Geoff Cox (footballer) explained

Geoff Cox
Fullname:Geoffrey Cox
Position:Winger, inside forward
Birth Date:30 November 1934
Birth Place:Nuneaton, England
Youthyears1:1950–1951
Youthclubs1:Birmingham City
Years1:1951–1957
Caps1:35
Goals1:3
Years2:1957–1967
Caps2:261
Goals2:62
Years3:1967–19??
Clubs3:Bridgwater Town
Years4:
Clubs4:Welton Rovers

Geoffrey Cox (30 November 1934 – 3 November 2014) was an English professional footballer who scored 65 goals in 296 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City and Torquay United.[1]

Life and career

Cox was born in the Stockingford district of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He began his football career as a youngster with Birmingham City in 1950, and turned professional at the end of the following year.[2] A winger, Cox made his debut in the Football League Second Division on 27 August 1952 in a 1–0 win at Luton Town, and played in more than half of the games in the 1952–53 season.[3] He was then called up for National Service; by the time he returned, Gordon Astall and Alex Govan were established on the wings. He remained with Birmingham as cover,[2] and played in their early matches in the inaugural staging of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, including in their first match in European competition, a goalless draw against Internazionale in Milan in May 1956 while Astall was away on England international duty.[4]

In December 1957, Cox moved to Torquay United,[2] then playing in the Third Division South. In a ten-year career, he scored 62 goals in 261 league games and twice contributed to Torquay's promotion from the Fourth Division back to the Third.[1] [5] The club awarded him a benefit match against West Ham United at the end of the 1967–68 season.[6] After leaving Torquay he wound down his football career with Bridgwater Town and Welton Rovers of the Western League.

Cox went on to work as an estate agent. He and wife Madge had two sons: Maurice, a former professional footballer who played for Torquay United and Huddersfield Town, and Michael.[7] He died on 3 November 2014.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geoff Cox . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 23 May 2015.
  2. Book: Matthews, Tony . Birmingham City: A Complete Record . 1995 . Breedon Books . Derby . 80 . 978-1-85983-010-9.
  3. Matthews, p. 188.
  4. Matthews, p. 241.
  5. Web site: Torquay United . Football Club History Database . Richard Rundle . 16 April 2009.
  6. Web site: 1967–68 Friendlies . West Ham United Football Programmes: A pictorial history . Steve Marsh & Stuart Allen . 13 October 2017 . 13 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171013174751/http://whu-programmes.co.uk/1967-68-friendlies/4552230009 . dead .
  7. News: Torquay United: Gulls great Geoff Cox dies at the age of 79 . Herald Express . Torquay . 3 November 2014 . 23 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150121030345/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Xxx/story-24023504-detail/story.html . 21 January 2015 . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Geoff Cox (1934–2014) . Peter . Lewis . Birmingham City F.C. . 10 November 2014 . 23 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141111200945/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20141110-geoff-cox-1934-2014-2076096.aspx . 11 November 2014.