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Harry Cooksley

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Harry Cooksley

| image =

| fullname = Harry Edward Cooksley

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Guildford, England

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Farnham Town

| clubnumber = 8

| youthyears1 = 2002–2011

| youthclubs1 = Reading

| youthyears2 = 2011–2012

| youthclubs2 = Queens Park Rangers

| collegeyears1 = 2014–2015

| college1 = Limestone Saints

| collegecaps1 = 37

| collegegoals1 = 17

| collegeyears2 = 2016–2017

| college2 = St. John's Red Storm

| collegecaps2 = 31

| collegegoals2 = 9

| years1 = 2012–2013

| clubs1 = Aldershot Town

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2013–2014

| clubs2 = AFC Wimbledon

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2018

| clubs3 = Mallorca B

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019

| clubs4 = Farnborough

| caps4 = 12

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2019

| clubs5 = → Badshot Lea (loan)

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2019–2020

| clubs6 = Pinzgau Saalfelden

| caps6 = 27

| goals6 = 10

| years7 = 2021–2022

| clubs7 = Farnborough

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2022

| clubs8 = → Hartley Wintney (loan)

| caps8 = 15

| goals8 = 3

| years9 = 2022–2023

| clubs9 = Hartley Wintney

| caps9 = 24

| goals9 = 8

| years10 = 2023–

| clubs10 = Farnham Town

| caps10 = 78

| goals10 = 18

| club-update = 20:04, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

Harry Edward Cooksley (born 15 November 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Farnham Town.

Cooksley previously played for Limestone College in NCAA Division II, St. John's University in NCAA Division 1 as well as senior football for Aldershot Town, AFC Wimbledon, Farnborough and Hartley Wintney.

In June 2025, he was a contestant on the twelfth series of the ITV2 reality dating show Love Island.

Career

Cooksley joined the Academy of Football League Championship side Reading at the age of eight and progressed through the youth system of The Royals up until his release at the age of sixteen, at which point he joined the Academy of Queens Park Rangers. Following his release from QPR in January 2012, he joined the Academy of Football League One side Brentford on trial, but was ultimately unsuccessful in his pursuit to earn a contract with The Bees. However, on 10 August 2012, he was able to sign his first professional contract with Football League Two side Aldershot Town on a one–year deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19208571|title=Aldershot Town sign young midfielder Harry Cooksley|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=10 August 2012}}

The 17–year–old midfielder made his league debut for Aldershot Town on 18 August 2012 in a 2–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle as an injury time substitute for Josh Payne, in what would prove to be his first and last appearance for the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221355|title=Plymouth Argyle 0–2 Aldershot Town|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=18 August 2012}} Aldershot Town struggled throughout the season and were eventually relegated to the Conference National after finishing 24th in the league. On 1 May 2013 it was revealed that the club had failed to pay players their wages for the previous month.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22368957|title=Aldershot Town: Relegated club fails to pay players for April|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=27 August 2013}} On 2 May 2013 Aldershot entered administration.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22383276|title=Aldershot Town: Relegated club goes into administration|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=27 August 2013}} On 16 May 2013, the administrators of Aldershot Town, Quantuma Restructuring, were forced to make 13 players redundant.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22552817|title=Aldershot Town: Administrators make 13 players redundant|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=27 August 2013}} Thus with the club in a state of financial turmoil and the possibility of a new contract rendered unfeasible, Cooksley left Aldershot Town.

The 18–year–old midfielder subsequently joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on trial, making his first appearance for the Development squad in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 13 August 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/development-rep-990375.aspx|title=Bamba goal downs Pompey|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|accessdate=13 August 2013}} On 19 September 2013 it was announced that Cooksley had signed a professional one–year contract with The Dons after impressing during his month on trial.{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8928631/transfer-news-harry-cooksley-agrees-one-year-deal-with-afc-wimbledon|title=Harry Cooksley agrees one-year deal with AFC Wimbledon|publisher=skysports.com|accessdate=18 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/harry-cooksley-1066128.aspx|title=Harry on joining the Dons|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|accessdate=24 September 2013}}

After four years playing college soccer in America, Cooksley signed for Segunda División B side Mallorca.{{cite web |url=http://ib3tv.com/cares-noves-al-mallorca.html |title=Cares noves al Mallorca |language=Spanish |trans-title=New faces in Mallorca |date=6 February 2018 |publisher=IB3 |access-date=21 February 2018 |archive-date=21 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161912/http://ib3tv.com/cares-noves-al-mallorca.html |url-status=dead }} Cooksley made three appearances for the club's B team in the Tercera División during his time with the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.lapreferente.com/J240389/rcd-mallorca-b/harry-edward.html|title=Harry Edward at La Preferente|website=lapreferente.com|accessdate=23 July 2019|language=Spanish}}

In January 2019, Cooksley joined Southern League Premier Division South club Farnborough and was subsequently sent out on a short-term loan deal to Combined Counties Premier Division side Badshot Lea.{{cite web|url=http://www.bordonherald.com/article.cfm?id=133953&headline=Persistence%20pays%20off%20as%20Lea%20score%20late%20double§ionIs=sport&searchyear=2019|title=Persistence pays off as Lea score late double|website=bordonherald.com|date=24 January 2019|accessdate=23 July 2019}} He returned to his parent club a month later and went on to make 12 appearances, scoring once.{{cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/farnborough/harry-cooksley#playingcareer|title=HARRY COOKSLEY at Aylesbury United|website=aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk|accessdate=23 July 2019}}

In July 2019, Cooksley joined Austrian Regionalliga club Pinzgau Saalfelden.{{cite tweet|user=FCPSen|number=1152575112043847680|title=More press in the Austrian papers for #FCPS. A few familiar faces in the photo too|date=20 July 2019|accessdate=23 July 2019}} In December 2020 was released by Austrian side Pinzgau.{{cite web|url=https://www.salzburg24.at/sport/sportwelt/fc-pinzgau-saalfelden-fuenf-abgaenge-97234675|title= Fünf Abgänge beim FC Pinzgau Saalfelden |website=Salzburg24.at|date= 19 December 2020 |accessdate=19 December 2020|language=german}}

On 6 June 2021, it was announced that Cooksley would return to Farnborough ahead of the 2021–22 campaign.{{Cite news |title=Cooksley returns to Farnborough |url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/128167/Cooksley-Returns-to-Farnborough/ |publisher=Southern Football League |first=Steve |last=Whitney |date=6 June 2021 |accessdate=8 October 2021}} Cooksley later joined league rivals, Hartley Wintney in January 2022 on loan.{{Cite news |title=Hartley Wintney FC on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/HartleyFC/status/1484896149186265096 |publisher=Hartley Wintney F.C. |date=22 January 2022 |accessdate=22 January 2022}} On 29 May 2022, it was announced that Cooksley would leave the club at the end of his contract in June.{{Cite news |title=Squad Update |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/farnboroughfootballclub/news/squad-update-2705372.html |publisher=Farnborough F.C. |first=Dom |last=Lloyd |date=29 May 2022 |accessdate=29 May 2022}}

On 11 June 2022, Cooksley agreed to return to Hartley Wintney following his release from Farnborough. Upon his arrival he was appointed club captain.{{Cite news |title=Harry Cooksley: Midfielder re-signs and appointed club captain |url=https://www.hartleyfc.com/hartley-wintney-fc-forum.php?controller=pjLoad&action=pjActionView&id=1152 |publisher=Hartley Wintney F.C. |date=11 June 2022 |accessdate=13 June 2022}}

On 27 May 2023, Cooksley made the switch to Combined Counties League Premier Division South side, Farnham Town ahead of the 2023–24 campaign.{{Cite news |title=Farnham Town FC on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/FarnhamTownFC/status/1662390737047003136 |publisher=Farnham Town F.C. |date=27 May 2023 |accessdate=29 May 2023}} Throughout that season, Harry was a mainstay in the Farnham Town side that broke the British football record for most consecutive wins to start a league campaign (25) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68552787], appearing in all 38 league games that season as the Town secured the league title and promotion to the Isthmian League South Central Division without defeat, scoring 14 goals along the way. Cooksley continued with Farnham Town for the 2024/25 season following their promotion, and enjoyed more success, appearing 40 times in the Isthmian League South Central Division en route to their clinching of back-to-back promotions. On 5 May 2025, Farnham Town confirmed that Harry Cooksley had agreed to terms to stay with the Club for the 2025/26 season, following their promotion into the Southern Football League Premier South Division and Step 3 of the Non-League Football pyramid. [https://www.ftfconline.com/2025/05/harry-cooksley-agrees-terms-with-farnham-town-for-2025-26/]

In June 2025, Cooksley was announced as a contestant on the twelfth series of the ITV2 reality dating show Love Island, entering the villa on Day 1.{{cite web |title=Love Island UK confirm official season 12 cast: Verdict on this year’s line-up and who should couple up |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g64811218/love-island-2025-contestants-rumoured/ |website=Cosmopolitan |access-date=8 June 2025 |date=6 June 2025}}

Career statistics

{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="1"|Aldershot Town

| 2012–13{{Soccerbase season|66530|2012|name=Harry Cooksley|accessdate=8 October 2021}}

|League Two

|1

000000010
rowspan="1"|AFC Wimbledon

| 2013–14{{Cite news |title=H. Cooksley |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/harry-cooksley/258271/ |publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=8 October 2021}}

|League Two

|0

000000000
rowspan="1"|Mallorca B

| 2017–18

|3ª – Group 11

|3

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
rowspan="1"|Farnborough

| 2018–19{{Cite news |title=Harry Cooksley Profile |url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/harry-cooksley |publisher=Aylesbury United F.C. |accessdate=8 October 2021}}

|Southern League Premier Division South

|12

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—121
rowspan="1"|Badshot Lea (loan)

| 2018–19{{Cite news |title=Harry Cooksley player stats |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort=&teamID=&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=1&personID=383756834&selectedSeasonID=333340746 |publisher=The FA |accessdate=24 April 2022}}

|Combined Counties League Premier Division

|4

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—41
rowspan="3"|Pinzgau Saalfelden

| 2019–20

|Austrian Regionalliga Salzburg

|17

8colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—178
2020–21

|Austrian Regionalliga Salzburg

|10

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—102
colspan=2|Total

!27||10||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||10

rowspan="1"|Farnborough

| 2021–22

|Southern League Premier Division South

|7

000colspan="2"|—3Appearances in the FA Trophy1101
rowspan="1"|Hartley Wintney (loan)

| 2021–22

|Southern League Premier Division South

|15

3colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—153
rowspan="1"|Hartley Wintney

| 2022–23

|Southern League Premier Division South

|24

830colspan="2"|—00278
rowspan="4"|Farnham Town

| 2023–24{{Cite news |title=Harry Edward Cooksley Player Stats |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort=&teamID=&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=3&personID=21950842&selectedSeasonID=34407278 |publisher=The FA |accessdate=25 August 2023}}

|Combined Counties League Premier Division South

|38

1430colspan="2"|—5Appearances in the FA Vase24616
2024–25{{Cite news |title=Farnham Town – Appearances – Harry Cooksley |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/farnham-town/appearances/harry-cooksley/959699 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=21 September 2024}}

|Isthmian League South Central Division

|40

420colspan="2"|—21445
2025–26

|Southern League Premier Division South

|0

000colspan="2"|—0000
colspan=2|Total

!78||18||5||0||colspan="2"|—||7||3||90||21

colspan=3|Career total

!171||41||8||0||0||0||10||4||189||45

{{notelist}}

Honours

Farnham Town

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Soccerbase}}

{{Big East Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooksley, Harry}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Guildford

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Reading F.C. players

Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players

Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players

Category:AFC Wimbledon players

Category:RCD Mallorca B players

Category:Farnborough F.C. players

Category:Badshot Lea F.C. players

Category:Hartley Wintney F.C. players

Category:Farnham Town F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Tercera División players

Category:Southern Football League players

Category:Combined Counties Football League players

Category:Austrian Regionalliga players

Category:Limestone Saints men's soccer players

Category:St. John's Red Storm men's soccer players

Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Spain

Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Austria

Category:21st-century English sportsmen