Cope Horace Image 1 Notts County 1922

Description

Treeton, Yorkshire born left back Horace Cope began his football career with Treeton Reading Rooms before the First World War and played for Treeton United after the War, before joining Second Division club Notts County in May 1920, making his Football League debut against Birmingham in February 1921. He broke into The Magpies’ first team on a regular basis in August 1922 and played 29 times during the campaign as Notts County won the Second Division Championship. He played in an England trial and was selected for an England squad but had to withdraw through injury and never received another opportunity.

Cope was then a first team regular for three seasons in the top flight but lost his place in April 1926 as Notts County were relegated, and made just one further appearance for County in the Second Division before being signed by Herbert Chapman for Arsenal for £3,125 in December 1926, having scored 6 goals in 130 appearances for The Magpies.

He was a regular in his first two-and-a-half seasons at Arsenal but missed out on their 1927 FA Cup Final defeat to Cardiff City due to injury having played in their semi final victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge, being replaced by Andy Kennedy. Cope lost his regular place in The Gunners’ line up in January 1929, but remained a fringe member of Arsenal’s double League Championship winning sides of the early 1930’s, although he only made 7 further appearances in over four years before leaving Highbury to join Bristol Rovers for £1,500 in July 1933 after 76 appearances for The Gunners. But he played in only one match for The Pirates, an FA Cup victory over non league Folkestone in November 1933, before joining Midland League Heanor Town before the turn of the year, finishing his career with a spell with Ollerton Colliery who he joined in 1934 before his eventual retirement.