and Frank Nouble (who Cooper was desperate to sign the season we went down) stand out under Cooper. Jake Wannell, Sam Pearson, Jordan Young and others have all grown under Cooper, too.

With plenty of time still left on Cooper’s contract, there’s no sense of him being done with his YTFC story yet. It’s one thing being the manager that gets us back into a National division from the depths of regional football, but someone WILL be the coach who takes us back to the Football League.

That might not be this season, maybe not next either, but with the right backing, the right support around him, I’d argue Mark Cooper is well-qualified to do that. He remains the only manager to be promoted from both regional divisions and the National League Premier.

The asterisk I referred to before, the one that adorns the only relegation on his CV, now acts merely as a coaster to rest the National League South trophy on.

100 Games in charge is no mean feat, especially given the path that took us to where we are now.

Thank you for your service, Mark… just one more thing… “Gerrit for’ard, will ‘ee”


DateOppositionCompetitionH/AResManagerNo.
29-10-2022Maidstone UnitedVanarama National LeagueA1-1Mark Cooper1
01-11-2022WokingVanarama National LeagueA0-1Mark Cooper2
08-11-2022Maidenhead UnitedVanarama National LeagueH0-0Mark Cooper3
12-11-2022GatesheadVanarama National LeagueH3-1Mark Cooper4
19-11-2022Notts CountyVanarama National LeagueA0-0Mark Cooper5
26-11-2022FC Halifax TownVanarama National LeagueH1-0Mark Cooper6
03-12-2022BromleyVanarama National LeagueA0-0Mark Cooper6a
06-12-2022Taunton TownSomerset Premier Cup (R2)H2-1Mark Cooper7
10-12-2022Scunthorpe UnitedVanarama National LeagueH0-0Mark Cooper8
17-12-2022Dorking WanderersFA Trophy (R3)H0-0Mark Cooper9
26-12-2022Torquay UnitedVanarama National LeagueA1-1Mark Cooper10
01-01-2023Torquay UnitedVanarama National LeagueH2-0Mark Cooper11
14-01-2023BromleyVanarama National LeagueA1-4Mark Cooper12
28-01-2023Dagenham & RedbridgeVanarama National LeagueA2-0Mark Cooper13
31-01-2023WealdstoneVanarama National LeagueH0-0Mark Cooper14
04-02-2023Maidstone UnitedVanarama National LeagueH2-2Mark Cooper15
14-02-2023Paulton RoversSomerset Premier Cup (R3)A1-2Mark Cooper16
18-02-2023Notts CountyVanarama National LeagueH1-4Mark Cooper17
21-02-2023Maidenhead UnitedVanarama National LeagueA0-2Mark Cooper18
25-02-2023York CityVanarama National LeagueA1-2Mark Cooper19
28-02-2023AltrinchamVanarama National LeagueH1-1Mark Cooper20
04-03-2023WokingVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper21
07-03-2023EastleighVanarama National LeagueH1-0Mark Cooper22
11-03-2023ChesterfieldVanarama National LeagueA1-1Mark Cooper23
14-03-2023BarnetVanarama National LeagueA1-2Mark Cooper24
18-03-2023FC Halifax TownVanarama National LeagueA1-1Mark Cooper25
25-03-2023BromleyVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper26
01-04-2023Southend UnitedVanarama National LeagueH0-2Mark Cooper27
04-04-2023GatesheadVanarama National LeagueA0-4Mark Cooper28
07-04-2023Aldershot TownVanarama National LeagueA1-1Mark Cooper29
10-04-2023Dorking WanderersVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper30
15-04-2023Solihull MoorsVanarama National LeagueA2-2Mark Cooper31
18-04-2023WrexhamVanarama National LeagueA0-3Mark Cooper32
22-04-2023Oldham AthleticVanarama National LeagueH0-3Mark Cooper33
29-04-2023Boreham WoodVanarama National LeagueA0-1Mark Cooper34
12-08-2023St. Albans CityVanarama National League SouthH2-1Mark Cooper36
15-08-2023Truro CityVanarama National League SouthH2-1Mark Cooper37
19-08-2023Maidstone UnitedVanarama National League SouthH1-1Mark Cooper38
26-08-2023Tonbridge AngelsVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper39
28-08-2023Havant & WaterloovilleVanarama National League SouthA3-4Mark Cooper40
02-09-2023Chelmsford CityVanarama National League SouthH1-1Mark Cooper41
05-09-2023Weston-super-MareVanarama National League SouthA3-2Mark Cooper42
09-09-2023Eastbourne BoroughVanarama National League SouthH3-2Mark Cooper43
16-09-2023AFC StonehamFA Cup (R2Q)H7-1Mark Cooper44
23-09-2023Hampton & Richmond BoroughVanarama National League SouthA2-1Mark Cooper45
30-09-2023Didcot TownFA Cup (R3Q)H2-0Mark Cooper46
07-10-2023AveleyVanarama National League SouthH3-1Mark Cooper47
10-10-2023Keynsham TownSomerset Premier Cup (R1)A3-3Mark Cooper48
14-10-2023Southend UnitedFA Cup (R4Q)H2-0Mark Cooper49
21-10-2023WorthingVanarama National League SouthA2-1Mark Cooper50
24-10-2023WeymouthVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper51
28-10-2023Braintree TownVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper52
01-11-2023Clevedon TownSomerset Premier Cup (R2)A1-5Mark Cooper53
04-11-2023GatesheadFA Cup (R1)H3-2Mark Cooper54
07-11-2023Torquay UnitedVanarama National League SouthA3-1Mark Cooper55
11-11-2023Dover AthleticVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper56
14-11-2023FarnboroughVanarama National League SouthH4-2Mark Cooper57
18-11-2023Torquay UnitedFA Trophy (R2)A1-2Mark Cooper58
21-11-2023Chippenham TownVanarama National League SouthA1-1Mark Cooper59
25-11-2023Welling UnitedVanarama National League SouthA1-4Mark Cooper60
03-12-2023WrexhamFA Cup (R2)A0-3Mark Cooper61
06-12-2023Bath CityVanarama National League SouthA1-0Mark Cooper62
09-12-2023DartfordVanarama National League SouthA2-2Mark Cooper63
16-12-2023Hampton & Richmond BoroughVanarama National League SouthH0-0Mark Cooper64
23-12-2023Eastbourne BoroughVanarama National League SouthA1-0Mark Cooper65
26-12-2023Taunton TownVanarama National League SouthH4-1Mark Cooper66
06-01-2024Bath CityVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper67
09-01-2024Taunton TownVanarama National League SouthA1-0Mark Cooper68
20-01-2024Hemel Hempstead TownVanarama National League SouthH2-0Mark Cooper69
27-01-2024St. Albans CityVanarama National League SouthA1-1Mark Cooper70
30-01-2024Slough TownVanarama National League SouthH3-1Mark Cooper71
03-02-2024Maidstone UnitedVanarama National League SouthA1-2Mark Cooper72
10-02-2024Tonbridge AngelsVanarama National League SouthA4-2Mark Cooper73
17-02-2024Havant & WaterloovilleVanarama National League SouthH1-0Mark Cooper74
20-02-2024Weston-super-MareVanarama National League SouthH2-1Mark Cooper75
24-02-2024Chelmsford CityVanarama National League SouthA0-1Mark Cooper76
02-03-2024FarnboroughVanarama National League SouthA3-1Mark Cooper77
04-03-2024AveleyVanarama National League SouthA0-0Mark Cooper78
09-03-2024Welling UnitedVanarama National League SouthH0-1Mark Cooper79
12-03-2024Chippenham TownVanarama National League SouthH1-3Mark Cooper80
16-03-2024Slough TownVanarama National League SouthA0-0Mark Cooper81
23-03-2024Braintree TownVanarama National League SouthA1-0Mark Cooper82
29-03-2024Torquay UnitedVanarama National League SouthH3-0Mark Cooper83
01-04-2024WeymouthVanarama National League SouthA0-1*Mark Cooper83a
06-04-2024WorthingVanarama National League SouthH1-3Mark Cooper84
11-04-2024Truro CityVanarama National League SouthA2-0Mark Cooper85
13-04-2024DartfordVanarama National League SouthH3-1Mark Cooper86
20-04-2024Dover AthleticVanarama National League SouthA3-1Mark Cooper87
10-08-2024Hartlepool UnitedVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper88
17-08-2024Braintree TownVanarama National LeagueA1-0Mark Cooper89
20-08-2024Ebbsfleet UnitedVanarama National LeagueH3-2Mark Cooper90
24-08-2024GatesheadVanarama National LeagueA1-3Mark Cooper91
26-08-2024RochdaleVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper92
31-08-2024Boston UnitedVanarama National LeagueA3-1Mark Cooper93
07-09-2024AFC FyldeVanarama National LeagueA4-3Mark Cooper94
10-09-2024Solihull MoorsVanarama National LeagueH0-1Mark Cooper95
14-09-2024AltrinchamVanarama National LeagueH1-1Mark Cooper96
21-09-2024Oldham AthleticVanarama National LeagueA0-1Mark Cooper97
24-09-2024Sutton UnitedVanarama National LeagueA0-0Mark Cooper98
28-09-2024Aldershot TownVanarama National LeagueH1-1Mark Cooper99

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