Steve Cooper was first alerted to a problem with his eyes during a optician’s appointment in 2015 – he was referred to hospital for tests.
Steve cooper : Eye problem | Wife | Eye condition
Cooper was born on 10 December 1979 in Pontypridd, Wales, and raised in nearby Hopkinstown.
He is the son of Welsh former football referee Keith Cooper.
As a youngster, Cooper played football in the Rhondda leagues and was a Liverpool supporter.
Cooper began his coaching career at Wrexham’s academy while playing as a defender in the Welsh football leagues. He moved to Liverpool in 2008 and was appointed manager of their academy in 2011.
Cooper joined the England youth set-up in 2014, initially coaching the U16s, before winning the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with the U17s. He became head coach of Swansea City in 2019 and Nottingham Forest in 2021.
Steve cooper eye problem
Steve Cooper was first alerted to a problem with his eyes during a routine optician’s appointment in 2015 – he was referred to hospital for further tests. Sadly, Steve says: “They weren’t very helpful, didn’t really explain, never mentioned macular degeneration or anything. I was left feeling quite alone. They said ‘there’s no treatment, nothing I can do for you. Off you go.’”
By 2017, he was finding it harder to drive at night but as a self-employed builder needed to do so to maintain his business and independence.
Then, in January 2018 he fell ill with something else, and in February 2018 had a breakdown. “I do think that the struggling with the vision and changing my lifestyle to cope with it really had a big impact”, says Steve. At the time, he still hadn’t had any further tests or treatment on his eyes.
“I went through a tough summer and autumn and my eyesight was the least of my problems. But before I went back to work I thought I should have an eye test.
“In December 2018 we were due to go away for Christmas, and before we went I had an eye test that gave me the news I was dreading – I don’t pass the criteria for driving. I was devastated and didn’t know what to do with myself.
“My wife was very supportive, but we didn’t know what to do, because the opticians didn’t refer us to the hospital or anything. We were lost.
Steve cooper wife
Although Steve is married, there are no details available regarding his wife in the public domain.
Some websites suggest that Steve also has a son, but there are no proper details about his son as well.
Maintaining the privacy of both his wife and his son, he has not made any public appearances with them.
Talking about Steve Cooper’s family, he is the son of well known former Welsh football referee.
He is the son of former Welsh football referee Keith Cooper.
His father, Keith, is a former Welsh football referee in the English Football League and Premier League. He was also on the Welsh FIFA list. During his time on the List, he was based in Pontypridd.
Eye condition
Steve cooper eye condition is stable. Steve carried on his life as normal, without knowing much information about his eye condition.
“While away over Christmas, we met up with friends. He said both his parents had age-related macular degeneration (AMD), so fully understood what the condition was and gave me advice to search online for the Macular Society and people in my area.
“When we came back in the new year, I looked it up on the internet and found that the closest Macular Society Support Group to our area met a bus trip away. I didn’t know what to expect, what the atmosphere would be like, or much about my own condition.”
“I went along to the group and within moments it really changed my life. The acceptance from everybody. The first time I went the individuals couldn’t have been more friendly. They understood the condition.
“The thing that struck me was that they spoke to my wife privately to see how she was and how she was coping with the news.
“We came out of there and I thought ‘I’m not alone’. We’ve found people who are going to help as much as they can. They think about you as an individual and your own story, and your own problems and obstacles.
“It didn’t help my eyesight, but it helped me to cope with it better. You find out you’re not the only one. You still have to deal with it, but talking to people helps. I don’t worry as much as I have been doing.
“The advice to get in touch with the Macular Society was life-changing.”