Chay Cooper

Chay Cooper (born 17 November 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League side Braintree Town.

Chay Cooper

Chay Cooper warming up for Hartlepool United
Personal information
Full name	Chay Cooper[1]
Date of birth	(2001-11-17) 17 November 2001 (age 23)[2]
Place of birth	Harlow, England[3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Braintree Town
Number	11
Youth career
2011–2016	Southend United
2016–2021	Tottenham Hotspur
2020–2021	→ Southend United (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Colchester United	12	(3)
2023	→ St Albans City (loan)	22	(6)
2024	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	9	(0)
2024–	Braintree Town	43	(4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:42, 5 May 2025 (UTC)

Career

Cooper began playing for Southend United at the age of 10. Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southend as a scholar.^[4] He was loaned back to Southend to play in their Under-23 team to get some game time in October 2020.^[5]

At the end of the 2020–21 season, Cooper was released by Tottenham. After featuring in a number of pre-season friendlies for Colchester United's Under-23 side, he signed a deal with the club on 3 September 2021.^[4]

On 28 September 2021, Cooper made his first-team debut for Colchester, starting in their 1–0 EFL Trophy victory against West Ham United Under-21s.^[6] In Cooper's football league debut he came off the bench to score the second goal away at Hartlepool United which Colchester won 2–0.^[7] On 2 February 2023, Cooper joined National League South club St Albans City on loan until the end of the season.^[8] His goal in a match against Harrogate Town was voted as Colchester's Goal of the Season for the 2023–24 season.^[9]

On 16 February 2024, Cooper signed for National League club Hartlepool United on loan.^[10]

In June 2024, Cooper turned down a new contract at Colchester and opted to sign for newly promoted National League side Braintree Town instead.^[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Colchester United	2021–22[12]	League Two	1	1	2	0	0	0	2[a]	0	5	1
	2022–23[13]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2023–24[13]	League Two	10	2	1	0	0	0	4[a]	1	15	3
	Total		12	3	3	0	0	0	6	1	21	4
St Albans City (loan)	2022–23[14]	National League South	22	6	0	0	—		0	0	22	6
Hartlepool United (loan)	2023–24[14]	National League	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
Braintree Town	2024–25[14]	National League	43	4	1	0	0	0	5	2	49	6
Career total			86	13	4	0	0	0	11	3	101	16

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy