| Ernie Cockle | |
| Fullname: | Ernest Samuel Cockle |
| Birth Date: | 12 September 1896 |
| Birth Place: | East Ham, London, England |
| Death Date: | 1966 |
| Death Place: | Thornton Heath, London, England |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Years1: | 1920–1921 |
| Clubs1: | Clapton Orient |
| Caps1: | 22 |
| Goals1: | 4 |
| Years2: | 1921–1922 |
| Clubs2: | Margate Town |
| Years3: | 1922–1923 |
| Clubs3: | Maidstone United |
| Years4: | 1923–1924 |
| Clubs4: | Arsenal |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1924 |
| Clubs5: | Luton Town |
| Caps5: | 7 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 1924–1927 |
| Clubs6: | Northampton Town |
| Caps6: | 97 |
| Goals6: | 46 |
| Years7: | 1927–1930 |
| Clubs7: | Wigan Borough |
| Caps7: | 78 |
| Goals7: | 16 |
| Years8: | 1930–1931 |
| Clubs8: | Guildford City |
| Years9: | 1931 |
| Clubs9: | Wigan Borough |
| Caps9: | 6 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Years10: | 1931– |
| Clubs10: | Chorley |
Ernest 'Ernie' Samuel Cockle (12 September 1896 – 1966) was an English professional footballer who played as an Centre-forward in the English Football League.
Born in East Ham, Cockle joined his local Second Division club Clapton Orient after the Great War. After dipping into non-league with Margate Town and Maidstone United, Cockle signed for Arsenal at the start of the 1923 season,[1] but failed to make an appearance despite being a prolific goalscorer for the reserves. In search of first team football, he signed for Luton Town in May 1924.[2]
Cockle signed for Northampton Town in December 1924 alongside fellow Luton Town teammate Ralph Hoten. They were signed by manager Bob Hewison due to the injury of record goalscorer at the time, William Lockett.[3] He played every game in the 1925–26 season, which started in great fashion, scoring all 4 goals in a 4–3 win against Brentford at Griffin Park.[3] He also ended up the leading league goalscorer, however Les Robinson's six FA Cup strikes left him the leading goalscorer in all matches. Cockle continued as a regular goalscorer, including leading the overall scoring charts the following year, but lost his place from the start of the 1927–28 season before transferring to Wigan Borough in June 1928.[3]