Steve Cook
{{Short description|English footballer (born 1991)}}
{{about|the English footballer|other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Steve Cook
| image = Steve Cook 15032025 (2).jpg
| caption = Cook in 2025.
| full_name = Steve Anthony Cook{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |accessdate=10 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|4|19|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/43187/steve-cook |title=Steven Cook: Overview |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=11 September 2020}}
| birth_place = Hastings, England
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/players/stevecook |title=Steve Cook |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |accessdate=12 July 2022}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Queens Park Rangers
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2008
| youthclubs1 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| years1 = 2008–2012
| clubs1 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009
| clubs2 = → Havant & Waterlooville (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2009–2010
| clubs3 = → Eastleigh (loan)
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2010
| clubs4 = → Eastbourne Borough (loan)
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2010–2011
| clubs5 = → Mansfield Town (loan)
| caps5 = 8
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2011
| clubs6 = → Bournemouth (loan)
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2012–2022
| clubs7 = Bournemouth
| caps7 = 356
| goals7 = 19
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = Nottingham Forest
| caps8 = 26
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2023–
| clubs9 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps9 = 67
| goals9 = 4
| club-update = 2 April 2025
| clubnumber = 5
}}
Steve Anthony Cook (born 19 April 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|QueensPR}} club Queens Park Rangers.
Club career
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
Born in Hastings, East Sussex, Cook made his first-team debut for Brighton & Hove Albion during the League Cup third round victory over Manchester City on 24 September 2008.[http://www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~46554,00.html Match Report (Brighton 2–2 Manchester City)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929035505/http://www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~46554,00.html |date=29 September 2008 }}, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 24 September 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009 He made his second substitute appearance for Brighton during a 2–1 FA Cup first round replay defeat against Hartlepool United on 18 November 2008.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~46736,00.html Hartlepool 2–1 Brighton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302032113/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~46736,00.html |date=2 March 2009 }}, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 18 November 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009
On 23 December 2008, Cook joined Conference South team Havant & Waterlooville on loan for six-weeks.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10433~1497929,00.html Team News for Boxing Day] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208230642/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10433~1497929,00.html |date=8 February 2009 }}, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 23 December 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009 When this loan expired, he once again found himself involved in the Brighton first team, making his third substitute appearance for the club during the Football League Trophy Southern Final penalty shoot-out defeat to Luton Town.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~46935,00.html Luton Town 1–1 Brighton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302032129/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0%2C%2C10433~46935%2C00.html |date=2 March 2009 }}, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 17 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009
Cook made his first league appearance for Brighton during a 4–0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 28 February 2009.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~44756,00.html Brighton 0–4 Crewe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306210735/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~44756,00.html |date=6 March 2009 }}, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009
He, along with fellow youth players Steve Brinkhurst and Josh Pelling, signed professional contracts with Brighton on 7 May 2009.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1651231,00.html Trio Sign Pro Deals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508222147/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1651231,00.html |date=8 May 2009 }}, Seagulls World, 7 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009
On 20 November 2009, Cook joined Conference South team Eastleigh on loan to gain first-team match experience. He was sent off on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Lewes in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy on 21 November 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk/eastleigh-lewes-211109|title= Eastleigh v Lewes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724171514/http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk/eastleigh-lewes-211109|archivedate=24 July 2011|publisher= Eastleigh F.C.|date= 21 November 2009| accessdate= 22 November 2009}}
On 16 September 2010, Cook once again went on loan, this time to Conference Premier side Eastbourne Borough where he spent a month.[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/8396315.Cook_an_added_ingredient_for_Borough/ Cook an added ingredient for Borough], The Argus, 16 September 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011 After making seven appearances and scoring once, Eastbourne were keen to extend the loan deal for the player,{{Cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/bluesquare/8445537.Borough_hope_to_keep_loan_pair_for_longer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002446/http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/bluesquare/8445537.Borough_hope_to_keep_loan_pair_for_longer/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 August 2018 |title=Borough hope to keep loan pair for longer}} The Argus, 12 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011 but were however unsuccessful as he later joined Conference Premier rivals Mansfield Town on a loan deal lasting until January 2011.[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/8459204.Cook_heads_for_Mansfield/ Cook heads for Mansfield], The Argus, 18 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011 Brighton manager Gus Poyet later revealed that he felt Cook would add another ingredient to his footballing education by spending time away from Sussex and that it would force him to "grow up".[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/8459788.Loan_move_will_force_Seagulls_youngster_to_grow_up/ Loan move will force Seagulls youngster to grow up], The Argus, 19 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011
Cook made his first appearance for Brighton in over two and a half years during the League Cup game against Liverpool in September 2011.
=AFC Bournemouth=
==Initial loan and League One==
On 27 October 2011, Cook joined League One side AFC Bournemouth on loan.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/9330126.Cook_ripe_for_Cherries/|title=Cook Ripe for Cherries|newspaper=The Argus|date=27 October 2011|accessdate=27 October 2011}} On 3 January 2012, Cook re-joined Bournemouth permanently for £150,000 signing a three-and-a-half-year deal, after making an initial 8 appearances during his loan spell.{{cite web | url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10324~2564774,00.html | title=Cherries sign Cook on permanent basis | publisher=AFC Bournemouth | access-date=3 January 2012 | date=3 January 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110104150/http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10324~2564774,00.html | archive-date=10 January 2012 | df=dmy-all }} Cook made a further 18 appearances for the Cherries in the 2011/12 season, as the club finished 11th in League One.
The following season began poorly for Cook and the Cherries, with the club winning just 1 of their first 11 games, languishing bottom of the league, and parting ways with manager Paul Groves on 3 October.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19816075|title=Paul Groves: AFC Bournemouth part with manager|date=3 October 2012|website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} Cook appeared in just 8 of the first 20 league games this season, before finally putting together a run of starts for the side, beginning with a 2–1 win against Scunthorpe United on 8 December.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20564898|title=Scunthorpe United 1–2 AFC Bournemouth|date=8 December 2012|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=13 August 2020}} Cook and Bournemouth then enjoyed a club-record setting run of 8 consecutive victories, culminating in a 3–1 home win against Carlisle United. Cook scored his first goal of the season in this game, which saw Bournemouth promoted to the Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22133176|title=BBC Sport at Dean Court|first=Mark|last=Mitchener|date=20 April 2013|website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 October 2020}} Cook finished the season having made 38 appearances for the club in total across all competitions.
==Championship & Promotion to the Premier League==
File:Steve Cook AFCB.jpg in 2015.]]
Cook made a decent start to his first season in the Championship with Bournemouth, starting the first 20 league games of the season and being a consistent presence for the club. He scored his first ever Championship goal in a 5–2 home win against Millwall on 5 October.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24349211|title=AFC Bournemouth 5–2 Millwall|date=5 October 2013 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} Cook scored his second goal of the season, and the only goal of the game, in a 0–1 away win against Barnsley on 22 March,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26588908|title=Barnsley 0–1 AFC Bournemouth|date=22 March 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} and he then scored again in a 2–2 draw away to Ipswich on 21 April.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27016111|title=Ipswich Town 2–2 AFC Bournemouth|date=21 April 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} Cook finished his first season-proper of Championship football having made 40 appearances for the club in all competitions, as Bournemouth recorded their highest ever league finish of 10th.
The 2014–15 season started well for Cook, playing in and keeping a clean sheet in the 0–4 opening day win away at Huddersfield Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28646430|title=Huddersfield Town 0–4 AFC Bournemouth|date=9 August 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} Cook went on to score in the games against Blackburn and Rotherham on 23 August{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28815068|title=Blackburn Rovers 3–2 AFC Bournemouth|date=23 August 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} and 13 September{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29090005|title=Rotherham United 1–1 AFC Bournemouth|date=13 September 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} respectively. Bournemouth went on an impressive run of 14 games unbeaten, a period in which Cook played every single minute, beginning with a 1–2 away win at Bolton on 4 October{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29388427|title=Bolton Wanderers 1–2 AFC Bournemouth|date=4 October 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 August 2020}} and ending with a 1–2 home defeat to Norwich City on 10 January.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30663408|title=AFC Bournemouth 1–2 Norwich City|date=10 January 2015 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} Within this period Cook played in the Cherries 0–8 away win against Birmingham City; which is Bournemouth's highest league win in recorded history.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29669693|title=Birmingham City 0–8 AFC Bournemouth|date=25 October 2014 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}}
The Cherries would then go on another undefeated streak, which would last until the end of the season, starting with a 0–0 home draw against Blackburn.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31562370|title=AFC Bournemouth 0–0 Blackburn Rovers|date=28 February 2015 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} Cook scored his fourth goal of the season, a screamer against Fulham in a 1–5 away win that lifted the Cherries into first on goal difference, on 6 March.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31654572|title=Fulham 1–5 AFC Bournemouth|date=6 March 2015 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} Cook started in and played the full 90 minutes in the pivotal home game against Bolton on 27 April. With the Cherries far superior goal difference to third placed Middlesbrough FC, a win in the penultimate game would all but confirm the club's promotion to the Premier League; Bournemouth went on to seal an impressive 3–0 win to do just that.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32377069|title=AFC Bournemouth 3–0 Bolton Wanderers|date=27 April 2015 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} Cook repeated the trick with the Cherries by playing the full 90 minutes once more in the final game of the season against Charlton, a 0–3 away win that secured not just the promotion, but the Championship title as well, with Watford failing to beat Sheffield Wednesday in their final game.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32459759|title=Charlton Athletic 0–3 AFC Bournemouth|date=2 May 2015 |website=BBC Sport |accessdate=17 August 2020}} Cook was ever-present in the 2014–15 season, playing in all 46 games and scoring 4 goals as Bournemouth won the Championship and were promoted to the Premier League.
==Premier League years==
On 4 December 2016, he scored to equalise and then created the winning goal as Bournemouth completed one of the comebacks of the season to beat Liverpool for the first time in their history 4–3 in a sensational Premier League game.{{Cite news|title=Bournemouth 4–3 Liverpool|language=en-GB|last=Begley|first=Emlyn|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 December 2016|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38121184|access-date=2021-08-26}} He made his 300th appearance for the Cherries in February 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/300-not-out-the-rise-and-rise-of-steve-cook/|title=300 not out: The rise and rise of Steve Cook|last=Perrett|first=Neil|date=5 February 2019|publisher=AFC Bournemouth|accessdate=19 January 2020}}
=Nottingham Forest=
On 4 January 2022, Cook moved to Championship side Nottingham Forest on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/january/04/cook-joins-the-reds/|title = Cook joins the Reds}}
In May 2022, Cook won promotion with Nottingham Forest to the Premier League via the playoffs, beating Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the final as Cook played the full 90 minutes. In the playoff 2nd leg Cook scored a penalty in the shootout against Sheffield United to put Forest 3-1 on penalties at the time.
Cook went on to make 14 appearances in all competitions during the 2022-23 season, playing his part to help forest secure Premier League survival.
=Queens Park Rangers=
On 9 August 2023, Cook signed for Championship club Queens Park Rangers on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66457410|title = Steve Cook: QPR sign Nottingham Forest defender for undisclosed fee}} Cook was voted the club's Player of the Year in his first season at the club, his defensive performance being a key factor in the club's upturn in form following the appointment of Martí Cifuentes. {{cite web|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2024/april/26/qpr-2324-awards/|title=Cook named QPR fans' player of season|website=www.qpr.co.uk|date=26 April 2024|accessdate=26 April 2024}}
Personal life
On 23 June 2022, Cook was announced to have taken majority ownership of eleventh tier side Westfield, based just north of Cook's birthplace of Hastings.{{cite tweet|number=1539677382960943104|title=The club are delighted to announce that @SteveCook28 has taken majority ownership of the club, this is a massive step in the ambitions of the club #Westies #NFFC|user=FC1Westfield|author-link=Westfield F.C. (Sussex)|date=23 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61906955|title=Steve Cook: Nottingham Forest defender buys Sussex non-league side Westfield|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 June 2022|accessdate=23 June 2022}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 1 April 2024}}
| 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=3|Brighton & Hove Albion
|2008–09{{soccerbase season|49993|2008|accessdate=18 September 2017}} |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1Appearance in Football League Trophy | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011–12{{soccerbase season|49993|2011|accessdate=18 September 2017}}
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!3||0||1||0||2||0||1||0||7||0 | ||||||||||
| Havant & Waterlooville (loan)
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3Appearances in FA Trophy | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Eastleigh (loan)
| title = Games played by Steve Cook in 2009/2010 for Eastleigh | url = http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/steve-cook/6044/ | publisher = Aylesbury United F.C. | accessdate = 14 May 2014}} |Conference South |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Eastbourne Borough (loan)
|2010–11{{soccerbase season|49993|2010|accessdate=18 September 2017}} |7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Mansfield Town (loan)
|2010–11{{Cite web | title = Games played by Steve Cook in 2010/2011 for Mansfield Town | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/steve-cook/139545/ | website = Soccerway | accessdate = 14 May 2014}} |Conference Premier |8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| AFC Bournemouth (loan)
|League One |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=12|AFC Bournemouth
|League One |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2012–13{{soccerbase season|49993|2012|accessdate=18 September 2017}}
|League One |33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2013–14{{soccerbase season|49993|2013|accessdate=18 September 2017}}
|Championship |38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 40 | 3 | ||
| 2014–15{{soccerbase season|49993|2014|accessdate=18 September 2017}}
|Championship |46 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 49 | 5 | ||
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|49993|2015|accessdate=26 November 2017}}
|36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 38 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|49993|2016|accessdate=18 September 2017}}
|Premier League |38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|49993|2017|accessdate=14 May 2018}}
|Premier League |34 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 40 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|49993|2018|accessdate=23 September 2018}}
|Premier League |31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|49993|2019|accessdate=28 May 2020}}
|Premier League |29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|49993|2020|accessdate=2 October 2020}}
|Championship |42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1Appearances in the Championship play-offs | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|49993|2021|accessdate=11 October 2020}}
|Championship |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!356||19||17||1||12||1||3||0||388||21 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="3"|Nottingham Forest
|Championship |14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|49993|2022|accessdate=18 January 2023}}
|Premier League |12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 14 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!26||0||4||0||1||0||3||0||34||0 | ||||||||||
| Queens Park Rangers
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|49993|2023|accessdate=2 April 2024}} |Championship |30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 2 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!445||22||24||1||15||1||13||0||497||24 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
AFC Bournemouth
- Football League Championship: 2014–15{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016 |year=2015 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-2416-3 |pages=68–69}}
Nottingham Forest
- EFL Championship play-offs: 2022{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61539298|title=Forest return to Premier League after 23-year wait|access-date=30 May 2022|date=29 May 2022|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
Individual
- Queens Park Rangers Player of the Year: 2023–24
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/players/stevecook Profile] at the Nottingham Forest F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Queens Park Rangers F.C. squad}}
{{Queens Park Rangers F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Steve}}
Category:Footballers from Hastings
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players
Category:Eastleigh F.C. players
Category:Eastbourne Borough F.C. players
Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players
Category:AFC Bournemouth players
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players