John Cooke (footballer, born 1942)

Edward John Cooke (born 18 March 1942) is an English former football goalkeeper who was a member of non-League Macclesfield Town's highly successful team of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He previously played in the Football League for Port Vale, and later represented Altrincham, Chorley and Morecambe.

John Cooke
Personal information
Full name Edward John Cooke[1]
Date of birth (1942-03-18) 18 March 1942[1]
Place of birth Birdwell, South Yorkshire, England[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1964 Port Vale 7 (0)
1964–1971 Macclesfield Town 208 (0)
Altrincham
Chorley
Morecambe
Total 215 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Cooke passed through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms under manager Norman Low in June 1960.[1] He was only ever utilized as an emergency keeper when Ken Hancock was injured, and after just seven Third Division appearances in almost four years he was given a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1964 by manager Freddie Steele.[1]

He was taken to Macclesfield Town by manager Albert Leake, a former half-back at Port Vale.[2] He held his place in the reserves before he made the first team goalkeeping position his own from the 1965–66 season.[2] From then on Macclesfield went on to win the Cheshire County League in 1967–68, the Northern Premier League in 1968–69 and 1969–70; and also lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1970, the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1969, and the Cheshire League Challenge Cup in 1967.[2] Cooke was also the goalkeeper for Macclesfield's Third Round FA Cup tie with Bobby Robson's Fulham at Craven Cottage on 27 January 1968.[2]

"Choosing the goalkeeper was an almost impossible task, given the great tradition the club has enjoyed. In the end I opted for the hero of Fulham 1968. Besides, the number of goals conceded by the team during his stay, in the free-scoring sixties, is an eloquent statement in Johnnie Cooke's favour."

— Graham Phythian, author of Saga of the Silkmen explains why he chose Cooke as the goalkeeper in his Macclesfield Town dream team.

He went on to be signed by Altrincham as cover for Willie Mailey.[3] He later played for Chorley and Morecambe, and after retiring he ran a plastering and construction business before becoming contracts manager for Shimizu Europe Limited.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1960–61Third Division40000040
1961–62Third Division10000010
1962–63Third Division20000020
Total 70000070
Macclesfield Town 1964–65[5] Cheshire County League 50000050
1965–66[6] Cheshire County League 2200050270
1966–67[7] Cheshire County League 3506070480
1967–68[8] Cheshire County League 40090120610
1968–69[9] Northern Premier League 35020170540
1969–70[10] Northern Premier League 36030220610
1970–71[11] Northern Premier League 35010220580
Total 20802108503140
Career total 21502108503210

Honours

Macclesfield Town

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 66. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Profile". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. "Altrincham FC". www.altrinchamfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  4. John Cooke at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  6. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  8. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  9. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  10. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  11. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
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