| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Lee Cooke[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-02-15)15 February 1983 (age 42) | ||
| Place of birth | Walsall, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FA National School of Excellence | |||
| Manchester United | |||
| Walsall[2] | |||
| ?–2000 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2005 | Aston Villa | 4 | (0) |
| 2002 | →AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2004 | →AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | →Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | AFC Bournemouth | 40 | (3) |
| 2007 | →Torquay United (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2007 | Halesowen Town | 4 | (0) |
| 2009 | Weymouth | 4 | (0) |
| 2009 | Halesowen Town | 5 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Bloxwich United | ||
| 2010–???? | Pelsall Villa | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 88 | (4) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002 | England U20 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Stephen Lee Cooke (born 15 February 1983) is a retired professional footballer. Once considered a bright prospect for the future ofEnglish football, Cooke's career was seriously affected by a number of injuries.[3]
Cooke was born inWalsall and began his career as a trainee at theFA National School of Excellence inLilleshall between 1997 and 1999.[4] He then signed as a trainee atManchester United. He then moved toAston Villa. Cooke turned professional in July 2000. He made his first team debut on 2 August 2000, coming on as a second-half substitute forJulian Joachim in Villa's 2–1 defeat at home toCelta Vigo in theUEFA Intertoto Cup semi-final second-leg.[5] Cooke was regularly training with the first team under managerJohn Gregory.[4] During this time, he did various chores aroundBodymoor Heath, including cleaning the boots ofDion Dublin.[4]
According to Cooke's later recollections, the next Aston Villa manager,Graham Taylor, 'wasn't convinced' initially that the youngster was ready for the first team.[4] Cooke moved toAFC Bournemouth on loan in March 2002,[6] making hisFootball League debut in Bournemouth's 5–1 win at home toNorthampton Town on 9 March. He returned to Villa before the end of the season.
On 1 January 2003, he made hisPremier League debut for Aston Villa, coming as a late substitute forUlises De la Cruz in Villa's 2–0 home win overBolton Wanderers. He made two further appearances that season for Aston Villa, as a late substitute forDion Dublin in the 1–0 defeat at home to Manchester United in March and as a second-half substitute forStefan Moore in the 3–1 defeat away toLeeds United on the final day of the season.
Cooke later claimed that manager Graham Taylor saw him as a wide player, rather than his preferred central midfield position. During one team meeting in the 2002–03 season, Taylor singled out Cooke in a team meeting by saying 'how long am I going to have to wait for you to start doing what you need to do?' Taylor wanted Cooke to 'play wide but run the game', leaving Cooke confused about his role in the team.[4] Taylor rewarded Cooke at the end of the season by offering him a new contract.[4] Days later, Taylor left the club and was replaced byDavid O'Leary who did not select Cooke.
Cooke rejoined Bournemouth again on loan in January 2004. He signed on loan forWycombe Wanderers in December of the same year.[7] He severely injured his ankle while on loan which did not heal.[4] Ankle cartilage problems continued to blight his career. Cooke later claimed that he considered retiring at this point in his career.[4] Cooke's Aston Villa career came to an end when he was released at the end of the 2004–05 season.
In July 2005, Cooke re-signed for Bournemouth, this time on a permanent basis, opting against a move to his hometown club ofWalsall.[8] Cooke was still injured when he signed and was unsure if his fitness would ever return.[4]
On 16 January 2007, Cooke joinedTorquay United on loan until the end of the season.[9] He made the good start to his Torquay United career scoring on his debut, but the club lost 5–2 away toNotts County on 19 January.[10] He returned to Bournemouth and was released at the end of the season.
On 3 August 2007,Halesowen Town confirmed that Cooke had joined the club along with two other former League players, in the shape ofTerry Fleming andDuane Darby.[11]
In September 2007 he undertook a trial withGrimsby Town and later trialled withWrexham. Cooke later claimed he had offers to play in the United States.[4]
Both trials came to nothing and he resigned for Halesowen Town.
In April 2009, he signed forWeymouth until the end of the season, but only made four appearances. Cooke later claimed he was 'never keen on that level of football'.[4]
For 2009–10, Cooke returned to Halesowen Town where he joined up with former Aston Villa teammateStefan Moore. However, the second spell was also unsuccessful for Cooke who was released on 17 September 2009 after the club entered administration.[12]
Cooke signed forBloxwich United in September 2009, following his release from Halesowen.[2]
Cooke's stay at Bloxwich United was not a long one, and he soon left to joinPelsall Villa.[3] He played three games in the 2009–10 season, providing one assist.[13]
Cooke has served as a coach atChasetown FC.[4]
