Jackie Copland Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: John Cowden Copland
  • Born: March 21st, 1947 (Paisley)
  • Position: Centre Forward/Half Back
  • Signed: December 17th, 1970 (£10,000)
  • First Manager: Jerry Kerr
  • Career Totals: 192 appearances, 22 goals
  • Also Played For: St Mirren, Stranraer


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1975-76 19 (1) 2 0 0 30.0% 20.0% 50.0%
1974-75 46 4 0 0 47.8% 23.9% 28.3%
1973-74 44 2 0 0 47.7% 18.2% 34.1%
1972-73 40 1 1 0 45.0% 20.0% 35.0%
1971-72 28 (2) 11 0 0 40.0% 13.3% 46.7%
1970-71 10 (2) 2 0 0 50.0% 8.3% 41.7%
Totals: 187 (5) 22


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 Cln = Clean Sheets | CtGR = Clean Sheets to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 04/05/76 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A) 0 - 0
 28/04/76 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H) 2 - 0
 24/04/76 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H) 0 - 1
 14/02/76 4th Round vs. Hibernian (A) 1 - 1
 31/01/76 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A) 1 - 2

 Recent First Team Goals
 17/01/76 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H) 1 - 4
 13/09/75 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A) 3 - 1
 21/12/74 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H) 3 - 4
 07/12/74 Division One vs. Clyde (H) 3 - 3
 16/11/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A) 5 - 0

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 17/01/76 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 4
 13/09/75 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  3 - 1
 21/12/74 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  3 - 4
 07/12/74 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  3 - 3
 16/11/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  5 - 0
 18/09/74 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Jiul (H)  3 - 0
 29/04/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 2
 12/03/74 5th Round Replay vs. Dunfermline (H)  4 - 0
 25/11/72 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 2
 29/01/72 Division One vs. Morton (H)  2 - 1
 27/11/71 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 0
 30/10/71 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  3 - 5
 23/10/71 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  3 - 0
 16/10/71 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 5
 09/10/71 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 02/10/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  5 - 0
 02/10/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  5 - 0
 02/10/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  5 - 0
 29/09/71 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Derby (H)  3 - 2
 29/09/71 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Derby (H)  3 - 2
 09/01/71 Division One vs. Morton (H)  2 - 3
 26/12/70 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 0

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 04/05/76 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 0
 28/04/76 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  2 - 0
 24/04/76 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 1
 14/02/76 4th Round vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 1
 31/01/76 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 2
 24/01/76 3rd Round vs. Hamilton (H)  4 - 0
 17/01/76 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 4
 13/12/75 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 1
 06/12/75 Premier Division vs. Ayr Utd (A)  2 - 2
 29/11/75 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 3
 22/11/75 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 2
 23/09/75 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Keflavík (A)  2 - 0
 20/09/75 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 13/09/75 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  3 - 1
 06/09/75 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 30/08/75 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 1
 27/08/75 Sectional Tie vs. St Johnstone (A)  2 - 1
 23/08/75 Sectional Tie vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 1
 20/08/75 Sectional Tie vs. Partick Th (H)  1 - 2
 13/08/75 Sectional Tie vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 3
 26/04/75 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  4 - 2
 19/04/75 Division One vs. Morton (H)  1 - 0
 12/04/75 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  2 - 1
 05/04/75 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 2
 29/03/75 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 2
 22/03/75 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 1
 19/03/75 Division One vs. Arbroath (H)  3 - 1
 05/03/75 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  3 - 1
 01/03/75 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  2 - 1
 19/02/75 4th Round vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 1
 11/02/75 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  2 - 1
 08/02/75 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 3
 05/02/75 3rd Round Replay vs. Berwick (A)  1 - 0
 04/02/75 3rd Round vs. Berwick (H)  1 - 1
 01/02/75 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  1 - 0
 11/01/75 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 3
 04/01/75 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  0 - 2
 02/01/75 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 1
 28/12/74 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 21/12/74 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  3 - 4
 14/12/74 Division One vs. Morton (A)  6 - 0
 07/12/74 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  3 - 3
 30/11/74 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 4
 27/11/74 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 0
 16/11/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  5 - 0
 09/11/74 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 0
 06/11/74 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Bursaspor (A)  0 - 1
 02/11/74 Division One vs. Arbroath (A)  3 - 1
 26/10/74 Division One vs. Dumbarton (H)  3 - 3
 23/10/74 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Bursaspor (H)  0 - 0
 19/10/74 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  1 - 1
 12/10/74 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  5 - 0
 05/10/74 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  1 - 1
 02/10/74 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Jiul (A)  0 - 2
 28/09/74 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 21/09/74 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 3
 18/09/74 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Jiul (H)  3 - 0
 14/09/74 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  3 - 0
 07/09/74 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 2
 31/08/74 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  5 - 0
 28/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Ayr Utd (A)  2 - 2
 24/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 1
 21/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 0
 17/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 14/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 0
 10/08/74 Sectional Tie vs. Ayr Utd (H)  3 - 1
 10/05/74 Division One vs. Morton (H)  4 - 2
 08/05/74 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 4
 04/05/74 Final vs. Celtic (N)  0 - 3
 29/04/74 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 2
 27/04/74 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 1
 09/04/74 Semi Final Replay vs. Hearts (N)  4 - 2
 06/04/74 Semi Final vs. Hearts (N)  1 - 1
 02/04/74 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  1 - 0
 30/03/74 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 1
 23/03/74 Division One vs. East Fife (A)  2 - 0
 16/03/74 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 3
 12/03/74 5th Round Replay vs. Dunfermline (H)  4 - 0
 10/03/74 5th Round vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 1
 03/03/74 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 3
 24/02/74 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 3
 17/02/74 4th Round vs. Morton (H)  1 - 0
 02/02/74 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  2 - 1
 26/01/74 3rd Round vs. Airdrie (H)  4 - 1
 19/01/74 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 1
 12/01/74 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 3
 05/01/74 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 2
 02/01/74 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 29/12/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (H)  6 - 0
 22/12/73 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  3 - 2
 19/12/73 Semi Final 2nd Leg vs. Newcastle Utd (A)  1 - 4
 12/12/73 Semi Final 1st Leg vs. Newcastle Utd (H)  2 - 0
 08/12/73 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  3 - 3
 10/11/73 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 07/11/73 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Leicester City (H)  1 - 0
 27/10/73 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 3
 24/10/73 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Leicester City (A)  1 - 1
 20/10/73 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 3
 13/10/73 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 0
 06/10/73 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  4 - 0
 03/10/73 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Sheff Utd (H)  2 - 0
 29/09/73 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 4
 18/09/73 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Sheff Utd (A)  0 - 0
 15/09/73 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  1 - 0
 08/09/73 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 0
 01/09/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  2 - 1
 29/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. East Fife (H)  5 - 2
 25/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 3
 22/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 18/08/73 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 4
 28/04/73 Division One vs. Dumbarton (A)  1 - 4
 21/04/73 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  2 - 1
 14/04/73 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 07/04/73 Division One vs. Arbroath (H)  1 - 1
 31/03/73 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 0
 24/03/73 Division One vs. East Fife (H)  1 - 1
 21/03/73 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  3 - 0
 10/03/73 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 2
 07/03/73 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  1 - 0
 03/03/73 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  1 - 2
 21/02/73 Division One vs. Morton (A)  0 - 2
 10/02/73 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 0
 03/02/73 3rd Round vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 13/01/73 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 06/01/73 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  0 - 3
 01/01/73 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  5 - 1
 30/12/72 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 2
 23/12/72 Division One vs. Dumbarton (H)  3 - 2
 16/12/72 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  1 - 0
 09/12/72 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 4
 02/12/72 Division One vs. Arbroath (A)  4 - 2
 25/11/72 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 2
 18/11/72 Division One vs. East Fife (A)  0 - 1
 11/11/72 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  0 - 3
 04/11/72 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 3
 28/10/72 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 1
 21/10/72 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  0 - 1
 14/10/72 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 2
 07/10/72 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  4 - 1
 04/10/72 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 0
 30/09/72 Division One vs. Morton (H)  1 - 0
 27/09/72 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Leicester City (H)  2 - 2
 23/09/72 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 3
 20/09/72 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Hibernian (H)  2 - 5
 16/09/72 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  2 - 1
 13/09/72 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Leicester City (A)  1 - 1
 09/09/72 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  3 - 1
 02/09/72 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  3 - 1
 30/08/72 Sectional Tie vs. Stenhousemuir (A)  0 - 2
 12/08/72 Sectional Tie vs. Dunfermline (H)  2 - 0
 29/04/72 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 25/04/72 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 3
 22/04/72 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 0
 15/04/72 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  2 - 4
 08/04/72 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  3 - 2
 01/04/72 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 29/03/72 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  1 - 1
 25/03/72 Division One vs. East Fife (H)  2 - 2
 11/03/72 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  1 - 0
 04/03/72 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  1 - 1
 12/02/72 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 05/02/72 3rd Round vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 4
 29/01/72 Division One vs. Morton (H)  2 - 1
 15/01/72 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 2
 18/12/71 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 3
 11/12/71 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 2
 04/12/71 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 3
 27/11/71 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 0
 20/11/71 Division One vs. East Fife (A)  1 - 0
 13/11/71 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 5
 06/11/71 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 3
 30/10/71 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  3 - 5
 23/10/71 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  3 - 0
 16/10/71 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 5
 09/10/71 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 02/10/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  5 - 0
 29/09/71 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Derby (H)  3 - 2
 25/09/71 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 2
 15/09/71 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Derby (A)  2 - 6
 18/08/71 Sectional Tie vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 2
 17/04/71 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  3 - 1
 27/03/71 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 13/03/71 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  0 - 1
 10/03/71 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 2
 27/02/71 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 3
 20/02/71 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  3 - 2
 06/02/71 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 16/01/71 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 09/01/71 Division One vs. Morton (H)  2 - 3
 01/01/71 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  0 - 2
 26/12/70 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 0
 19/12/70 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 1


Biography

Jackie started his career with home town club St Mirren, spending time out on loan at Junior side Beith before making his debut in March 1968 as the Paisley side marched towards the second division title. Released at the end of that season, he returned to Beith for a short spell, he signed for Stranraer in 1969.

After an impressive goal to game ratio in his one year at Stair Park, United manager Jim McLean brought the 23 year-old to Tannadice for a fee of around £10,000. Initially signed as a centre forward, he was in competition with Kenny Cameron and Alan Gordon, he found it hard to break into the team in the remainder of the 1970-71. He topped the goal scoring table at United in 1971-72, which included a hat-trick against Airdrieonians, but after the arrival of Pat Gardner he was converted to central defence and went on to form a formidable partnership with Doug Smith. Jackie was one of the players who turned out for United in their first Scottish Cup final appearance against Celtic in May 1974. Having been selected to play for the Scottish League against the English League in March, Jackie was named in the initial squad of forty players for the World Cup in 1974, but was not in the final selection to travel to West Germany. He played in all four of United’s European Cup Winners Cup ties that year, scoring against Juil Petrosani, and featured in the UEFA cup tie against Keflavik in 1975. He gradually slipped out of first team contention towards the end of the 1975-76 season, and in September 1976, he returned to St Mirren for £17,000.

Jackie spent seven years with the Buddies, continuing to play as a centre half, playing in a side that many considered a bogey team for United during that time. They won the Anglo Scottish Cup in 1980, and that same year he helped St Mirren qualify for Europe for the first time, captaining the side in their matches against Elfsborg and St Etienne. After being granted a testimonial year in 1983, he retired at the end of that season but continued working at Love Street for many years.





Debut

December 19th, 1970
Dundee United 2 - 1 St Mirren

League (Division One)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth

    Jackie was born on this date in Paisley.

    Friday, March 21st, 1947

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Jackie started his career with home town club St Mirren, spending time out on loan at Junior side Beith before making his debut in March 1968 as the Paisley side marched towards the second division title. Released at the end of that season, he returned to Beith for a short spell, he signed for Stranraer in 1969.

    Thursday, December 17th, 1970

  • Debut - Dundee United 2 - 1 St Mirren

    Saturday, December 19th, 1970

  • First Goal - Hibernian 0 - 1 Dundee United

    This was a game that took a while to get going, but once the two sides found the path to goal, they created a whole host of chances. Both Hamish McAlpine and Roy Baines in the respective goals denied Hazel and McEwan and Alan Gordon before Graham and Blair each contrived to miss an open goal with the Tannadice rearguard openly vulnerable. If Hibs had had the better of the period immediately prior to the interval, it was United who pressed strongly on the resumption after the interval, but Hamish McAlpine was United's hero, making several fine saves. Four minutes from the end former United winger Johnny Graham did get the ball in the net, but was given offside and United took full advantage of this let off. Just three minutes remained when Jackie Copland took advantage of a mix-up in the Hibs defence to slip home what proved to be the winner.

    Saturday, December 26th, 1970

  • Last Goal - Dundee United 1 - 4 Motherwell

    At that stage of the season, talk of relegation for the Tannadice men was doing the rounds in football circles, with Jim McLean's side having not won since the first day of November, 1975. And things got much worse when Motherwell inflicted what United's biggest Premier defeat to date.

    Saturday, January 17th, 1976

  • Last Appearance - Rangers 0 - 0 Dundee United

    Tuesday, May 4th, 1976