SCOTTISH football was in mourning yesterday, but the sense of loss at

the death of Davie Cooper was felt most acutely at Kilbowie Park, Ibrox,

and Fir Park, the three grounds where the former Scottish

internationalist regularly displayed his astounding natural skills and

thrilled genuine supporters of every team. Genius is always a joy to

behold and Cooper was one of the few players who could force parents to

take their children to matches.

That in itself speaks volumes for the winger, who died in Glasgow's

Southern General Hospital yesterday morning after having suffered a

subarachnoid haemorrhage the previous day, and his death has snatched

from the game and from the children, who will be the players of

tomorrow, a decent man who held a great gift.

A friend, Jimmy Nicholl, player-manager of Raith Rovers, was one of

the first to react and he called Clydebank offering support to have

tomorrow's first-division match between the teams postponed until April

4. Motherwell and Hibernian also postponed yesterday's reserve-team

match as a mark of respect.

Yesterday it emerged that Cooper had intended embarking on a venture

to impart some of his knowledge and skills to youngsters. In conjunction

with his first and last club, Clydebank, he was about to start what

would have been called the David Cooper Soccer School, which would have

travelled the country preaching the gospel to wide-eyed youngsters. It

was to begin in the Orkneys in June and there were plans to travel into

America also.

The concept was, and is, a good one because children relate more to

star footballers rather than coaches and the notion of linking Cooper

with a team of coaches held great appeal.

It would be a fitting tribute to a player of mesmeric abilities if the

schoolcould still be launched in his name, with others of the game's

heroes filling in at the various stops around the country.

''It was our intention to take football to the children of the

country,'' said Jack Steedman, the power behind Clydebank. Steedman also

was one of the guiding figures in Cooper's own development and his sense

of personal loss yesterday was deep as he watched supporters come and go

quietly at Kilbowie, where they set down floral tributes to the winger.

As the first of the mourners started arriving at the first-division

club, further up the Clyde people within Ibrox were shuffling around in

solemn mood. Ally McCoist, who was particularly close to Cooper, had

been at the hospital and returned to Ibrox to speak on behalf of the

players.

''This is a very distressing time,'' he said, ''and I'm sure you can

all appreciate how we are feeling. It is as though we have lost a

brother, someone who was with us and a part of our lives.

''As a person he was one of the best and he meant so much to myself

and the players in the dressing room, and, although he was away from the

club, I think it is safe to say he never really left. Our thoughts are

with his family.''

It was obvious McCoist had shed tears through the morning and the

club's manager Walter Smith also was clearly distressed. ''When I looked

around at my players, especially those who were here with Davie, I could

see they were devastated by the news,'' he said.

''Davie was very much his own man, but he was very popular with the

players.

''When I came here eight years ago and saw him up close, it was then I

realised just how good he was. He would have been able to walk into any

Rangers team of any era and we all feel a great sense of loss.

''First and foremost Davie was a Rangers man and he never tried to

hide that, but I think he was appreciated by most supporters because of

his ability. It was a gift and he used it. Without him, this is a very

sombre place. We feel for his mother, father, and his brother.''

John Greig, Rangers' public relations executive, was a team-mate and a

manager of Cooper and he recalled: ''My first sighting of Davie was when

he was playing with Clydebank against Rangers in a league cup tie which

took about three games to settle.

''When he came to Ibrox, I remember playing at left back behind him

and some of the things he did bamboozled me.''

Greig eventually became manager and he added that while Cooper was

never one for tackling or the physical side of the game, his skill level

was exceptional. ''He used to say: 'I'm not interested in tactics, I'm

an entertainer,' and he was. He was as good a footballer produced in

Scotland for a long, long time and I think he never moved into European

football because he was very happy here.

''I had a conversation with him only a few weeks ago during which we

talked about his change of attitude, because when he was younger he

always said he had no ambition to continue in the game when he stopped

playing. Yet, he was coaching youngsters. I suppose as you get older,

your ideas change.

''While we are all sad, his memory will live on.''

Jock Wallace, the former Rangers manager who signed Cooper from

Clydebank in 1977, was stunned by the news. ''It is so hard to take this

in,'' he said. ''My feelings go out to his family and loved ones, who

will have to be strong through this ordeal.

''Scottish football doesn't produce many players who can be described

as world-class, but Davie was one who belonged in that company.''

Motherwell's manager Alex McLeish, who was one of Cooper's

international team-mates, said: ''Motherwell and Scottish football are

deeply saddened by Davie's untimely death. The club is in a state of

shock.

''Davie was inspirational to everyone during his four outstanding

seasons at the club, the highlight being the Scottish Cup final in

1991.''

SFA chief executive Jim Farry echoed McLeish's words and also added:

''It is tragic that one with such skills and knowledge will no longer be

able to impart them to young players.''

Cooper's former manager at Fir Park, Tommy McLean, spoke to the winger

recently and was taken by how well he was looking. ''Davie never had a

flu, he nevr missed training,'' McLean said.

''When he went to Motherwell from Rangers, He was very influential and

helped give the young players confidence in their own abilities.''

Cooper was the last of the great Scottish wingers and one of them,

Celtic's own Jimmy Johnstone, spoke of his own sense of loss. ''His poor

family must be devastated,'' he began.

''You think about me and Willie Henderson and even further back to

Willie Waddell and Gordon Smith. Then came Davie and, sadly, there is no

Scottish player left to follow him.

''In many ways Davie was more than a winger. He was so skilful he

could have played anywhere. Dads took their sons to see him and even the

other half of the Old Firm could appreciate him.

''Anyone who loved football loved watching Davie Cooper. He was one of

Scotland's finest ever players.''