Our next subject in the series is one of those players every successful club needs, a quiet, unflashy, reliable footballer who does the job well, in whatever position he is asked to play.

Mickey Cooper's Hendon career stretched from the mid-1960s to the end of the following decade, though he was considered a first-choice player for no more than three of his 15 seasons with the Greens, during which time he made 146 of his 416 appearances, and scored four of his six goals. In fact, although Mickey's Hendon career spanned 16 seasons, he made only one appearance in the Isthmian League championship campaign of 1972-73 and none in 1977-78. Indeed, he left the club on a number of occasions, normally returning a few months later.

Mickey was a full-back, and a very good one, winning three England Amateur international caps in 1972 on a tour to Scandinavia. He joined Hendon in the summer of 1964, an unheralded arrival, and spent the first half of the 1964-65 season in the reserves. On 30 January 1965, Mickey made his first-team debut, a 4-2 home victory against Tooting & Mitcham United. The debut would almost certainly have come earlier in the season, had substitutes been permitted, but that was still 18 months away. Mickey played twice more in the League during the rest of the campaign. The 1964-65 season was Hendon's finest with both the Isthmian League and FA Amateur Cup won, but Mickey's role was peripheral. His only Cup tie was in the quarter-final of the Middlesex Senior Cup, when he came in for regular left-back Roy Sleap in a 2-1 victory at Enfield - the Greens would later claim that piece of silverware too.

In the following season Mickey got the chance to shine at left-back and didn't let anyone down, making 27 League appearances and 11 more in Cup competitions, including at Wembley in the Amateur Cup final, where Wealdstone prevailed 3-1. In 1966-67, Mickey became the first-choice full-back. He also scored his first goal for the club and it could hardly have been more spectacular or important. The Greens were trailing 2-1 in the last minute of extra-time in their FA Amateur Cup semi-final replay against Skelmersdale United, at Birmingham City's St Andrews. Hendon forced a corner, which was half-cleared to Cooper who returned the ball, with interest, and it flew into the net. Mickey's reaction was, "the ball could have gone anywhere and my shots usually end up in the stand." Skem won the second replay easily, but the season ended with a Middlesex Senior Cup final victory over Enfield, 3-2 on aggregate. Mickey played in both legs to collect a winner's medal.

Not seeing much first-team action, Mickey briefly left, joining Slough Town in March 1968. However, when Ron Patterson replacing Bill Fisher as manager that summer, Mickey returned and, playing in midfield, he would be a near ever-present throughout the season, missing just one League game and a couple in cup-ties. The season ended with another winners' medal, this one the London Senior Cup, as the Greens beat Dagenham 1-0 at Underhill.

John Evans' return to Hendon in 1970 saw Mickey revert to full-back, and there was improvement on the pitch, one of the highlights of which was an FA Cup run which saw Hendon entertain Aldershot in the first round proper, but there was no joy as the Shots won 2-0. It was the same score - to the opposition, too - in both legs of the Middlesex Senior Cup final as Enfield took home the trophy. Mickey made almost 50 appearances and seemed set for a long run in the first-team. However, a combination of knee injuries and new full-backs, Tony Jennings and Gary Hand meant Mickey found himself on the outside.

Indeed it would not be until the 1973-74 season when Mickey played a notable part in the Hendon fortunes. He was the unused substitute in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle, and took over as the regular right-back when Jennings defected to Enfield in March. Many fans believe Hendon would have won the league that season had Mickey not broken a collar bone against Woking with four games left in the season. Two draws in the next two games proved the difference between champions and runners-up. Another Middlesex Senior Cup winners medal was scant consolation. Apart from one season until 1979-80, Mickey remained a valuable squad member, rather than a regular starter. After just five appearances in autumn 1979, Mickey left the club. His brother Robbie had been at the club with him, but never made a first team appearance. Robbie actually watches Hendon occasionally, especially when the Greens are at Staines - his house backs onto their stadium.

Joined Hendon: Summer 1964, Summer 1968, Summer 1973. Left Hendon: March 1968, Autumn 1972, Autumn 1979
Appearances: 416 (404 starts, 12 as substitute). Goals: 6
Medals won: London Senior Cup: 1968-69; Middlesex Senior Cup: 1966-67, 1973-74; Middlesex Charity Cup: 1975-76