Paul Cook (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Anthony Cook is an English
former footballer, currently manager of Sligo Rovers
in Ireland. He had a lengthy career, playing for a number of clubs in the Football League as a left sided or central midfielder before retiring from the game in 2006.
before being quickly signed up by Wigan Athletic
, where he featured in almost one hundred games in a four-year spell. Cook then had a brief and unsuccessful spell at Norwich City
before moving to the Midlands to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £250,000.
He was a very popular player during his time at Wolves, both with the fans and his team-mates and became known for his deadly and accurate left foot. After over 190 appearances for Wolves over five seasons in the second tier, he made the short journey to Premier League Coventry City
.
He played the majority of the club's games in his first season (1994-95
) but fell from favour during the following campaign, where he made only three appearances. In February 1996, he was sold to Tranmere Rovers
for £250,000.
Whilst at Tranmere he became a key member of the team, playing sixty games in just eighteen months. In October 1997, Tranmere accepted a bid of £250,000 from Stockport County
and so regained the fee they had paid for Cook in the first place. After twelve months at County, Cook began to be regarded as 'too old', despite being just 32. This led to his move to Burnley, initially on loan but fully signing in July 1999 to play under Stan Ternent
.
Cook experienced an 'Indian summer' to his career, making 130 league appearances over a four year spell. During this period he established excellent understandings with many players, especially Lee Briscoe
and the two often devised new free-kick routines to catch Division One defences off-guard.
After a falling out with the manager, Cook went on loan to one of his old clubs, Wigan Athletic
, but made just six appearances before he was re-called to again take his place in the starting line up at Turf Moor
. Cook left Burnley at the end of the 2003 season, at the same time as Andy Payton. The two players got a standing ovation from the fans for their contributions to the club.
Defying doubts about his fitness and age, Cook signed for non-league team Accrington Stanley
and went on to become a first team regular in their push for promotion to the Football League. This target was finally achieved in the 2005/06 season when Stanley were crowned Champions. Having achieved this aim, Cook finally retired after almost 600 league appearances for nine different teams.
After the end of the 2005/06 season, Cook was granted a testimonial by Accrington as a thank-you for his hard work. It was played on 2 May 2006 at the Interlink Express (now the Fraser Eagle) Stadium, Accrington
against a Burnley Select XI featuring old team-mates Dean West
, Lenny Johnrose
, Ian Cox
, Kevin Ball
and son Liam.
on 13 June 2006, a post he was sacked from in January 2007 following defeat at Northwich Victoria.
He became manager of Sligo Rovers
on 27 April 2007, taking over from Rob McDonald, who resigned before the start of the season. At the press conference when he was unveiled he stated that he was from Liverpool and that he will not have anything to do with any journalist from the Irish Sun, (due to the lies printed about Liverpool supporters during the Hillsborough disaster). He guided Sligo to a credible 6th place league finish in his first season. His second year (2008) saw him guide Sligo to fourth in the league and thus secure a UEFA Cup
place.
He departed in January 2009 by mutual consent http://www.sligorovers.com/content/view/686/1/, but soon returned just weeks later.http://www.sligorovers.com/content/view/693/91/
In his third season, under sever financial constraints, he guided Sligo to sixth place after a time when it appeared the Bit O'Red appeared certain relegation candidates. In addition, Cook guided Sligo to the final of the FAI Cup which took place on the 22nd November 2009. Sligo lost 2-1 to Sporting Fingal despite holding a one goal lead with seven minutes remaining.
His first silverware as Sligo manager came in September 2010, after a 1-0 win over Monaghan United
in the final of the League Cup
. In November 2010, he guided Sligo Rovers to win the 2010 FAI Cup Final, 2-0 in a penalty shoot-out against Shamrock Rovers.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer, currently manager of Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
in Ireland. He had a lengthy career, playing for a number of clubs in the Football League as a left sided or central midfielder before retiring from the game in 2006.
Playing career
Cook began his career at his local non-league team MarineMarine F.C.
Marine Football Club is an English football club in Crosby, Merseyside. The club, which was founded in 1894, is a member of both the Liverpool County and Lancashire County Football Associations, and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.Marine is notable for having the...
before being quickly signed up by Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, where he featured in almost one hundred games in a four-year spell. Cook then had a brief and unsuccessful spell at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
before moving to the Midlands to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £250,000.
He was a very popular player during his time at Wolves, both with the fans and his team-mates and became known for his deadly and accurate left foot. After over 190 appearances for Wolves over five seasons in the second tier, he made the short journey to Premier League 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...
.
He played the majority of the club's games in his first season (1994-95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
) but fell from favour during the following campaign, where he made only three appearances. In February 1996, he was sold to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
for £250,000.
Whilst at Tranmere he became a key member of the team, playing sixty games in just eighteen months. In October 1997, Tranmere accepted a bid of £250,000 from Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and so regained the fee they had paid for Cook in the first place. After twelve months at County, Cook began to be regarded as 'too old', despite being just 32. This led to his move to Burnley, initially on loan but fully signing in July 1999 to play under Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
.
Cook experienced an 'Indian summer' to his career, making 130 league appearances over a four year spell. During this period he established excellent understandings with many players, especially Lee Briscoe
Lee Briscoe
Lee Stephen Briscoe is an English professional football player, but is currently not signed to any Football League club. He usually plays at left full-back but is able to play on the left hand side of midfield.-Career:...
and the two often devised new free-kick routines to catch Division One defences off-guard.
After a falling out with the manager, Cook went on loan to one of his old clubs, Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, but made just six appearances before he was re-called to again take his place in the starting line up at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
. Cook left Burnley at the end of the 2003 season, at the same time as Andy Payton. The two players got a standing ovation from the fans for their contributions to the club.
Defying doubts about his fitness and age, Cook signed for non-league team Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
and went on to become a first team regular in their push for promotion to the Football League. This target was finally achieved in the 2005/06 season when Stanley were crowned Champions. Having achieved this aim, Cook finally retired after almost 600 league appearances for nine different teams.
After the end of the 2005/06 season, Cook was granted a testimonial by Accrington as a thank-you for his hard work. It was played on 2 May 2006 at the Interlink Express (now the Fraser Eagle) Stadium, Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
against a Burnley Select XI featuring old team-mates Dean West
Dean West
Dean West is an English semi-professional football player, who currently plays for Lincoln Moorlands Railway. He is best known as a right sided full-back, but can also play in midfield if needed...
, Lenny Johnrose
Lenny Johnrose
Leonard "Lenny" Johnrose was an English professional football player who during his career played for several clubs including Burnley, Bury and Swansea City. Johnrose is best known as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder....
, Ian Cox
Ian Cox
Ian Gary Cox is a former Trinidad and Tobago international footballer.Cox joined Crystal Palace from non-League side Carshalton Athletic for a fee of £40,000 in 1994...
, Kevin Ball
Kevin Ball
Kevin Ball aka 'The Hatchet' is a former professional footballer and now coach. Between 6 March and 8 May 2006 Ball acted as Sunderland caretaker manager for the last ten games of the 2005–06 season following the sacking of Mick McCarthy, taking five points from these games...
and son Liam.
Management career
Cook was appointed manager of Conference side SouthportSouthport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
on 13 June 2006, a post he was sacked from in January 2007 following defeat at Northwich Victoria.
He became manager of Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
on 27 April 2007, taking over from Rob McDonald, who resigned before the start of the season. At the press conference when he was unveiled he stated that he was from Liverpool and that he will not have anything to do with any journalist from the Irish Sun, (due to the lies printed about Liverpool supporters during the Hillsborough disaster). He guided Sligo to a credible 6th place league finish in his first season. His second year (2008) saw him guide Sligo to fourth in the league and thus secure a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
place.
He departed in January 2009 by mutual consent http://www.sligorovers.com/content/view/686/1/, but soon returned just weeks later.http://www.sligorovers.com/content/view/693/91/
In his third season, under sever financial constraints, he guided Sligo to sixth place after a time when it appeared the Bit O'Red appeared certain relegation candidates. In addition, Cook guided Sligo to the final of the FAI Cup which took place on the 22nd November 2009. Sligo lost 2-1 to Sporting Fingal despite holding a one goal lead with seven minutes remaining.
His first silverware as Sligo manager came in September 2010, after a 1-0 win over Monaghan United
Monaghan United
Monaghan United F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1979 and elected to the league in 1985, hails from Monaghan and play their home matches at Gortakeegan, Monaghan...
in the final of the League Cup
2010 League of Ireland Cup
The 2010 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2010 EA Sports Cup, was the 37th season of the Irish football knockout competition.The competition was won by Sligo Rovers who defeated Monaghan United in the final on 25 September 2010 at the Showgrounds, Sligo.A total of 29 teams competed in the...
. In November 2010, he guided Sligo Rovers to win the 2010 FAI Cup Final, 2-0 in a penalty shoot-out against Shamrock Rovers.
Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Southport Southport F.C. Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008... |
 |
12 August 2006 | 3 January 2007 |
|||||
| Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers F.C. Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at... |
 |
27 April 2007 | present |
|||||