Vancooten began his career at Hampton & Richmond Borough, before joining Leatherhead's youth system, competing in the West Surrey U16 league. It was at Leatherhead where Vancooten was scouted by Brentford, joining the west London club in 2014 after a successful trial period. After a brief spell at Brentford, he then joined Staines Town at academy level in early 2014, where he also represented the Middlesex FA. He impressed in the academy side and subsequently began to feature for the first-team during the 2015–16 season, making a total of 10 appearances in all competitions. He signed for Championship side Reading ahead of the 2016–17 campaign, and was placed in their U23 development squad for the season. After a handful of appearances for the U23s, Vancooten was loaned out to Billericay Town in November 2016 for the remainder of the year. He made five appearances for Billericay before returning to his parent club. Vancooten was loaned out once again on 25 February 2017, this time joining Southern League Premier Division side Basingstoke Town for the rest of the 2016–17 season. He made nine appearances for Basingstoke before returning to Reading at the end of the campaign. At the end of the season, Vancooten was released by Reading.
Stevenage
Following his release from Reading, Vancooten spent several weeks on trial at League Two side Stevenage, playing in all of the Hertfordshire club's early pre-season fixtures. The trial period was successful, and he signed a one-year contract, with the option of another year, on 18 July 2017. On joining the club, Vancooten stated "I can't wait to learn off everyone and improve myself as a player. I have already taken in so much. Both the players and management have been brilliant for me so I am confident I am at the right place". He made his professional Football League debut on 26 August 2017, coming on as an 83rd minute substitute as ten-man Stevenage held on to secure a 1–0 away win at local rivals Barnet. After establishing himself in the first-team over the next two months, Vancooten signed an "improved and extended" deal with Stevenage in October 2017. He went on to make 24 appearances during the 2017–18 season. Vancooten played just nine times up during the first half of the 2018–19 season. Having not played for over three months, he returned to the first-team when he played the whole match in Stevenage's 2–0 away win at Grimsby Town on 6 April 2019. Vancooten received a PFA Community award in April 2019 for his contribution in the local community in Stevenage. He went on to play every minute of the club's last six matches of the season, of which they won five and drew one, as Stevenage missed out on a play-off place after finishing in tenth position in League Two. He made 15 appearances during his second season with the club.
International career
In October 2017, Vancooten was called up to play for Guyana in a friendly away at Grenada. He started the match, on 7 October 2017, which ended in a 1–0 defeat. Vancooten was named in Guyana's 23-man squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the country's first ever appearance at a major international tournament. He played in all three of Guyana's matches in the tournament as they finished in third place in their group.
