George Cook (footballer, born 1895)
George William Cook (27 February 1895 – 31 December 1980), sometimes known as Billy Cook,[3] was an English professional football inside left, best remembered for his spells in the Football League with Huddersfield Town and Aston Villa.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | George William Cook[1] | ||
Date of birth | 27 February 1895 | ||
Place of birth | Evenwood, England | ||
Date of death | 31 December 1980 85)[2] | (aged||
Place of death | Colwyn Bay, Wales | ||
Playing position(s) | Inside left | ||
Youth career | |||
1912–1914 | Evenwood Juniors | ||
1914–1916 | Trindle Juniors | ||
Royal Artillery | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1919–1922 | Bishop Auckland | ||
1922–1923 | Rotherham County | 42 | (8) |
1923–1927 | Huddersfield Town | 87 | (35) |
1927–1929 | Aston Villa | 57 | (35) |
1929–1931 | Tottenham Hotspur | 63 | (22) |
1931–1932 | Brentford | 14 | (3) |
1932–1934 | Colwyn Bay United | ||
1934–1935 | Rhyl | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
Early years
Cook began his career with spells as a youth at Evenwood Juniors and Trindle Juniors and played for the Royal Artillery during the First World War.[4] He joined Northern League club Bishop Auckland in 1919 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1920–21 and 1921–22.[3][5] A move to Second Division club Rotherham County followed in 1922.[1]
Huddersfield Town
Cook joined First Division club Huddersfield Town in 1923.[5] He was a part of the most successful period in the club's history, winning the First Division championship in the 1923–24, 1924–25 and 1925–26 seasons.[5] He scored 35 goals in 91 appearances before departing the Terriers in February 1927.[6][7]
Aston Villa
Cook signed for First Division club Aston Villa in February 1927.[8] While he failed to win any silverware, Cook was in prolific goalscoring form, scoring 40 goals in 61 matches before departing at the end of the 1928–29 season.[9]
Tottenham Hotspur
Cook dropped down to join Second Division club Tottenham Hotspur during the 1929 off-season.[7] Now aged 34, he scored 30 goals in 73 appearances before his release in April 1931.[2]
Brentford
Cook moved across London to sign for Third Division South club Brentford during the 1931 off-season.[5] He began his time at Griffin Park well, scoring on his second appearance in a 1–1 draw with Thames.[10] In a mediocre season for the club, he failed to find the net again until 30 April 1932, when he scored two goals in a 4–2 win over Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.[10] With the arrival of forwards Jack Holliday and Billy Scott, Cook departed Brentford at the end of the 1931–32 season.[4]
Colwyn Bay United
Cook ended his career in non-league football with spells at Birmingham & District League clubs Colwyn Bay United and Rhyl.[2]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Huddersfield Town | 1923–24[6] | First Division | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 9 |
1924–25[6] | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 9 | ||
1925–26[6] | 29 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 14 | ||
1926–27[6] | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||
Total | 87 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 91 | 35 | ||
Aston Villa | 1926–27[9] | First Division | 13 | 9 | ― | 13 | 9 | |
1927–28[9] | 35 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 27 | ||
1928–29[9] | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | ||
Total | 57 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 61 | 40 | ||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1929–30[9] | First Division | 32 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 10 |
1930–31[9] | 31 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 14 | ||
Total | 63 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 67 | 24 | ||
Brentford | 1931–32[10] | Third Division South | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 |
Career total | 221 | 95 | 13 | 7 | 234 | 102 |
References
- Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 64. ISBN 190589161X.
- Goodwin, Bob (16 August 2017). The Spurs Alphabet. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-9540434-2-1.
- "Cook George "Billy" Rotherham United 1922". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 39. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 35. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- "Huddersfield Town AFC Archive – Players – Player Profile". www.htafcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- "billy cook – fact file". Archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- "Aston Villa Player Database". Aston Villa Player Database. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- "George Cook". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 371. ISBN 0951526200.