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The Chris Cooper Q&A Interview
Exclusive to talkSPORT1089.co.uk

Chris Cooper first joined talkSPORT during the 1999/00 season, as talkSPORT's
Bradford City correspondent, reporting on the club during their two seasons in
the Premiership on Football First with Adrian Durham and Ray Houghton.

Chris was born in Devon, and grew up as a big Plymouth Argyle fan. However,
during his student years, he moved up to study and eventually live in West Yorkshire,
where he also developed affections towards Bradford City. However, he still travels
down to Home Park whenever he can to watch his beloved Argyle.

Chris first made his debut on talkSPORT as a presenter when covering for Hawksbee and Jacobs during Easter in 2002, where he was paired with the ex-Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester and England star Stan Collymore. After a successful spell as a fill-in, in September 2002 he was chosen to present Sunday Football First with Micky Quinn. The show has already received praise, and subsequently Chris has also been selected to present Friday evenings Football First Preview with Alvin Martin.

You have worked with many different people on air in various timeslots on talkSPORT. What was your favourite timeslot and best person you have worked with and why?
Without sitting on the fence, I enjoy all the different shows. Each one is different, and all the different people have their own unique qualities. I think one of the best shows I did was a Bank Holiday Monday morning a couple of years ago with John Hendrie, in which one of the main topics was trying to track down a girl called Helen who'd said on Blind Date that she fancied him when he played for Middlesbrough. Sadly she phoned in, but only after the show was over! It led to a stream of consciousness about all manner of things.

Being part of a number of sports broadcasters over the years must give you the chance to talk to some big name sportsman. Who was your favourite you have interview on talkSPORT and why?
Too many to remember! I always enjoy a chat with Neil Warnock. Top bloke and manager, who's always got something to say. Too often top sports people (and other celebrities) are too guarded in what they say.

Last year you worked with Stan Collymore whilst covering for Hawksbee & Jacobs on Drivetime. Was he easy to get on with and what was it like working with him?
It was a very good week. I'd met him before when he was playing for Bradford City whilst working at The Pulse. He put a lot of time and effort into the shows.

You have been a presenter, commentator and reporter whilst working for talkSPORT. Which, do you personally believe, is the best role to work in and why is this?
See answer one! I enjoy all of them; variety is the spice of life! There are some games you wish you were doing commentary on as they're so enthralling and others you wish it was just reports. I wouldn't want to be pigeon-holed into just one thing. In my past I've also been a music radio presenter, nightclub DJ and did a few stand up comedy gigs.

How did you first get onto the talkSPORT airwaves and did you have much radio experience before joining the station. If so, which stations did you work for what were for roles for them?
I was approached almost four years ago whilst working as a presenter and commentator at Century 105.4 in Manchester. Before talkSPORT I worked at University Radio Exeter as a student, Plymouth Sound, Pennine Radio (later became The Pulse), Century 105.4, and back to The Pulse in Bradford.

Some listeners have said you look like a cross between BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles and Capital Gold's and Channel 5's Jonathan Peace. What are your thoughs about that?
Lucky them! Maybe that's why I'm a radio presenter rather than a Chippendale. I know Chris well from his time at The Pulse. Top bloke, apart from the fact he's a Leeds fan. Not been in touch with him recently. JP's from Cornwall too; must be something in the air down there.

You have hosted a number of shows including Football First, Drivetime and Sunday Scoreboard. Do you fully plan your shows or is much of it improvised whilst broadcasting on-air?
The structure is planned, with guests and specific talking points, but we do other things as and when. For instance if a big story breaks during the show, talkSPORT will immediately follow it rather than just going along with what was planned. Some ideas come during the shows, partially as a result of interaction.

Having been a sports reporter on television and radio you must have been to a number of big sporting occassions. What's the best sporting event you have been to and why?
European Cup Final, 1992; Barcelona v Sampdoria at Wembley. Fantastic atmosphere and a cracking game. I'm probably also one of only a handful of people to have been at two particular major games; Liverpool v Arsenal (championship decider) in 1989 and Carlisle v Plymouth 1999 (Carlisle had to win to stay up and got the winner in stoppage time from the on-loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass). For other reasons, seeing Plymouth win at Wembley in the 1996 play-off final was special too.

Who is your favourite sports person of all time and who were your idols when you were a child?
All manner of people; Paul Mariner (joined Plymouth from Chorley and we set him on his way!), Kevin Keegan, Ian Botham, Jenny Agutter and Debbie Harry.

You have soft spots for teams other than the actual team you support which is Plymouth. Who are these times and why do you have an affiliation with them?
Bradford City, as I've covered over 500 of their games; Carlisle United (as when they're in the same division as Plymouth it's what I call the "inverse derby". No-one else really; I just like to see good football. I enjoy going to Old Trafford, Anfield, St James Park and Highbury with friends as and when the opportunity arises if I'm not working, but those nights are few and far between as I'm usually working. Real Madrid can be a joy to watch, but I follow Tenerife fairly closely, having been to some of their games whilst on holiday. Also follow the fortunes of FK Atlantas in Lithuania having gone there in the Intertoto a few years ago.

As a massive fan, in your opinion have Plymouth achieved a successful season last season and what are your expectations for the forthcoming campaign?
Better than expected; I'd have been happy being mid-table rather than just outside the play-offs, albeit missing out by 16 points. With the expansion of the play-off system I'd like to see us make a challenge for them. I didn't bring them any luck last season; only managed 3 games; Dagenham & Redbridge away (whoops!), Huddersfield away (beaten by a dodgy penalty when we should have had two) and Luton away (at least we finished above them, and our 1200 fans there that night stunned them into silence.

Thanks to Chris Cooper for the chance to interview him. You can hear Chris every Friday presenting Football First Premiership Preview between 7:00pm-10:00pm and on Sunday's on Football First between 2:00pm-6:00pm on talkSPORT.

The Chris Cooper Q&A Interview
Football First
September 2003