Walter Cook (footballer)


Walter Charles Cook was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Brighton & Hove Albion and Stockport County.

Life and career

Cook was born in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1894. He played for Leeds City immediately after the First World War, but had left the club for Midland League club Castleford Town of the Midland League before the Football League resumed. Together with Cecil Eastwood and Joe Little, Cook moved on to Plymouth Argyle in May 1920. A backup to the long-serving Fred Craig, Cook eventually made his Football League debut in December 1921, but played just seven matches before joining another Third Division South club, Brighton & Hove Albion, in 1924 for a £400 fee.
Cook was a first-team regular during his first season with Albion, but was displaced by Stan Webb in his second and left the club. He joined Darlington on a month's trial later that year, but did not make a first-team appearance. He played nine matches in the Third Division North and two in the FA Cup for Stockport County during the first half of the 1928–29 season, before finishing his career in non-league football with Harrogate. Cook died in Harrogate, Yorkshire, in 1973.