Robbie Cooke

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Robbie Cooke

| image =

| fullname = Robert Leslie Cooke{{Hugman|4017|accessdate=19 October 2015}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1957|2|16}}

| birth_place = Rotherham, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|08|07|1957|2|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Peterborough, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}{{Cite book |last=Rollin |first=Jack |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1981–82 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |year=1981 |isbn=0-362-02046-9 |location=London |pages=272 |oclc=868301130}}

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1975

| youthclubs1 = Mansfield Town

| years1 = 1975–1978

| clubs1 = Mansfield Town

| caps1 = 15

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1978–1980

| clubs2 = Grantham

| caps2 = 78

| goals2 = 65

| years3 = 1980–1983

| clubs3 = Peterborough United

| caps3 = 114

| goals3 = 51

| years4 = 1983

| clubs4 = → Luton Town (loan)

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1983–1985

| clubs5 = Cambridge United

| caps5 = 65

| goals5 = 14

| years6 = 1984–1985

| clubs6 = → Brentford (loan)

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 1985–1987

| clubs7 = Brentford

| caps7 = 124

| goals7 = 53

| years8 = 1987–1988

| clubs8 = Millwall

| caps8 = 4

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 1988–1991

| clubs9 = Kettering Town

| caps9 = 95

| goals9 = 49

| years10 = 1991

| clubs10 = Grantham Town

| caps10 = 10

| goals10 = 5

| years11 = 1991–1992

| clubs11 = Northampton Spencer

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 1992–1993

| clubs12 = Bourne Town

| caps12 = 35

| goals12 = 24

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = England C

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 = Warboys Town

| totalcaps = 540

| totalgoals = 263

}}

Robert Leslie Cooke (16 February 1957 – 7 August 2021) was an English footballer and manager who played as a forward in the Football League, most notably for Peterborough United and Brentford. He represented England C at international level while playing non-League football. After retiring from football, Cooke managed Warboys Town and later became a scout.

Club career

= Mansfield Town =

Cooke began his career in the youth system at Mansfield Town and made 9 appearances and scoring one goal in his debut season, in which the Stags won the 1976–77 Third Division championship.{{Cite book |last1=Croxford |first1=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1906796716 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |pages=351–352}} He made only six appearances in Second Division during the 1977–78 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign, having made just 15 first team appearances for the club.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2014 |title=Cooke, Robbie (1957 – ) |work=Grantham Matters |url=http://www.granthammatters.co.uk/cooke-robbie-1957/ |access-date=5 August 2014}}

= Grantham =

Cooke joined Southern League First Division North club Grantham during the 1978 off-season and scored 43 goals to propel the club to the 1978–79 division championship. Cooke's performances saw him awarded the Supporters' Player of the Year award. Grantham moved to the Northern Premier League for the 1979–80 season and Cooke was on fire again, scoring 39 goals. He departed the Gingerbreads at the end of the campaign.

= Peterborough United =

Cooke's goalscoring exploits for Grantham caught the eye of Fourth Division club Peterborough United, which culminated in him moving to the club for a £12,000 fee in May 1980. He was an immediate hit at Posh, scoring 29 goals in 56 games during the 1980–81 season and being named in the Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year.{{Cite web |title=Robbie Cooke's Career |url=http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/career/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=5 August 2014 |publisher=UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060256/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/career/ }} Cooke bettered his goalscoring tally in the 1981–82 season, with 31 goals in 55 games. Cooke's prolific form tailed off during the 1982–83 season and following a loan spell at First Division club Luton Town, he managed only 11 goals in 33 appearances before departing in February 1983. Cooke scored 71 goals in 144 appearances for the Posh.

= Cambridge United =

Cooke signed for Second Division club Cambridge United in February 1983 for a £12,000 fee.{{Cite web |title=1982/83 Transfers |url=http://www.uptheposh.com/seasons/95/transfers/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=5 August 2014 |publisher=UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060252/http://www.uptheposh.com/seasons/95/transfers/ }} He failed to find his prolific goalscoring form for the struggling club, which suffered relegation to the Third Division at the end of the 1983–84 season.{{Cite web |title=Cambridge United Complete History |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/cambridge-united/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401003854/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/cambridge-united/history |archive-date=1 April 2016 |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=Statto.com}} Cooke managed 14 goals in 65 league appearances and with relegation to the Fourth Division looming, he departed the club midway through the 1984–85 season.

= Brentford =

Cooke joined Third Division club Brentford on a two-month loan in December 1984 and he later signed permanently for fee ranging between £20,000 and £25,000.{{Sfn|White|1989|p=325}}{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Pat |title=Robbie Cooke: 1957–2021 |url=https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2021/august/robbie-cooke-obituary-cambridge-united-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league-monday-9th-august-2021/ |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=www.cambridge-united.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He quickly found form, scoring 16 goals in 31 games and scoring what proved to be a consolation in the 3–1 1985 Football League Trophy Final defeat to Wigan Athletic. Cooke finished the 1984–85 season as both Brentford and Cambridge United's top scorer, which was only the third time in history the feat had been managed. Three years of mid-table mediocrity followed and Cooke departed Brentford in December 1987, having scored 64 goals in 150 games for the Bees.{{Cite book |last1=Haynes |first1=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |page=40}}

= Millwall =

Cooke joined Second Division high-flyers Millwall on 11 December 1987 for a £30,000 fee and scored one goal in five appearances during the remainder of the 1987–88 season.{{Cite web |title=Millwall Players A to D |url=http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-A2Z-AtoD.htm |access-date=19 October 2015 |website=millwall-history.org.uk}} He was unable to break up the forward pairing of Tony Cascarino and Teddy Sheringham and departed the Lions in September 1988.

= Non-League football =

Cooke dropped back into non-League football to join Conference club Kettering Town in September 1988. He had a prolific spell with the Poppies, scoring 49 goals in 95 appearances across three seasons in which the club consistently challenged for promotion to the Football League.{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Paul |title=A personal tribute to Peterborough United great Robbie Cooke from a PT Posh writer who knew him well: 'A proper poacher and a wise and intelligent man' |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/a-personal-tribute-to-peterborough-united-great-robbie-cooke-from-a-pt-posh-writer-who-knew-him-well-a-proper-poacher-and-a-wise-and-intelligent-man-3342602 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk |language=en}} Cooke ended his career with spells at Northampton Spencer, Bourne Town and a second stint at Grantham Town.

International career

Cooke's form while at Kettering Town won him England C recognition.{{Cite book |last=Haynes |first=Graham |title=A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia |date=1998 |publisher=Yore Publications |isbn=1-874427-57-7 |page=35}}

Managerial and coaching career

Cooke had a spell as player-coach at Southern League Midland Division club Grantham Town during the 1991–92 season. After his retirement from football, Cooke became manager at Eastern Counties League First Division club Warboys Town. In December 1998, Cooke returned to Kettering Town to become assistant manager and first team coach.{{Cite news |last=Metcalf |first=Rupert |date=11 December 1998 |title=Football: Non-League Notebook – Morris's minor miracle – Sport |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-nonleague-notebook--morriss-minor-miracle-1190693.html |access-date=5 August 2014}}

Scouting career

Cooke was invited to become a part-time scout for Preston North End by former Cambridge United teammate and then-Preston manager David Moyes.{{Cite web |title=Cooke Adds New Ingredient To Scouting Network |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/cooke-adds-new-ingredient-to-scouting-network |access-date=27 April 2019 |website=Burnley Football Club |language=en-gb}} Cooke subsequently followed Moyes to Premier League club Everton in 2002 and Manchester United in 2013, serving as chief scout at both clubs.{{Cite news |date=19 December 2002 |title=Football: Everton job was too good for Cooke to turn down |work=Peterborough Telegraph |url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football-everton-job-was-too-good-for-cooke-to-turn-down-1-108945 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054121/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football-everton-job-was-too-good-for-cooke-to-turn-down-1-108945 }}{{Cite news |last=Herbert |first=Ian |date=27 February 2014 |title=Comment: David Moyes must be bold to rebuild Manchester United, with club ready to spend £200m in transfer market – News & Comment – Football |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/comment-david-moyes-must-be-bold-to-rebuild-manchester-united-with-club-ready-to-spend-200m-in-transfer-market-9155915.html |access-date=5 August 2014}} After Moyes was sacked by Manchester United in April 2014,{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Simon |date=22 April 2014 |title=David Moyes: Manchester United manager sacked by club |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27107795 |access-date=5 August 2014}} Cooke was not retained by incoming manager Louis van Gaal.{{Cite web |title=Van Gaal's US$200m war chest |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/van-gaals-us200m-war-chest/ |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=The Herald |language=en-GB}} In November 2014, Cooke was appointed to the role of UK and International Scout at Burnley. By June 2017, he had left the club.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Michael |date=15 June 2017 |title=Norwich City's continental path can bear fruit – so says their former captain Ian Butterworth, who is doing likewise for Premier League Burnley |url=https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-city-s-continental-path-can-bear-fruit-so-says-their-former-captain-ian-butterworth-who-is-doing-likewise-for-premier-league-burnley-1-5062081 |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=Pink Un – Norwich City Football Club News |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615064248/https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-city-s-continental-path-can-bear-fruit-so-says-their-former-captain-ian-butterworth-who-is-doing-likewise-for-premier-league-burnley-1-5062081 |url-status=dead }} Cooke reunited with David Moyes at Premier League club West Ham United in 2020 and held the role of chief scout until his death in August 2021.{{Cite web |title=Robbie Cooke |url=https://www.kumb.com/story.php?id=135901 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=Knees up Mother Brown – West Ham United FC Online: News}}

Personal life

Cooke's nephew Russell was also a footballer and played for Hucknall Town, Eastwood Town and Ilkeston Town.{{Cite news |date=13 August 2004 |title=New era for non-league football |work=Hucknall Dispatch |url=http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/new-era-for-non-league-football-1-679069 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203125827/http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/new-era-for-non-league-football-1-679069 }} Cooke worked for Thomas Cook and later for Travelex in the 1990s and at the time of his death from cancer at Thorpe Hall in August 2021, he was living in Sawtry.{{Cite web |title=RIP Robbie Cooke, one of the greatest Peterborough United forwards |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/rip-robbie-cooke-one-of-the-greatest-peterborough-united-forwards-3338115 |access-date=7 August 2021 |website=www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk |language=en}}

Career statistics

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" \|FA Cup ! colspan="2" \|League Cup ! colspan="2" \|Other ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="4" \|Peterborough United \|1980–81{{Cite web \|title=Robbie Cooke's Matches For Peterborough \|url=http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/for/ \|url-status=usurped \|access-date=21 December 2016 \|website=UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database \|archive-date=22 December 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222085313/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/for/ }} \|Fourth Division \|46 \|22 \|6 \|4 \|4 \|3 \| colspan="2" \|— \|56 \|29
1981–82 \|Fourth Division \|46 \|24 \|3 \|3 \|2 \|1 \|4Appearances in Football League Group Cup \|3 \|55 \|31
1982–83 \|Fourth Division \|22 \|5 \|4 \|2 \|3 \|3 \|43 appearances and 1 goal in Football League Trophy, 1 appearance in Northamptonshire Cup \|1 \|33 \|11
colspan="2" \|Total !114 !51 !13 !9 !9 !7 !8 !4 !144 !71
rowspan="5" \|Brentford \|1984–85{{Cite book \|title=100 Years Of Brentford \|publisher=Brentford FC \|year=1989 \|isbn=0951526200 \|editor-last=White \|editor-first=Eric \|pages=398–399}} \|Third Division \|24 \|12 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|7Appearances in Football League Trophy \|4 \|31 \|16
1985–86 \|Third Division \|44 \|17 \|1 \|0 \|4 \|1 \|2 \|0 \|51 \|18
1986–87 \|Third Division \|40 \|20 \|3 \|0 \|2 \|1 \|3 \|4 \|48 \|25
1987–88 \|Third Division \|16 \|4 \|1 \|0 \|2 \|1 \|1 \|0 \|20 \|5
colspan="2" \|Total !124 !53 !5 !0 !8 !3 !13 !8 !150 !64
Millwall \|1987–88{{Cite web \|title=Millwall Stats 1987–88 \|url=http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Stats87-88.htm \|access-date=7 January 2017 \|website=www.millwall-history.org.uk}} \|Second Division \|4 \|1 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|1Appearance in Full Members Cup \|0 \|5 \|1
colspan="3" \|Career total !242 !105 !18 !9 !17 !10 !22 !12 !299 !136

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" |FA Cup

! colspan="2" |League Cup

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="4" |Peterborough United

|1980–81{{Cite web |title=Robbie Cooke's Matches For Peterborough |url=http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/for/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database |archive-date=22 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222085313/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/3097/for/ }}

|Fourth Division

|46

|22

| colspan="2" |—

|56

|29

1981–82

|Fourth Division

|46

|24

|4Appearances in Football League Group Cup

|55

|31

1982–83

|Fourth Division

|22

|43 appearances and 1 goal in Football League Trophy, 1 appearance in Northamptonshire Cup

|33

|11

colspan="2" |Total

!114

!51

!13

!144

!71

rowspan="5" |Brentford

|1984–85{{Cite book |title=100 Years Of Brentford |publisher=Brentford FC |year=1989 |isbn=0951526200 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Eric |pages=398–399}}

|Third Division

|24

|12

| colspan="2" |—

|7Appearances in Football League Trophy

|31

|16

1985–86

|Third Division

|44

|17

|51

|18

1986–87

|Third Division

|40

|20

|48

|25

1987–88

|Third Division

|16

|20

colspan="2" |Total

!124

!53

!13

!150

!64

Millwall

|1987–88{{Cite web |title=Millwall Stats 1987–88 |url=http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Stats87-88.htm |access-date=7 January 2017 |website=www.millwall-history.org.uk}}

|Second Division

| colspan="2" |—

|1Appearance in Full Members Cup

colspan="3" |Career total

!242

!105

!18

!17

!10

!22

!12

!299

!136

Honours

Grantham

Southern League First Division North: 1978–79

Northampton Spencer

United Counties League Premier Division: 1991–92

Individual

Grantham Supporters' Player of the Year: 1978–79
Football League Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year: 1980–81{{Cite book |last=Lynch |first=Tony |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |publisher=Random House |year=1995 |isbn=0-09-179135-9 |page=143}}