ALMOST seven years after facing the likes of Louis Saha, Edwin van der Sar and Steed Malbranque, former York City utility man Richard Cooper is dreaming of tackling some of the game’s greats again with FA Cup hopefuls Eastwood Town.

Cooper dropped out of the professional game in 2004 after an injury-ravaged trial with Burton Albion following his release by the Minstermen.

At the time, then manager Chris Brass said Cooper’s name had been the most difficult to leave off his retained list but, for the last three years, the ex-England youth international has been playing UniBond League football for Eastwood Town following a season with Alfreton.

Despite completing a clean sweep of the Player of the Year awards at the part-time Nottinghamshire club, Cooper’s contributions to football have largely gone unnoticed since he completed the last of his 111 City appearances as the club dropped into the Conference.

But now, at 29, Cooper is targeting an FA Cup run to rival the Minstermen’s march to a fourth round meeting with Premier League Fulham in 2002.

Eastwood are bidding to make the second round draw for the first time in their history this afternoon, having enjoyed shock qualifying round victories over Harrogate Town and Wrexham.

A favourable home draw against British Gas Business League premier division strugglers Brackley Town has heightened hopes Eastwood can progress to the next stage and then face the prospect of being one tie away from landing one of the big boys, with Havant and Waterlooville’s day out at Anfield last season providing evidence that anything is possible in the world’s oldest knockout competition.

Cooper, who is now a sales account manager, said: “The Cup run I had with York was the best thing I achieved in football. To play Fulham at Bootham Crescent was the highlight of my career when you look at the players they had.

“It would be great to think that a part-time UniBond League team, who only train a couple of nights a week, could get that chance as well. When we were drawn out in the first round, Leeds came after Brackley so we could have gone there, which would have been fantastic but we can only take things one game at a time now.

“We have beaten two good teams to get this far but Brackley want to get in the second round as much as we do. They are in the first round for a reason as well so we have got to respect them.

“It’s a one-off game when form goes out of the window but we’ve got to be confident playing at home.”

Cooper has played against the likes of former City team-mates Chris Smith, David Merris and Darren Dunning in recent times.

He also keeps in touch with goalkeeper Alan Fettis, who is now coaching at Cheltenham and Wolves.

Former Nottingham Forest reserve Cooper, who played three times in the Championship for the City Ground club, is also making plans to stay in football once he hangs up his boots.

He added: “I enjoyed my time at York and didn’t want to leave. Sometimes you think what if this or that had happened but you have to get on with the cards you are dealt.

“I’ve done some coaching badges and I’m hoping to get my level two qualification next because I would love to stay in the game.”

Other former City players hoping to impress for part-time minnows today include Alfreton pair Tom Evans and Leo Fortune-West, who will also be hoping to capitalise on home advantage against Bury Town.

Jason Goodliffe and Phil Bell, meanwhile, will be keen to pull off shocks when Wycombe Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town visit AFC Wimbledon and Blyth Spartans respectively.

Second-string sponsorship appeal

York Minstermen are looking for reserve game sponsors for forthcoming totesport.com League home matches.

The £40 package will include a half-page advert in the programme, four tickets for the directors’ box, hot drinks in the boardroom at half-time, tannoy announcements and four copies of the ‘City Reserves Review.’ January’s fixture with Leeds United has already been sponsored but anybody interested in games against Huddersfield Town (Tuesday, November 11), Rotherham United (Tuesday, December 16), Hartlepool United (Tuesday, January 20) and Scunthorpe United (Tuesday, April 7) should email ian@yorkminstermen.org.uk or phone Ian Tyssen on 07990 975300.

All money raised will go towards the Minstermen group’s Reserves Fund, which has also been bolstered by programme and dvd sales and raffles profits.

Hogg on the line for points plunder

STEVEN Hogg got on the Press Player of the Year leaderboard with a man-of-the-match performance on his York City debut.

The former Manchester United trainee collected three points during Tuesday night’s penalty shoot-out victory over Mansfield Town.

Michael Ingham (two) and Andy McWilliams (one) also received points as our second and third-highest rated players.

The two Player of the Month bonus points on offer to the player who polled the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website went to Ingham.

At Oxford last weekend, our points went to David McGurk (three), Mark Robinson (2) and Ben Purkiss (one). McGurk also won the internet vote.

To be in with a chance of presenting the November Player of the Month winner with his award, nominate your man of the match for any of City’s forthcoming fixtures by visiting thepress.co.uk Press Player of the Year standings: Parslow 20 points, Robinson 13, McGurk 12, Purkiss 12, Rusk 8, Brodie 7, Greaves 7, Ingham 7, McBreen 7, Sodje 6, Holmes 5, Farrell 4, Hogg 3, Russell 2, McWilliams 1.

Press Player of the Month latest standings: McGurk 5, Ingham 4, Hogg 3, Robinson 2, McWilliams 1, Purkiss 1.

Goals: McBreen 4, Brodie 3, Farrell 3, Sodje 3, Greaves 2, own goal 2, Wilkinson 2, Holmes 1, Purkiss 1, Robinson 1.

Assists: McBreen 5, Farrell 4, Purkiss 4, Rusk 3, Brodie 2, Bore 1, Hogg 1, Parslow 1, Sodje 1.

Bad boys: Rusk 4 yellows; Brodie 1 red card, 2 yellows; Greaves, McBreen both 3 yellows; Holmes, Robinson both 2 yellows; Farrell, McGurk, Wilkinson all 1 yellow.