| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Terence Cochrane[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1953-01-23)23 January 1953 (age 72)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Killyleagh,[1] Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger[1] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1971 | Derry City | ||
| 1971–1973 | Linfield | ||
| 1973–1976 | Coleraine | 129 | (41) |
| 1976–1978 | Burnley | 67 | (13) |
| 1978–1983 | Middlesbrough | 111 | (7) |
| 1983 | →Eastern (loan) | 12 | (8) |
| 1983–1986 | Gillingham | 107 | (17) |
| 1986 | Dallas Sidekicks | 0 | (0) |
| 1986 | Coleraine | ||
| 1986–1987 | Millwall | 1 | (0) |
| 1987 | Hartlepool United | 2 | (0) |
| 1987–1990 | Billingham Synthonia | 21 | (4) |
| Marske United | |||
| Billingham Town | |||
| 1992–1993 | South Bank | ||
| 1993–1994 | Ferryhill Athletic | ||
| International career | |||
| 1975–1984 | Northern Ireland | 26 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008 | Glenavon | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:04, 16 November 2009 (UTC) | |||
George Terence Cochrane (born 23 January 1953) is a Northern Irish formerfootballer who played in midfield as awinger.
Cochrane started out as a youngster withDerry City and had been rejected after a months trial withEverton, then managed byBilly Bingham, for "not having the right build" to play in midfield. Cochrane returned to theIrish League to play forLinfield, and thenColeraine, thinking his dream of playing English football was over. At Coleraine, under the tutelage of formerNorthern Ireland boss,Bertie Peacock, Cochrane developed into a fine winger and was capped by his country for the first time in October 1975 againstNorway.
In October 1976 Cochrane moved toBurnley, then playing inDivision Two. With Burnley he became a much sought-after player - his scintillating displays aiding Burnley in their survival from relegation.Middlesbrough later paid a club record fee of £233,333 for him in October 1978. This was also a record fee for a Northern Ireland player and his debut came in a 2–0 home win overNorwich City on 14 October. After five years atAyresome Park and a brief spell playing inHong Kong withEastern, Cochrane moved toGillingham in October 1983. He was named as the Kent side's Player of the Season for 1984–85.[3]
Never really established in the international team, indeed 13 of his 26 caps came as a sub, he is remembered for his goal againstEngland during the1980 British Home Championship. The goal came nine minutes after he had come on as a sub, and just sixty seconds after the English had scored, to earn Northern Ireland a crucial 1–1 draw as they went on to win the Championships for the first time in 66 years.
A hamstring injury picked up in a warm-up match againstFrance ruled Cochrane out of the1982 World Cup squad after playing in all but two of the qualifiers. He was capped just twice more after that World Cup series, acting asMartin O'Neill's deputy in a British Championship game againstScotland in December 1983, as Northern Ireland won the trophy;[4] and as substitute forGerry Armstrong in aWorld Cup qualifier againstFinland in May 1984.[5] He failed to make the1986 World Cup squad before short spells withMillwall (November 1986) andHartlepool United (January 1987). Later Cochrane moved into non-league football withBillingham Synthonia, coached the Saudi Arabian Military team, and had a spell as player-manager of the ill-fatedSouth Bank.
Cochrane lived in theMiddlesbrough area for a number of years, working as a media pundit and youth coach.
In January 2008 he was appointed manager atGlenavon who play in theIrish Premier League,[6] though he left the club by mutual consent the following June.[7]
In August 2009 he took over as coach of Hartlepool Ladies Football Club.
In 2014 Cochrane released an autobiography,See You At The Far Post.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
