Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | George William Cook | ||
Date of birth | (1895-02-27)27 February 1895 | ||
Place of birth | Evenwood, England | ||
Date of death | 31 December 1980(1980-12-31) (aged 85) | ||
Place of death | Colwyn Bay, Wales | ||
Height | 5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1.71 m) | ||
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 | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
George William Cook (27 February 1895 – 31 December 1980), sometimes known as Billy Cook, was an English professional footballer, best remembered for his spells as an inside left in the Football League with Huddersfield Town and Aston Villa.
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. He joined Northern League club Bishop Auckland in 1919 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1920–21 and 1921–22. A move to Second Division club Rotherham County followed in 1922.
Huddersfield Town
Cook joined First Division club Huddersfield Town in 1923. 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. He scored 35 goals in 91 appearances before departing the Terriers in February 1927.
Aston Villa
Cook signed for First Division club Aston Villa in February 1927. 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.
Tottenham Hotspur
Cook dropped down to join Second Division club Tottenham Hotspur during the 1929 off-season. Now aged 34, he scored 30 goals in 73 appearances before his release in April 1931.
Brentford
Cook moved across London to sign for Third Division South club Brentford during the 1931 off-season. He began his time at Griffin Park well, scoring on his second appearance in a 1–1 draw with Thames. 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. With the arrival of forwards Jack Holliday and Billy Scott, Cook departed Brentford at the end of the 1931–32 season.
Colwyn Bay United
Cook ended his career in non-League football with spells at Birmingham & District League clubs Colwyn Bay United and Rhyl.
Honours
Bishop Auckland
- FA Amateur Cup (1): 1920–21, 1921–22
Huddersfield Town
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Huddersfield Town | 1923–24 | First Division | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 9 |
1924–25 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 9 | ||
1925–26 | 29 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 14 | ||
1926–27 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||
Total | 87 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 91 | 35 | ||
Aston Villa | 1926–27 | First Division | 13 | 9 | ― | 13 | 9 | |
1927–28 | 35 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 27 | ||
1928–29 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | ||
Total | 57 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 61 | 40 | ||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1929–30 | First Division | 32 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 10 |
1930–31 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 14 | ||
Total | 63 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 67 | 24 | ||
Brentford | 1931–32 | 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 978-1905891610.
- ^ Goodwin, Bob (16 August 2017). The Spurs Alphabet. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-9540434-2-1.
- Woolwinder (20 August 1923). "Prospects of the clubs in the First Division of the League. Huddersfield Town". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Player Profile – Cook, Billy". Huddersfield Town AFC Archive. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "billy cook – fact file". Archive.mehstg.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- "Cook, George William (Billy)". 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.
- 1895 births
- 1980 deaths
- Footballers from County Durham
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football inside forwards
- Bishop Auckland F.C. players
- Rotherham County F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Colwyn Bay F.C. players
- Northern Football League players
- English Football League players
- Rhyl F.C. players
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Royal Artillery personnel
- Military personnel from County Durham
- 20th-century English sportsmen