Twenty years may have come and gone since the news filtered out that the 39-year-old winger had died suddenly, but with each passing anniversary the news is no less shattering to not just Bankies, but football fans across the nation.

The sheer fact that his death is so vividly remembered two decades later speaks volumes for the man dubbed, “one of Scotland’s greats”, by Old Firm rival Jimmy Johnstone.

Super Cooper originally signed for the Bankies in 1974, making his debut as a substitute in the League Cup later that year against Airdrie.

Under the tutelage of head coach Bill Munro, Coop thrived in a side that failed to pick up a win in his first five outings.

However, his skill and football intelligence was there for all to see on the terraces.

Cooper’s first goal game against Alloa Athletic in December 1974, and it was also against the Wasps that he hit his first hat-trick for the Bankies.

He would go on to be the club’s leading scorer, with 13 goals, in the Second Division Championship winning season of 1975/76.

Cooper’s last goal in his first spell at Clydebank was against Raith Rovers in a 2–0 win at Kilbowie on April, 23, 1977. His last game was at Brockville in a 4–2 win, a week later.

His performances at Clydebank put some big clubs on alert — including several English sides — however Cooper held out for boyhood heroes Rangers and manager Jock Wallace signed the winger in June 1977 for a fee £100,000.

Cooper would have the perfect start at Ibrox as the team won the treble in his first year.

He went on to win three championships at the club, three Scottish Cups and seven League Cups. Cooper netted four times in those seven finals.

By season 1988-89 Cooper was no longer a first pick for manager Graeme Souness and moved to Motherwell in search of regular first team football in August 1989 for £50,000.

Cooper would write his name in the Motherwell history books by helping the club win the Scottish Cup in 1991. The Fir Park side named a stand in his honour after his death.

The winger stunned Scottish football in December 1993 by returning to Clydebank as a player/coach.

In the 1993-1994 season Cooper played in a total of 20 games. In the first half of the 1994-1995 season, Cooper was a first team regular for Clydebank. A Scottish cup replay at Tynecastle would be Cooper’s last appearance for the Bankies first team.

The last goal Cooper scored for the Kilbowie side was a stunning strike against Airdrie in the B and Q Cup semi-final. Davie Cooper made his final appearance in a Clydebank jersey in a reserve fixture at New Kilbowie on February 21 against Hamilton Accies.

He won 22 caps for Scotland and played in the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, having scored an all important penalty in the 1-1 draw against Wales at Ninian Park, which sent the Scots through to the 1986 qualifying play-off. He also scored the opener in the 2-0 win over Australia in the play-off.

Stats and lists of achievements give an insight into who ranks among the best players in any generation. But perhaps the best indicator of greatness is the memories given to the many thousands of football fans who had the pleasure of seeing Davie Cooper play.