Middlesbrough stalwart Colin Cooper gets the chance to fulfil one of his ambitions in the Czech Republic tonight. Paul Fraser caught up with the 37-year-old veteran in Ostrava.

NINETEEN years after making his Middlesbrough debut, club veteran Colin Cooper will fulfil one long-standing wish this evening in Ostrava.

After making his Boro debut in the Full Members Cup against Hull City in 1985, Cooper has gone on to make 401 appearances for his first employers.

As a teenager the defender was handed his first league start a few months after the Tigers clash at Selhurst Park, when Middlesbrough lost at Crystal Palace.

And tonight, at the Bazaly Stadium in the Czech Republic, at the tender age of 37, Cooper will form the bedrock of Steve McClaren's defence as they look to preserve a comfortable three-goal lead against Banik Ostrava.

The Trimdon man - whose professional debut was before most of Middlesbrough's substitutes tonight were even born - has tasted UEFA Cup football in the past, with Nottingham Forest, as Frank Clark guided the side from the City Ground to the quarter-finals.

But, after returning to Middlesbrough six years ago when Bryan Robson was in charge, Cooper will play his part in the Teesside outfit's first European away trip, achieving something close friend Gary Pallister was never able to do.

"When Gary came back to Middlesbrough in 1998 (from Manchester United) he dreamed of getting Boro into Europe before he retired. That never happened and it's something he would have loved," said Cooper, likely to start alongside Gareth Southgate in Ostrava with both Chris Riggott and Ugo Ehiogu injured.

"I am no different. We both wanted the best for this club. We both left and then came back but we always loved this club and it's special to us. I'm lucky enough that I'm going to get the opportunity to play in Europe and it's great. After 128 years it's finally happened, it feels longer for me!

"I'm really pleased that I'm still able to play and I'm grateful. I wasn't expecting it. I was expecting a place on the bench at best. But the years I have been here and the opportunity I have to play in the UEFA Cup at this stage of my career is fantastic."

Cooper did not even make the bench when Middlesbrough ended 128-years without a trophy in February when they won the Carling Cup.

But, despite his omission, he was still at the Millennium Stadium to witness the historic day.

That success booked Middlesbrough's place in Europe and now Cooper will etch his name in another little piece of history when they take on Banik tonight.

"It's a big adventure for our club and it's special for me because of the long association I have with this club," said Cooper. "Seeing the emotions the fans are going through is fantastic. We are all looking forward to it massively.

"The fans have been looking to this night ever since we won the Carling Cup. This is the first game since that day when all the fans have set off in one big group to get to another country. It's great.

"We have looked enviously to Newcastle in recent years as they play in Europe regularly, but this season we are starting on an even keel and hopefully this is just the start of a decent spell for Middlesbrough.

"This is the icing on the cake to that day in Cardiff. If we can get into the group stage then there will be a few more of these nights. It will only be then that we will look beyond that and think how far we can go."

Personally, the fact Cooper is still playing is marvellous. As well as spending over 20 years in the game, spanning back to his trainee days, he had to come to terms with the tragic death of his two-year-old son, Finlay, in early 2002.

His contract runs out next summer but he insists he will try to extend his career until it is impossible to do so.

"The decision to keep playing was made three years ago," he said.

"Now I just play as long as I can. At my age you continue as long as you can. There might be another couple of years yet. Who knows?"

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