Cooper was a member of the Barnsley side who won the FA Cup in 1912 beating West Bromwich Albion in the replay after the first match ended goalless. He fumbled a save in the first fifteen minutes of the first match and was saved from embarrassment by a lack of WBA forwards. In the replay he made an important save, diving onto his side, to save a quick shot from Bob Pailor, the WBA centre forward, though the ball was finally cleared by Bob Glendinning.