Jake Cooper aims to pay back Altrincham's trust with a play-off place this season

One player who is setting his sights on that target is Altrincham's Jake Cooper. 

After a stop-start season for the club last time out, they eventually finished in 13th place, but Cooper, who enters his fifth season at the club, is determined to repay the club that gave him his chance in the National League with a real push for the play-offs this season. 

"I've been here a long time now. I just want to do well for everyone in the club, not just myself but everyone associated with the club," Cooper told DAZN News in an exclusive interview ahead of the kick-off to the new season. 

"Because the club's put a lot of trust in me for me to still be here after four, four and a half seasons. And the fans as well.

"I feel like the season we finished fourth was brilliant to see all the fans on board and something for them to be excited about.

"So hopefully we can try and reciprocate something like that and have another exciting season.

"I feel like with the quality we've got that we see every day at the training ground, I feel like there's no reason why we shouldn't be pushing in and around the playoffs.

"I feel like the squad's too good really for us just to have another season that sort of passes. So yeah, that's the expectation." 
 

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To aid their promotion bid, the Robins are being led by boss Neil Gibson, who will take charge of his first full season with the club. 

The former Wealdstone boss was appointed midway through last season, replacing Phil Parkinson and eventually steered the club away from any possible danger at the bottom and to a safe mid-table finish. 

Now with a pre-season under his belt, Cooper can't help but be excited at what Gibson has already brought to the club, and what more there is to achieve. 

"I feel like he brings a real energy.

"He wants us to be the best versions of ourselves every day. And, in his first full season, which I think off the back of when he came in from last season,  I feel like the points tally from when he was in would have got us comfortably top half.

"So it's exciting to see what we can do under him for a full season this year." 

Jonathan Moore

With Cooper determined to push the club on and with the right man in the dugout, Altrincham look in a good place as they prepare for a big opening game when they take on Kieron Dyer's Southend United.

The centre-back is looking forward to a home tie against one of the favourites, where he believes there'll be a great atmosphere at Moss Lane and a chance to show what the team is all about this season. 

Having been at the club since 2022, Cooper is well versed to have seen how far they've gone, and he's convinced they are ready for the next step. 

Adding, "I feel like it's been building over the past four or five years.  I think when I first came to the club on loan, it was actually part-time.

"So it's been like a steady progression over the last few years.  But yeah, it's definitely the Football League where I can see the club going.  And I feel like the club wouldn't look out of place in the league above." 

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