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Rock solid centre back who started his professional career with
Leeds and formed a great partnership with Willis Edwards and Ernie
Hart. Copping was selected for the first of his 20 England caps for
an international with Italy in 1933. A year later, he was on his
way to Arsenal and still greater glory. He picked up 2 League
Championship medals and he was also part of the Gunners' FA Cup
winning side of 1936. He returned to Leeds just before the war, and
subsequently held coaching positions in Antwerp, Southend, Bristol
City and Southend. He returned to Southend when he retired from the
game, and died there in 1980.
Stuart Copping says: Wilf Copping was a cousin of my Father. I
did meet another of my Father's cousins, Charlie Copping who was
well into his 90's when I met him in 1960-something. My Dad played
for Dunsfold between the Wars; I believe they had some arrangement
with Tottenham as they played them once a year (I think). Does
anybody out there have any info on this?
Linzi Elford says: Wilf Copping is my Godfather, we lived in
Southend. My parents met him while he was at Southend and became
good friends with him and his wife. As a child I visited his house,
on one occasion I helped his wife Joan clean out a bedroom and in a
cardboard box in the corner of the room were all his England caps
and shirts from different teams. I tried these on and wish to this
day I had one! He was a very quiet man at home but on the field he
was an amazing defender. I know at Arsenal they have a picture of
him in their reception area. We have been trying to find out
information about him for some time, thanks to my son Jack Elford
we found this site.
Alfred Harvey says: My wife and I were friends with Wilf and
Joan whlilst he was at Southend U.they are god parents to our
children,He had one story he would tell about the time he played
for England-v-Italy and what happened to one of their players the
Referee and himself he was quite proud of, he might have been the
IRON man of football on the pitch off he was a pussy cat, a few
months back I met up with Frank Dudley Southend & Leeds fame
and Wilf's name came up and he told me that he had dealings with
Wilf at the end of his days. Get in touch with me if the story
might be intresting to you.
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