| Chay Cooper | |
| Fullname: | Chay Cooper[1] |
| Birth Date: | 17 November 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Harlow, England[2] |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Colchester United |
| Clubnumber: | 37 |
| Youthyears1: | 2011–2016 |
| Youthclubs1: | Southend United |
| Youthyears2: | 2016–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Youthyears3: | 2020–2021 |
| Youthclubs3: | → Southend United (loan) |
| Years1: | 2021–2024 |
| Clubs1: | Colchester United |
| Caps1: | 12 |
| Goals1: | 3 |
| Years2: | 2023 |
| Clubs2: | → St Albans City (loan) |
| Caps2: | 22 |
| Goals2: | 6 |
| Years3: | 2024 |
| Clubs3: | → Hartlepool United (loan) |
| Caps3: | 9 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | Braintree Town |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 23:51, 9 April 2024 (UTC) |
Chay Cooper (born 17 November 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League side Braintree Town.
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.[3] He was loaned back to Southend to play in their Under-23 team to get some game time in October 2020.[4]
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.[3]
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.[5] 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.[6] On 2 February 2023, Cooper joined National League South club St Albans City on loan until the end of the season.[7] His goal in a match against Harrogate Town was voted as Colchester's Goal of the Season for the 2023–24 season.[8]
On 16 February 2024, Cooper signed for National League club Hartlepool United on loan.[9]
In June 2024, Cooper turned down a new contract at Colchester and opted to sign for newly promoted National League side Braintree Town instead.[10]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Colchester United | 2021–22 | League Two | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | League Two | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 3 | ||
| Total | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 4 | |||
| St Albans City (loan) | 2022–23[11] | National League South | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6 | ||
| Hartlepool United (loan) | 2023–24 | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Career total | 43 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 52 | 10 | |||