opened the scoring in the 6th minute, however Cooper equalised for Clydebank a minute later. Bobby McKean scored the decisive goal in the tie in the 61st minute, to ensure Rangers progressed to the semi-finals. For his performances, it was clear that Rangers were ready to offer Cooper a contract. The Govan side initially offered Clydebank £50,000, the sum increasing numerous times, eventually reaching an agreement on £100,000 to secure Cooper as a Rangers player. He travelled with his father and elder brother to a meeting with Rangers executives including Wallace, Willie Waddell and Willie Thornton. The fee and a salary of £10,000 were agreed, of which Cooper received £3,500 after tax. Soon to be a Rangers player, Cooper's final goal for the Bankies was against Raith Rovers in a 2–0 win at New Kilbowie on 23 April 1977. His final game for the club was against Falkirk at Brockville in a 4–2 win, a week later. Rangers At the age of 21, Cooper joined up with Jock Wallace's side in the summer of 1977, along with new signings Bobby Russell and Gordon Smith. The trio of youngsters formed a close bond in their initial weeks at the club. Defensively, Rangers had depth and quality with players such as John Greig, Tom Forsyth, Colin Jackson and Sandy Jardine. Cooper, Russell and Smith were brought in to establish more cutting-edge attacking play going forward. Despite losing the first two league games of the 1977–78 season, the new attacking trio soon found form. Following a 4–0 victory away to Partick Thistle, Cooper was involved in his first Old Firm match on 10 September 1977, a 3–2 home victory against Celtic. Describing the intensity of the match, Cooper said: "even though we were tired by the end, we had to keep going for the fans." Cooper scored his first league goal for Rangers in the following match, a 3–3 draw against St Mirren on 17 September 1977 at Love Street. His first Ibrox goal came against his former club Clydebank on 1 October 1977. Cooper scored twice in the match, including one directly from a corner kick. The club followed this with a run of ten games undefeated, ending with a 4–0 loss away to Aberdeen two months later on 24 December 1977. His first trophy with Rangers came on 18 March 1978 after defeating Celtic 2–1 in the 1978 Scottish League Cup