By Paul Fraser and Nick Loughlin

WHEN Neale Cooper was the manager of Hartlepool United, Adam Boyd was shipped out on loan to Boston United. The striker returned reborn and full of confidence, firing the goals that helped his hometown club to the play-offs in 2004.
It wasn’t quite the managerial masterstroke everyone thought, it was more complicated than that, with Sheffield Wednesday and their manager Chris Turner wanting him, but what became clear was that Cooper knew how to get the best out of Hartlepool’s rising attacking talent on his return.
So when news broke of Cooper’s passing on Monday, it hit Boyd hard – just like it did to so many of his team-mates of that time, with post upon post on social media from those who worked under him at Victoria Park.
“Neale Cooper was a brilliant man, a good manager and a good man manager,” said Boyd. “He was always laughing and joking, smiling and happy. It’s extremely sad what’s happened and at 54 that’s no age.
“I just always felt that it was hard to see him down, even after a couple of defeats he was jovial and happy, trying to put a smile on things. 
“The players all loved him. He was the manager in the greatest period in the club’s history.
“He would often train with us and would say things like ‘You jokin’ me? I’ve won the European Cup. You’ve never beaten Real Madrid with Aberdeen!’ ”
Boyd’s heroics in a blue and white shirt were well documented and he loved playing for Cooper; they all did and that was why it was such a blow for the squad when he lost his job ahead of the final game of the season at Bournemouth in 2005. That same group went onto reach the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. 
“It was unbearable when he left Hartlepool that first time because it was his team and for him not to get to the final stages that year and to Cardiff was awful for him and the players,” said Boyd. 
“But Neale was a fantastic guy, a fantastic manager to play for. It says it all that he is still a hero in Aberdeen after all of these years and he is still liked as much as he is now in Hartlepool after two spells. It’s just been so sad to hear the news.” 
Hodcroft, who appointed Cooper in 2003 after a six-year spell at Ross County, recalled: “The press all believed Tony Mowbray was going to be appointed. We were happy to keep Neale out of the picture until he was announced.
“At IOR we did a lot of business in Aberdeen and I met Neale up there for his interview. When we went out, he was instantly recognised and everyone wanted to speak to him. He was a very popular guy, I didn’t realise how much, and it proved the same in Hartlepool.
“He was a lovely man, his appointment was a great one for everyone and we had some very happy times together. It was hard to replace him when we did, and we brought him back a few years later. He was so happy to be given another chance at the club. 
“Everyone at the club and in the town will be affected by his death and we all have fond memories of him as a man and as a football manager.’’
Micky Barron was Cooper’s captain in 2002 and his assistant manager during his second spell at the club. 
And the former skipper admitted: “Neale will be remembered as the manager of the best team we ever had. Away from football I remember him as a man who cared about his players, who wanted his players to go above what they could. 
“Even when he was upset with us, we knew he would soon be smiling again. He will be missed deeply.’’
Speaking on BBC Tees added: “He created the family culture at the club, a vibrant man who was a joy to be around.
“We were on the way up with a group of lads who were friends and he wanted everyone to be happy. Even when it wasn’t going well he was like that.
“He was modest, we all knew how good he was as a player. He was infectious, people wanted to be around him and play for.
“I had an hour myself sitting outside this morning and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears because he was a really nice guy.
“First time I met him at Victoria Park he said he had heard a lot about me – that I kick the ball in the stands quite a bit! He made us all feel comfortable and the success we had was built up. It was a fun, friendly time to be at the club.
“There was laughter all the time at the training ground.
“He used to call me in as captain, always so informal, and it was like a friendship. He trusted me to speak to the players and we trusted him.’’
And Barron revealed: “We got to the play-off final in Cardiff, and he wasn’t there but it was his team. He wasn’t there, but we spoke the night before the game with him. If you have someone in charge like him, then you can over-achieve.
“He had a connection with the town. 
“You would see him having a beer, wanted to talk to people and wanted to talk about the club. He lived in the Marina and liked being in and around the people.’’