Steve Cook
Cook playing for AFC Bournemouth in 2015
Personal information
Full name Steve Anthony Cook[1]
Date of birth (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991[2]
Place of birth Hastings, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Queens Park Rangers
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2008 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Brighton & Hove Albion 3 (0)
2009 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 5 (0)
2009–2010 → Eastleigh (loan) 10 (0)
2010 → Eastbourne Borough (loan) 7 (1)
2010–2011 → Mansfield Town (loan) 8 (0)
2011 → Bournemouth (loan) 8 (0)
2012–2022 Bournemouth 356 (19)
2022–2023 Nottingham Forest 26 (0)
2023– Queens Park Rangers 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 December 2023

Steve Anthony Cook (born 19 April 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship 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.[4] 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.[5]

On 23 December 2008, Cook joined Conference South team Havant & Waterlooville on loan for six-weeks.[6] 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.[7]

Cook made his first league appearance for Brighton during a 4–0 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 28 February 2009.[8]

He, along with fellow youth players Steve Brinkhurst and Josh Pelling, signed professional contracts with Brighton on 7 May 2009.[9]

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.[10]

On 16 September 2010, Cook once again went on loan, this time to Conference Premier side Eastbourne Borough where he spent a month.[11] After making seven appearances and scoring once, Eastbourne were keen to extend the loan deal for the player,[12] but were however unsuccessful as he later joined Conference Premier rivals Mansfield Town on a loan deal lasting until January 2011.[13] 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".[14]

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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] Cook finished the season having made 38 appearances for the club in total across all competitions.

Championship & Promotion to the Premier League

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.[20] 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,[21] and he then scored again in a 2–2 draw away to Ipswich on 21 April.[22] 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.[23] Cook went on to score in the games against Blackburn and Rotherham on 23 August[24] and 13 September[25] 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[26] and ending with a 1–2 home defeat to Norwich City on 10 January.[27] 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.[28]

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.[29] 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.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33] He made his 300th appearance for the Cherries in February 2019.[34]

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.[35]

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.[36]

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.[37][38]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2008–09[39] League One 2010101[lower-alpha 1]050
2011–12[40] Championship 100010—20
Total 3010201070
Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 2008–09[39] Conference South 5000—3[lower-alpha 2]080
Eastleigh (loan) 2009–10[41] Conference South 10000—2[lower-alpha 2]0120
Eastbourne Borough (loan) 2010–11[42] Conference Premier 7100—0071
Mansfield Town (loan) 2010–11[43] Conference Premier 8020—1[lower-alpha 2]0110
AFC Bournemouth (loan) 2011–12[40] League One 8000—1[lower-alpha 1]090
AFC Bournemouth 2011–12[40] League One 180000000180
2012–13[44] League One 33140001[lower-alpha 1]0381
2013–14[45] Championship 3831010—403
2014–15[46] Championship 4652010—495
2015–16[47] Premier League 3641010—384
2016–17[48] Premier League 3821000—392
2017–18[49] Premier League 3422140—403
2018–19[50] Premier League 3111031—352
2019–20[51] Premier League 2912000—311
2020–21[52] Championship 42030101[lower-alpha 3]0470
2021–22[53] Championship 300010—40
Total 356191711213038821
Nottingham Forest 2021–22[53] Championship 14030—3[lower-alpha 3]0200
2022–23[54] Premier League 1201010—140
Total 260401030340
Queens Park Rangers 2023–24[55] Championship 1100000—110
Career total 4262024115113047822
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. 1 2 Appearances in the Championship play-offs

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest

References

  1. ↑ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. ↑ "Steven Cook: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Steve Cook". Nottingham Forest F.C. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Match Report (Brighton 2–2 Manchester City) Archived 29 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 24 September 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  5. ↑ Hartlepool 2–1 Brighton Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 18 November 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  6. ↑ Team News for Boxing Day Archived 8 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 23 December 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  7. ↑ Luton Town 1–1 Brighton Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 17 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  8. ↑ Brighton 0–4 Crewe Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  9. ↑ Trio Sign Pro Deals Archived 8 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Seagulls World, 7 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009
  10. ↑ "Eastleigh v Lewes". Eastleigh F.C. 21 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  11. ↑ Cook an added ingredient for Borough, The Argus, 16 September 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011
  12. ↑ "Borough hope to keep loan pair for longer". Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. The Argus, 12 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011
  13. ↑ Cook heads for Mansfield, The Argus, 18 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011
  14. ↑ Loan move will force Seagulls youngster to grow up, The Argus, 19 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011
  15. ↑ "Cook Ripe for Cherries". The Argus. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Cherries sign Cook on permanent basis". AFC Bournemouth. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  17. ↑ "Paul Groves: AFC Bournemouth part with manager". BBC Sport. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "Scunthorpe United 1–2 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  19. ↑ Mitchener, Mark (20 April 2013). "BBC Sport at Dean Court". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth 5–2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Barnsley 0–1 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "Ipswich Town 2–2 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  23. ↑ "Huddersfield Town 0–4 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  24. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers 3–2 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  25. ↑ "Rotherham United 1–1 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  26. ↑ "Bolton Wanderers 1–2 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  27. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth 1–2 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "Birmingham City 0–8 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  29. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth 0–0 Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  30. ↑ "Fulham 1–5 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  31. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth 3–0 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  32. ↑ "Charlton Athletic 0–3 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  33. ↑ Begley, Emlyn (4 December 2016). "Bournemouth 4–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  34. ↑ Perrett, Neil (5 February 2019). "300 not out: The rise and rise of Steve Cook". AFC Bournemouth. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  35. ↑ "Cook joins the Reds".
  36. ↑ "Steve Cook: QPR sign Nottingham Forest defender for undisclosed fee".
  37. ↑ @FC1Westfield (22 June 2022). "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" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ↑ "Steve Cook: Nottingham Forest defender buys Sussex non-league side Westfield". BBC Sport. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  39. 1 2 "Games played by Steve Cook in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  40. 1 2 3 "Games played by Steve Cook in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2009/2010 for Eastleigh". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2010/2011 for Mansfield Town". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  53. 1 2 "Games played by Steve Cook in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Steve Cook in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  56. ↑ Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
  57. ↑ "Forest return to Premier League after 23-year wait". 29 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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