Ian Cooke (footballer)

Ian Cooke is an English former professional footballer who played for Wimbledon for his entire career.

Ian Cooke
Personal information
Place of birth England
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1977 Wimbledon 427 (191)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Cooke joined the amateur Isthmian League club Wimbledon in 1963,[1] and played in the club's final two amateur matches a year later.[1] Wimbledon turned professional in 1964, and Cooke's employers, Westminster Bank, initially refused to let him sign for the club.[1] Wimbledon eventually managed to secure Cooke's signature, and the young forward had made eight appearances by the end of the 1964–65 season.[2] Cooke broke into the side during the following season, and scored 29 goals in 44 matches to be Wimbledon's top scorer,[2] something he would remain for six out of the next seven seasons.[2] Cooke later became captain of Wimbledon,[1] and moved back into midfield during his later years as a player;[1] taking part in Wimbledon's final season as a non-League club,[1] Cooke's career finally ended in 1977, just before Wimbledon's election to The Football League.[1] Cooke made the second highest number of appearances for Wimbledon, with 615; his 297 goals was also the second highest number scored for the club.[2]

Post-playing career

Cooke later became a director of AFC Wimbledon, the club founded by supporters in 2002 after approval had been given to Wimbledon F.C.'s relocation to Milton Keynes.[3]

gollark: How big a number do I need?
gollark: It hasn't opened any wormholes into alternate realities.
gollark: I can generate bigger numbers more easily without a random RNG number generator.
gollark: Oh.
gollark: Stop anthropomorphizing AI systems.

References
  1. "The Players". Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  2. Jones, Marc. "Ian Cooke". FOTO. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  3. "History in a Capsule at Plough Lane". Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association. Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
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