Maurice Cook
Encyclopedia
Maurice Cook was an English professional association footballer, and also an amateur cricketer
for Hertfordshire
. Capable of playing in any outfield position, Cook spent the majority of his career as a centre forward. He was best known for his spells at Football League clubs Watford
and Fulham
. He also played for Berkhamsted Town and Reading
, and finished his playing career with a season as player-coach of Banbury United, in the Southern League
. In 1960, Cook scored the first ever goal in the Football League Cup
.
, Cook played for Hertfordshire as a schoolboy, and later for local sides Potten End and Berkhamsted Town. During this time, he also played cricket for Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
.
Cook joined Football League Third Division South
side Watford as an amateur in 1952, turning professional at the end of the 1952–53 season. He made his debut in Watford's first game of the following campaign, away to Southampton
on 19 August 1953. His first professional goal came exactly one month later, giving Watford a 1–0 win at Coventry City
. Playing 45 of a possible 47 games, Cook finished 1953–54 with nine goals as Watford ended the season fourth in the division.
Although Cook's strike rate was poor compared with other forwards in the team, manager Len Goulden
kept faith with him for the following campaign. One of three players to play in all 50 of Watford's fixtures, he finished as the club's top scorer with 31 goals in all competitions, more than twice as many as his nearest competitor—and the previous season's top scorer—Roy Brown. Cook scored 15 and 16 goals in 1955–56 and 1956–57 respectively, and amassed 10 goals in 30 Watford games in the first half of 1957–58. Between his debut and his final appearance, Cook made 218 appearances in the Football League and FA Cup
, scoring 77 goals and missing only four games.
side Fulham
in January 1958 for £15,000, which at the time was the highest fee Watford had ever received. He played regularly for the rest of the season, but having played for Watford in the FA Cup, was unable to contribute to Fulham's run to the semi finals. Nonetheless, Cook played a central part in 1958–59, scoring 17 of Fulham's 96 goals as they gained promotion to the First Division
for only the second time in their history.
Fulham survived the following season, and on 26 September 1960, Cook became the first player ever to score a goal in the Football League Cup
. Cook remained a First Division Fulham player until 1965, with a goalscoring record of 89 goals in 229 league games. Among his team-mates during this period were England internationals George Cohen
and Johnny Haynes
. Shortly after the departure of manager Bedford Jezzard
in December 1964, Cook transferred to Reading
in the Third Division. After playing only 12 league games for them, he took up a post as player-coach at Banbury United. Under the management of his former Watford boss Len Goulden
, Cook helped Banbury reach the Southern League
for the first time in their history.
Cook died on 31 December 2006, aged 75. Coincidentally, the following day Fulham hosted Watford in a league match at Craven Cottage
, where both sets of supporters observed a minute's silence in his honour.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
for Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Hertfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
. Capable of playing in any outfield position, Cook spent the majority of his career as a centre forward. He was best known for his spells at Football League clubs Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. He also played for Berkhamsted Town and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, and finished his playing career with a season as player-coach of Banbury United, in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. In 1960, Cook scored the first ever goal in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
.
Early career and Watford
Born and raised in Hemel HempsteadHemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, Cook played for Hertfordshire as a schoolboy, and later for local sides Potten End and Berkhamsted Town. During this time, he also played cricket for Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Hertfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
.
Cook joined Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
side Watford as an amateur in 1952, turning professional at the end of the 1952–53 season. He made his debut in Watford's first game of the following campaign, away to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 19 August 1953. His first professional goal came exactly one month later, giving Watford a 1–0 win at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. Playing 45 of a possible 47 games, Cook finished 1953–54 with nine goals as Watford ended the season fourth in the division.
Although Cook's strike rate was poor compared with other forwards in the team, manager Len Goulden
Len Goulden
Leonard Arthur Goulden was an English footballer. His son Roy was also a footballer.-Playing career:Born in Hackney, London, Goulden began his career with Chelmsford City, before moving to Leyton and then West Ham United in 1933...
kept faith with him for the following campaign. One of three players to play in all 50 of Watford's fixtures, he finished as the club's top scorer with 31 goals in all competitions, more than twice as many as his nearest competitor—and the previous season's top scorer—Roy Brown. Cook scored 15 and 16 goals in 1955–56 and 1956–57 respectively, and amassed 10 goals in 30 Watford games in the first half of 1957–58. Between his debut and his final appearance, Cook made 218 appearances in the Football League and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, scoring 77 goals and missing only four games.
Fulham and later life
Widely regarded by fans as Watford's best player at the time, Cook was sold to Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in January 1958 for £15,000, which at the time was the highest fee Watford had ever received. He played regularly for the rest of the season, but having played for Watford in the FA Cup, was unable to contribute to Fulham's run to the semi finals. Nonetheless, Cook played a central part in 1958–59, scoring 17 of Fulham's 96 goals as they gained promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for only the second time in their history.
Fulham survived the following season, and on 26 September 1960, Cook became the first player ever to score a goal in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. Cook remained a First Division Fulham player until 1965, with a goalscoring record of 89 goals in 229 league games. Among his team-mates during this period were England internationals George Cohen
George Cohen
George Reginald Cohen MBE was the right back for England in the side which won the 1966 World Cup. He is the uncle of Rugby Union World Cup winner, Ben Cohen.-Football career:...
and Johnny Haynes
Johnny Haynes
John Norman "Johnny" Haynes was an English footballer, best known for his 18 years at Fulham. He played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for the club between 1952 and 1970...
. Shortly after the departure of manager Bedford Jezzard
Bedford Jezzard
Bedford Alfred George Jezzard, , was a football player. Jezzard's teenage years coincided with the Second World War, and he began football as an amateur with Croxley Boys and later Watford, for whom he made three FA Cup appearances...
in December 1964, Cook transferred to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the Third Division. After playing only 12 league games for them, he took up a post as player-coach at Banbury United. Under the management of his former Watford boss Len Goulden
Len Goulden
Leonard Arthur Goulden was an English footballer. His son Roy was also a footballer.-Playing career:Born in Hackney, London, Goulden began his career with Chelmsford City, before moving to Leyton and then West Ham United in 1933...
, Cook helped Banbury reach the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
for the first time in their history.
Cook died on 31 December 2006, aged 75. Coincidentally, the following day Fulham hosted Watford in a league match at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
, where both sets of supporters observed a minute's silence in his honour.