Peterborough United have added potential to their ranks with the capture of former Bury youngster Bobby Copping.
The central defender has been handed a two-year professional contract by the Posh following his departure from the Shakers in the wake of their unfortunate expulsion from the EFL.
Copping was part of Bury’s Under-23’s but made a senior appearance for the club in the Lancashire Senior Cup Final against Fleetwood Town aged sixteen. He joined Bury from Norwich City’s academy, and he’s been on trial with Brighton Under-23’s since the EFL demise of the Lancashire outfit, featuring in a match against Chelsea.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson revealed the club had fought off other interest in the talented teenager and predicted a bright future for Copping. Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: ‘We feel there is a lot of potential there. He has only just turned eighteen, he is a centre half, good size, was at Norwich as a kid so has a good upbringing and I am delighted to have him on board.’
‘As a centre half, I have looked at what I have in the first-team squad, and what I have below that, it made sense to do this deal because we wanted a young one. We are not going to throw him straight in, we will be patient with him, have a look at him and see how it goes. I have met him and his parents, they are a nice family. He was delighted to sign amidst a lot of interest, so I am pleased to get him.’
The eighteen-year-old was clearly delighted to get his immediate future sorted. ‘The vibe I get at Peterborough is very similar to the one we had at Bury in terms of that togetherness, and I am really pleased to be here. I have been made to feel wanted, the manager has been great with me and my family, and it was a great day for all of us on Monday when the paperwork was completed,’ he said.
Copping was highly regarded at Bury, signing a two-year scholarship with the club in 2018. He starred in the talented Bury team that reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup last season but found himself without a club when the Shakers lost their league status.
Our View
We are not going to pretend to be experts on Bury’s under-23’s but reports suggest Peterborough have made an excellent signing.
Copping is strong in the air and dangerous at set pieces; he’s also decent with the ball at his feet and was a standout performer in a very talented Bury youth team.
Shakers fans will know Copping’s attitude matched with his ability made him nailed on for a first team start at Gigg Lane until the distasterous and well-documented events enveloped the club.
Fans will wish him all the best and know that Peterborough have potentially done a smart piece of business.
