Clachnacuddin striker proud to be named player of the season at Inverness club - Now he is aiming to do better next season in Highland League
TROY Cooper says he is not prepared to take it easy in front of goal after enjoying a prolific season with Clachnacuddin in the Highland League.
The 24-year-old found the net 16 times this season, with his performances being recognised as he was named both the club’s players’ player of the year and supporters’ player of the year for this campaign.
The forward, who works as a painter and decorator, said it was an incredible honour to receive both accolades at Clachnacuddin’s end of season awards which were held last weekend.
But he is not prepared to sit back and bask in the glory of his performances this season, saying he is looking to improve as a player as well as increase the number of goals he scored.
He said: “It means a lot to be named player of the year both by fans and the players. It is always great to be recognised by the support and special to be chosen by the players I am alongside every match too.
“The start of the season my target was set at 10 goals by the manager, so to get six more than that was particularly pleasing.
“Looking back at the season I think that I could had at least seven more.
“I felt like I could have scored more goals this season. The season before I was in and out of the team but I knew how good I was. This year, I played games and got a run and I know I will be starting next season.
“Twenty goals is my aim next season, I definitely don’t want to go back to being a player who just scores 10 goals again.”
Clachnacuddin finished in sixth place in the Highland League and finished in the top half of the table for the first time since the 2012/13 season when they finished in fifth.
Cooper said the club’s management, headed by manager Conor Gethins, being allowed a full season to implement their changes, as well as blending experience with youth was key to improvements made at the club.
He said: “It was the first full season for the coaching staff. They came in halfway through the previous season when it was just a case of surviving in the Highland League.
“Getting a full season with them and adding the experience of Joe Malin, Josh Meekings and Gavin Morrison was huge.
“Having them at the training ground helped so much. Everyone knew we had talented players before last season, it was just a very young squad. That is what had been missing from the squad, for experienced individuals to put belief into the young players.”
Clachnacuddin also reached the final of the North of Scotland Cup last season, but it was the Scottish Cup which Cooper highlighted as his moment of the season.
He said: “I really enjoyed when we beat Nairn County 3-1 in the Scottish Cup.
“I know that I didn’t score, but to beat your local rivals in a Scottish game is always special and it was a great atmosphere that day.”
Despite the new season not starting until July, Cooper is not taking easy during his time off from football.
He has enlisted the help of teammate Fergus Adams, who works as personal instructor and has just signed a new contract with Clachnacuddin, to help him maintain full fitness ahead of the 2025/26 season.
He said: “Everyone has been saying we need to do better next season.
“I have started working alongside Fergus who is a personal trainer.
“I worked with him last season to and it has obviously worked with my performances. He is one of my closest pals in the squad.”
Last season, Cooper signed a new contract with Clachnacuddin which will keep him at the club until 2027.
Growing up near Grant Street Park, he said he always had aspirations playing for Clachnacuddin as a youngster.
He says he is loving playing for the club where he aspired to play at a youngster.
He said: “I lived in the ferry and around from the corner from Grant Street Park so I have always been close to the club.
“From where I lived I always saw the stadium and it is somewhere that I always wanted to play.”