For the player born 1898, see Charles Cook (footballer, born 1898). For the player born 1972, see Charles Cook (footballer, born 1972). For the British journalist, see Charles C. W. Cooke.
Charlie Cooke
FullnameCharles Cooke[1]
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Birth date14 October 1942 (age 84)
Birth placeSt Monans, Fife, Scotland[2]
PositionWinger
Youthclubs 1Port Glasgow
Youthclubs 2Renfrew Juniors
Years 11960–1964
Clubs 1Aberdeen
Caps 1125
Goals 127
Years 21964–1966
Clubs 2Dundee
Caps 244
Goals 211
Years 31966–1972
Clubs 3Chelsea
Caps 3212
Goals 315
Years 41972–1974
Clubs 4Crystal Palace
Caps 444
Goals 40
Years 51974–1978
Clubs 5Chelsea
Caps 587
Goals 57
Years 61976–1978
Clubs 6Los Angeles Aztecs
Caps 648
Goals 66
Years 71978–1980
Clubs 7Memphis Rogues
Caps 754
Goals 73
Years 81979–1980
Clubs 8Memphis Rogues (indoor)
Caps 811
Goals 83
Years 91980–1981
Clubs 9Calgary Boomers (indoor)
Caps 918
Goals 94
Years 101981
Clubs 10California Surf
Caps 1029
Goals 103
Years 111981–1982
Clubs 11Cleveland Force (indoor)
Caps 1119
Goals 114
Years 121985
Clubs 12Dallas Sidekicks (indoor)
Caps 122
Goals 120
Totalcaps693
Totalgoals83
Nationalyears 11962–1965
Nationalteam 1Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps 14
Nationalgoals 13
Nationalyears 21962–1968
Nationalteam 2Scotland U23
Nationalcaps 25
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 31965–1975
Nationalteam 3Scotland
Nationalcaps 316
Nationalgoals 30
Manageryears 11979–1980
Managerclubs 1Memphis Rogues
Manageryears 21986–1988
Managerclubs 2Wichita Wings

Charles Cooke (born 14 October 1942) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a winger for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, before ending his career in the United States.

Club career

After playing at youth level for Port Glasgow and Renfrew Juniors,[3] Cooke began his professional career with Aberdeen in 1960, making his first team debut on 13 August in a 4–3 Scottish League Cup victory over Ayr United.[2] He moved to Dundee in December 1964, where he was voted player of the year. He signed for Chelsea in April 1966 for a then club record of £72,000 as part of manager Tommy Docherty's restructuring of the Chelsea side. He made his debut in May 1966 during a 2–0 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win over FC Barcelona. On his league debut the following season against West Ham United, Cooke waltzed past England's World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore en route to scoring the winner for Chelsea. Cooke took the place of Bert Murray on the right wing as several players were replaced owing to a growing rift between Docherty and his players. He proved a versatile player when the post World Cup tactics limited the use of wingers and he was often played in a deeper right midfield position behind Tommy Baldwin who had replaced George Graham in a direct swap between Chelsea and Arsenal. His debut season saw Chelsea reach the FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur (Cooke's cross had created Tony Hateley's winner for Chelsea in the semi-final against Leeds United). Cooke had a shot tipped over the bar by Pat Jennings early on, but Chelsea generally underperformed and lost 2–1.

In the early 1970s, Cooke was one of the star players in a flamboyant Chelsea side, alongside Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood, Alan Hudson and Ian Hutchinson. They reached another FA Cup final, against Leeds United, in 1970. The first game ended 2–2 and, with Chelsea trailing 1–0 in the replay at Old Trafford with the clock running down, Cooke's run and chipped pass set up Osgood's equaliser with a diving header; Chelsea eventually won 2–1 after extra time. The Cup Winners' Cup was added in 1971 with a replayed win over Real Madrid in Athens. Chelsea reached a third consecutive cup final in 1972, this time the League Cup, and though Cooke again created the equaliser for Osgood, Chelsea lost to Stoke City.

He was sold to Crystal Palace shortly afterwards for £85,000 and made 44 appearances for the South London side, but returned to Chelsea a year later. By that stage, the club were in decline and were relegated in 1974–75, though Cooke's experience proved invaluable in helping manager and ex-teammate Eddie McCreadie's young side earn promotion again in 1976–77. In his two spells at Chelsea, Cooke made 373 appearances, scoring 30 goals.

Cooke left Chelsea for the second and final time in July 1978 to play for numerous American teams, including the Memphis Rogues, Los Angeles Aztecs and California Surf in the now-defunct NASL.

International career

He was a Scotland international, winning 16 caps.[4] He made his debut in a 4–1 win over Wales in 1965 and played his final match in 1975 against Portugal.[4] He also won 5 caps for the under-23 side between 1962 and 1968.[5]

Post-playing career

In 1979, he replaced his old Chelsea teammate, Eddie McCreadie, as the head coach of the Memphis Rogues. After new ownership moved the team to Calgary, Cooke himself moved to the California Surf where he played one last outdoor season. After this however, he continued to play in the indoor leagues, making his last appearance in the 1985–86 season for the Dallas Sidekicks, after which he took charge of the Wichita Wings.[6]

He now runs a soccer school in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2006, his autobiography The Bonnie Prince, written with Martin Knight, was published.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[2][7][8][9][10][11]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupOther CupsEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen1960–61Scottish Division One32102050—3910
1961–62Scottish Division One2955052—397
1962–63Scottish Division One2783060—368
1963–64Scottish Division One2234040—303
1964–65Scottish Division One1510061—212
Total12527140263—16530
Dundee1964–65Scottish Division One187106000257
1965–66Scottish Division One2642060—344
Total441130120005911
Chelsea1965–66First Division0000002020
1966–67First Division3337030—433
1967–68First Division4135111—475
1968–69First Division260512031362
1969–70First Division3546031—445
1970–71First Division311303080451
1971–72First Division382317140524
1972–73First Division820000—82
Total2121529319317127722
Crystal Palace1972–73First Division2903140—361
1973–74Second Division1501010—170
Total4404150—531
Chelsea1973–74First Division1710000—171
1974–75First Division3951041—446
1975–76Second Division1713000—201
1976–77Second Division800000—80
1977–78First Division601000—70
Total8775041—968
Los Angeles Aztecs1976NASL122———122
1977NASL202———202
1978NASL162———162
Total486———486
Memphis Rogues1978NASL70———70
1979NASL222———222
1980NASL251———251
Total543———543
Memphis Rogues (indoor)1979–80NASL Indoor113———113
Calgary Boomers (indoor)1980–81NASL Indoor184———184
California Surf1981NASL293———293
Cleveland Force (indoor)1981–82MISL194———194
Dallas Sidekicks (indoor)1985–86MISL20———20
Career total6938355466717183195

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[4]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland196520
196620
196840
196950
197110
197520
Total160

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord
PWDLWin %
Memphis Rogues[12]19791980
Memphis Rogues (indoor)[12]19791980
Wichita Wings (indoor)[6]198630 January 1988
Total

Honours

Club

Chelsea

Individual

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust – Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  3. ^ "Played for Dundee and Aberdeen - Charlie Cooke". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. Dundee Football Club. 18 August 2017.
  4. ^
  5. ^ "Scotland U23 Player List". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  6. ^ Barzegar, Rob (1998). Wichita Wings 1998-99 Souvenir Yearbook. Typed Letters Corporation.
  7. ^ "Players Appearances Ci-Co"
  8. ^ "Charlie Cooke | Player Statistics | Dundee (Dee Archive)". deearchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  9. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Charlie Cooke". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  10. ^ "Charlie Cooke soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  11. ^ "Crystal Palace Player Database - Charlie Cooke". holmesdale.net. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Memphis Rogues 1980 Media Guide & Yearbook". sportsarchive.net. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  13. ^ Vernon, Leslie & Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 491. ISBN 0354-09018-6.
  14. ^ "Title Success and Europe (1960-1975)". Dundee Football Club Historical Trust. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Spain v Rest of the World, 27 September 1967". 11v11. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Annual awards". Chelsea F.C.. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Mid Cities Daily News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 2014-01-23.