R.I.P Neal thank you for those wonderful times you gave us.

Perfectly said Bossa Nova ^

Bloody brilliant all these tributes, could single out so many of the brilliant comments made so far in this thread. I've had a couple of drinks but reading this and the many tributes in social media its apparent I've got some dust in my eye right now

Looking back those really were the best of times as a Pools fan, almost unbelievable in fact. Amazing fearless football led by a charismatic, funny, down to earth guy who 'got us', Neale really was a humble man of the people. Thank you for those memories Neale and the belief you gave us, amazing days, when the gaps between games were a chore

You made us look forward to every game....R.I.P. Neale.

RIP Neale, gone far too soon, a true Poolie hero who will always be loved.

Just the worst news. Easily the best Pools use I have seen. So sad for his family. A permanent tribute would not be out of order. RIP Neale

I remember being in the boxes early in his second spell in charge for a game against Carlisle. Our box was matchball sponsor and got to choose man of the match who on the day was Luke James he'd scored twice in a 4-0 win. He'd just turned 17 and he got presented with the bottle of champagne in our box about ten seconds later Neale Cooper walked in. He said to Luke straight away with a totally dead pan face 'you're going to have hide that or I'll get in trouble you aren't old enough to have that I could lose my job' Young Luke dropped on his knees and quickly started scrambling in his kit bag to hide the bottle under a towel then sheepishly left the room. Coops just looked at all of us in the box and started pissing himself laughing followed by all of us, then spent about ten minutes making us laugh and really pleased to be Pools fans again because he was back at the club. It didn't work out that second spell but it was more down to the way the club was heading than him personally but I don't think anyone else could have left with so much good will in tact with Pools bottom of the League in Novemeber with one win. He was still just as loved. What a bloke he was.

Despite feeling sad and shocked I’ve been thinking about what Neale Cooper brought to Pools that other good managers didn’t. The best answer I can come up with is swagger.

When IOR were subsidising us we had plenty of good seasons when you knew we could compete with anyone at our level. But under Cooper you always felt that we could thrash teams by outplaying them. The aim wasn’t just to win, it was to win well playing exciting football, and instead of being pleased we could compete at last we started to dream of going much further than we’d ever dared to imagine. Under Cooper, we approached the game with swagger.

It’s hard to work out how a manager does that but I think his enthusiasm, fearlessness and care for the people around him pulled everyone along. Everybody has a Neale Cooper story that shows him as a decent man who always had time for the players, the supporters, in fact for anybody associated with Pools. He seemed to love everything about our club so we loved him back. Maybe that worked on players too?

Whatever the secret was it worked. Pools 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0 with a local lad, who was looking like a skilled but chubby reject not long before, gliding over the water while their defence floundered. Has to be my all-time favourite Pools match and for a while, for the first time as a Pools fan, I felt like the sky was the limit. Thanks Neale Cooper.

Apparently, when he was found after his fall he was in such a bad way they immediately put him on life support and knew he wasn’t going to make it and waited for his son to come over from America.
RIP Neale, a thoroughly decent man. Now up there with the great Cyril, what a partnership!!!!

Very sad news. RIP.

Wonder if there's any possibility of getting some of his old players back at our first home game to help celebrate his memory. Would be fantastic if his family wanted to join to and we can give Neale a Poolie send off he undoubtedly deserves.

RIP - Neale Cooper. Poolie Legend. He had done it all at a much higher level yet chose our club and was loved by all that met him,while giving us the best football in his first spell that we have ever seen and HIS team nearly getting to the championship. Gone so young but will never be forgotten .

I met Neale a few times and he was always great company. During one conversation we talked about regrets. He said one of his was away game at Chesterfield when after putting him on as a sub, he then substituted Paul Robinson. He’d misplaced an easy pass or something and Neale was angry with him. He had real regret about doing that, saying that by trying to look tough and intolerant of sloppiness he had humiliated the lad and affected his already dented confidence. I could see in his eyes that he was genuinely sorry for his actions. He later apologised to him.
That was Neale.

The Cardiff season was the first time I'd had a season ticket, I genuinely was excited about every single game. We played some unbelievable football under Cooper and he got the best out of all the players, especially Boydy.

Never had the pleasure of meeting the guy but have never seen a bad word about him.

RIP Neale.

Cooper was one of those managers you could never hate, even as an opposition fan. Sometimes managers just have an arrogance that makes them unlikable but Cooper had an arrogance with humanity, someone you could genuinely listen too even though he had nothing to do with your own club.

Just watched that there funny story about Sir Alex you can see the funny character he is just by the way he's talking he's sounds charismatic and was always passionate about the game I never ever sat in the Cryil Knowls stand i always sit or stand in the terrace anyway my friend that sat over there right behind the dugout reckoned that I should join him once and I did the ticket was free so I thought why not! I wasn't really watching the game to be onesty I was just focused on Cooper the passion he has for the game is unbelivable, I reckon he picked a trick or 2 up off Sir Alex when when he was managed under him specially with all Aberdeen's success at the time, Just a shame it didn't work out for him the second time he was here, But still many good memories, Gone to soon.

As a Dons fan I am really pleased to see that Neale (Tattie)was held in high regard by Hartlepool.

There has been mention of a friendly between the sides being arranged in order for both sets of fans to honour his memory as a player and manager. But more than that to remember the man and all that he stood for.

Would love that to happen, there needs to be a memorial at the Vic to honour Neil’s time at pools


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Above all else, Neale was a kind beautiful human being who lit up every room he entered. He was special.

He certainly was. A lovely, funny, kind bloke.

Very sad news. A true Poolie legend. Thought it was bad enough when Cloughie brought Forest to The Vic for a fund raising friendly and was abused by younger Poolies. That's history. Rest in peace Brian and now Neale. Thanks you Mr Cooper (the right one) for so many great memories.

It's unbelievable that Coops has gone at such a young age - RIP fella you were simply one of the best managers this club has ever been fortunate enough to appoint. You were light-years apart from the string of useless numpties who followed you and ultimately led the club ending up its current shameful position.

That would be fantastic if it was arranged, it would give us all a chance to show our respect and a final massive thank you for everything he did at both clubs.

Gone but never to be forgotten.

There has been a petition set up by an Aberdeen fan up here calling for a memorial game to be set up between Aberdeen and Pools, go to bit.ly/2shG54G if you are interested, being based up here I would love the opportunity to show my respects in that way. Followed Pools since Gus McLean and Neale topped the lot, so sad !

A trophy called The Neale Cooper Memorial Cup to be played pre season every year over two legs between us and The Dons. I would contribute towards the purchase of such a trophy.

Not a bad idea, Phil.
As long as the clubs are willing ( which they appear to be ) then anything within reason can be arranged.