Jeff Cook (English footballer) explained

Jeff Cook
Fullname:Jeffery William Cook
Birth Date:14 March 1953
Birth Place:Hartlepool, England
Position:Forward
Years1:1975–1977
Clubs1:Hellenic
Caps1:64
Goals1:46
Years2:1977–1981
Clubs2:Stoke City
Caps2:30
Goals2:5
Years3:1978–1979
Clubs3:Bradford City (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:1
Years4:1979–1980
Clubs4:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:5
Years5:1981–1983
Clubs5:Plymouth Argyle
Caps5:55
Goals5:21
Years6:1983–1985
Clubs6:Halifax Town
Caps6:56
Goals6:9
Clubs7:Worksop Town
Clubs8:North Ferriby United
Totalcaps:156
Totalgoals:41

Jeffery William Cook (born 14 March 1953) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Bradford City, Halifax Town, Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.[1] [2]

Career

Cook was born in Hartlepool but began his footballing career with South African side Hellenic.[1] Coach at Hellenic was George Eastham and he left in March 1977 to become manager of Stoke City and he brought Cook to Stoke in November 1977.[1] He made to good start scoring in his second game against Blackpool but with Stoke having a poor season Eastham was replaced by Alan Durban in January 1978 and consequently Cook was loaned out to Bradford City.[1] He scored once in eight matches for the "Bantams" and then scored five in seven for Plymouth Argyle.[1] He returned to the Stoke first team in 1979–80 playing 14 matches which included four goals in three games.[1] However, he was unable to maintain his run in the first team at the Victoria Ground and left for Plymouth Argyle in October 1981 this time on a permanent basis.[1]

In 1981–82 at Home Park Cook scored 16 goals in 38 matches but he managed just five goals in 26 in 1982–83 and was sold to Fourth Division, Halifax Town. He spent two years at the Shay scoring ten goals in 65 appearances.

After leaving Halifax, he went on to play non-league football for Worksop Town, North Ferriby United and Ferryhill Athletic.[3]

Personal life

Following the end of his professional footballing career in 1985, he worked for the PFA's Football in the Community scheme whilst playing part-time. In 1993, he qualified as a primary school teacher and spent his entire teaching career at Sacred Heart School[4] in Hartlepool. He went on to become head teacher in 2010 before retiring in August 2017.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City1977–78Second Division81220000103
1978–79Second Division3000000030
1979–80First Division144000000144
1980–81First Division4010100060
1981–82First Division1000000010
Total305321000347
Bradford City (loan)1978–79Fourth Division8100000081
Plymouth Argyle (loan)1979–80Third Division7500000075
1981–82Third Division35162010003816
1982–83Third Division205402000265
Total55216030006421
Halifax Town1983–84Fourth Division306102010346
1984–85Fourth Division263213010314
Total5693150206510
Career total15641123902017944

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. 1994. Lion Press. 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Book: Lowe, Simon. Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record. 2000. Desert Island Books. 1-874287-39-2.
  3. News: Where Are They Now – Jeff Cook . 9 December 2015 . Vital Plymouth.
  4. News: Intruder found at Hartlepool primary school . 15 January 2016 . Hartlepool Mail.