Sam Cookson (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
Sam Cookson was an English
footballer who played in the right full back position.
in 1896. He began his footballing career playing for Stalybridge Celtic
. During weekdays Cookson was a miner and worked down a pit. At the weekends he played football 'purely for enjoyment'. The mine work endowed Cookson with a powerful physique 'which sometimes proved deceptive to opposition forwards'. He subsequently played for Macclesfield Town
before joining Manchester City
.
whom he would play for until 1927, making 285 appearances for the team in the League and 306 appearances overall. His only goal for the Manchester
team came in a 3-3 draw with Corinthian in the 1925-1926 FA Cup. Cookson is often described as one of the best uncapped full backs of his generation. He formed a long-lasting defensive partnership with Eli Fletcher
at City . His first team debut occurred in a 1-0 win over Bradford City
in December 1919. Tommy Browell
scored City's only goal in that game. That season City finished seventh in the first division with 45 points.
In the 1920-1921 football season, Cookson made 42 appearances for Manchester City who came second in the league, 5 points behind champions Burnley
, which was City's highest position in the league since the 1903-1904 football season when City had a team which included Billie Gillespie
, Frank Booth
and Billy Meredith
. Interestingly, the following season, the 1921-1922 football season, Billy Meredith
returned to Manchester City and played alongside Cookson on the right side of the City team. Cookson made 39 league appearances for Manchester City that season and City finished tenth in the league with 45 points.
In the 1922-1923 football season the City team was further enhanced by the acquisition of Frank Roberts from Bolton Wanderers
. He joined a City attack which also included Horace Barnes
and Tommy Johnson. The team finished eighth in the league, again with 45 points. In the 1923-1924 football season Manchester City moved to a new ground, Maine Road
, and Horace Barnes
scored the first goal at the new stadium in a 2-1 victory against Sheffield United
on the opening day of the season. The team ultimately finished eleventh in the league on 42 points. Cookson played in all of City's 8 games in the FA Cup that season. The team were ultimately defeated in the semi final by Newcastle United
by two goals to nil.
In the following season City's defence was enhanced by the acquisition of Sam Cowan
from Doncaster Rovers
. Cookson made 37 appearances for City that season and the team finished in tenth place with 43 points. In the 1925-1926 football season, Cookson was part of the Manchester City team which were relegated to the second division. Cookson would never appear in the first division again. Cookson also played for City in the FA Cup Final
that season against Bolton Wanderers
, but finished on the losing side. England international David Jack
scored the only goal of the game. In the 1926-1927 football season, City finished third in the second division, 8 points behind winners Middlesbrough
. His final appearance for the Manchester club came in the 1927-1928 football season in which the team won promotion to the first division.
, whom City purchased Eric Brook
and Fred Tilson
from. Despite a long and distinguished career, the only honour that Cookson won was gained at the age of 39, a Third Division North
title with Barnsley. His brother Jimmy
also played for Manchester City, where he did not make the first team, and later played for Chesterfield
and West Bromwich Albion
.
after famous City players including Cookson, Frank Swift
, Fred Tilson
, Sam Cowan
, Horace Barnes
, Max Woosnam, Tommy Browell
, Jimmy McMullan
, Eric Brook
, Billy Meredith
and Tommy Johnson. He is listed as the forty-ninth greatest ever City player in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City .
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played in the right full back position.
Early life
Sam Cookson was born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1896. He began his footballing career playing for Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
. During weekdays Cookson was a miner and worked down a pit. At the weekends he played football 'purely for enjoyment'. The mine work endowed Cookson with a powerful physique 'which sometimes proved deceptive to opposition forwards'. He subsequently played for Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
before joining Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Manchester City
In 1919 he signed for Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
whom he would play for until 1927, making 285 appearances for the team in the League and 306 appearances overall. His only goal for the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
team came in a 3-3 draw with Corinthian in the 1925-1926 FA Cup. Cookson is often described as one of the best uncapped full backs of his generation. He formed a long-lasting defensive partnership with Eli Fletcher
Eli Fletcher
Eli Fletcher was an English footballer. He was a left back and played for Manchester City F.C. between 1911 and 1925. He appeared for the team 303 times and scored 2 goals. In 1919 he became City's captain & was instrumental in them signing Tommy Johnson. He captained City's first ever game at the...
at City . His first team debut occurred in a 1-0 win over Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in December 1919. Tommy Browell
Tommy Browell
Thomas "Tommy" Browell was an English footballer who played as a forward for Hull City, Everton, Manchester City and Blackpool. He is the seventh-highest Manchester City goalscorer of all time with 139 goals for the club.Browell was born in Walbottle, Northumberland, in 1892...
scored City's only goal in that game. That season City finished seventh in the first division with 45 points.
In the 1920-1921 football season, Cookson made 42 appearances for Manchester City who came second in the league, 5 points behind champions Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, which was City's highest position in the league since the 1903-1904 football season when City had a team which included Billie Gillespie
Billie Gillespie
Billie Gillespie was an English football player who was a centre forward who 'hung around in the penalty circle and picked up lots of goals'. He played for Manchester City F.C. between 1896 and 1904 appearing 217 times and scoring 125 goals....
, Frank Booth
Frank Booth (footballer)
Frank Booth was an English footballer who played in the outside left position and who was born in Hyde in 1882. He had two spells as a Manchester City player between 1902 and 1906 and in 1911. In total he made 98 appearances for the team and scored 18 goals. He also won one cap for the...
and Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
. Interestingly, the following season, the 1921-1922 football season, Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
returned to Manchester City and played alongside Cookson on the right side of the City team. Cookson made 39 league appearances for Manchester City that season and City finished tenth in the league with 45 points.
In the 1922-1923 football season the City team was further enhanced by the acquisition of Frank Roberts from Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He joined a City attack which also included Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes was an English Football Inside Forward who played for Derby County, Manchester City, Preston North End andOldham Athletic.-Early life:...
and Tommy Johnson. The team finished eighth in the league, again with 45 points. In the 1923-1924 football season Manchester City moved to a new ground, Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, and Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes was an English Football Inside Forward who played for Derby County, Manchester City, Preston North End andOldham Athletic.-Early life:...
scored the first goal at the new stadium in a 2-1 victory against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on the opening day of the season. The team ultimately finished eleventh in the league on 42 points. Cookson played in all of City's 8 games in the FA Cup that season. The team were ultimately defeated in the semi final by Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
by two goals to nil.
In the following season City's defence was enhanced by the acquisition of Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
from Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. Cookson made 37 appearances for City that season and the team finished in tenth place with 43 points. In the 1925-1926 football season, Cookson was part of the Manchester City team which were relegated to the second division. Cookson would never appear in the first division again. Cookson also played for City in the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
that season against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, but finished on the losing side. England international David Jack
David Jack
David Bone Nightingale Jack was an English footballer, the first player ever to score at Wembley, and the first footballer in the world to be transferred for more than £10,000...
scored the only goal of the game. In the 1926-1927 football season, City finished third in the second division, 8 points behind winners Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. His final appearance for the Manchester club came in the 1927-1928 football season in which the team won promotion to the first division.
Later career
Cookson subsequently played for BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, whom City purchased Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
and Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
from. Despite a long and distinguished career, the only honour that Cookson won was gained at the age of 39, a Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
title with Barnsley. His brother Jimmy
Jimmy Cookson
James Cookson , better known as Jimmy Cookson, was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward.- Biography :...
also played for Manchester City, where he did not make the first team, and later played for Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
.
Legacy
Cookson is regarded as one of Manchester City's greatest ever players. In 1977 the Manchester City Council named eleven streets in a new estate in Moss SideMoss Side
Moss Side is an inner-city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre and has a population of around 17,537...
after famous City players including Cookson, Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
, Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
, Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
, Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes was an English Football Inside Forward who played for Derby County, Manchester City, Preston North End andOldham Athletic.-Early life:...
, Max Woosnam, Tommy Browell
Tommy Browell
Thomas "Tommy" Browell was an English footballer who played as a forward for Hull City, Everton, Manchester City and Blackpool. He is the seventh-highest Manchester City goalscorer of all time with 139 goals for the club.Browell was born in Walbottle, Northumberland, in 1892...
, Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan was a Scottish football player and manager. McMullan won 16 Scotland caps as a player at half-back and was part of the famous "Wembley Wizards" side of 1928.-Early life:...
, Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
, Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
and Tommy Johnson. He is listed as the forty-ninth greatest ever City player in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City .