Anthony Cook (footballer)

Anthony Lloyd Evans Cook (born 10 August 1989) is an English footballer who plays for Cray Wanderers.[2]

Anthony Cook
Personal information
Full nameAnthony Cook[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-10) 10 August 1989 (age 34)[1]
Place of birthHackney, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s)Winger / Wingback / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cray Wanderers
Youth career
2007Cardiff City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007Croydon Athletic1(0)
2007–2009Dagenham & Redbridge1(0)
2008Concord Rangers (loan)6(1)
2008Carshalton Athletic (loan)1(0)
2009Braintree Town1(0)
2009–2013Chelmsford City93(22)
2011Canvey Island (loan)0(0)
2013–2015Ebbsfleet United66(14)
2015Bromley32(10)
2015–2018Ebbsfleet United65(11)
2018Woking (loan)17(0)
2018–2019Dulwich Hamlet37(3)
2019–2021Welling United43(10)
2021–Cray Wanderers119(28)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Cook made his debut for Dagenham & Redbridge and first professional appearance on 15 December 2007,[3] in the 4–0 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town.[4]

Cook featured in the second series of Sky1's reality show Football Icon, where he finished in 4th place after picking up an injury.[citation needed] Shortly after Football Icon he went on trials at Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City where he signed for the latter, going on to represent the Bluebirds at reserve and youth team level.

He joined Concord Rangers after leaving Dagenham & Redbridge by mutual consent but joined Braintree Town in March 2009. After impressing during pre-season, Cook was signed for Chelmsford City in July 2009. On 2 February 2013, Cook replaced Stuart Searle in goal against Hayes & Yeading United, playing 84 minutes, following an injury to Chelmsford's first choice goalkeeper. During the game, Cook was on the receiving end of racial abuse from a member of the away support.[5]

In 2013, Cook then opted to sign a one-year deal with Ebbsfleet United after a trial with Colchester United. After signing on for another season, Cook departed the club in January 2015, much to the disappointment of supporters. He signed for league rivals Bromley on 16 January 2015. After winning the Conference South title with Bromley and having a promising start to life in the National League, his old club returned for his services and he eventually departed the club in December 2015, joining Ebbsfleet United for an undisclosed fee. In 2017, Cook was part of the Ebbsfleet side that achieved promotion to the National League, despite picking up in a first half red card against former club Chelmsford City in the play-off final.[6]

On 12 January 2018, Cook joined fellow National League side Woking on loan for the remainder of the campaign.[7] A day later, he made his Woking debut during their 1–0 home defeat against Tranmere Rovers, playing the full 90 minutes.[8] Cook went on to appear sixteen more times for the Cards, before returning to Ebbsfleet in April, prior to their playoff campaign.

On 16 May 2018, Cook announced via Twitter, that he would be leaving Ebbsfleet at the end of the current campaign, following the expiration of his contract.[9]

On 22 June 2018, Dulwich Hamlet announced that Cook had signed a pre-contract agreement, and would be joining the club ahead of their inaugural season in the National League South.[10] On 1 July 2019, he then joined Welling United.[11]

Personal life

He is the older brother of fellow professional footballers Reice Charles-Cook, Roman Charles-Cook, and Regan Charles-Cook. Cook's uncle, James, is a former British super middleweight boxing champion.[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024.[13]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Croydon Athletic2007–08Isthmian League Division One South10000010
Dagenham & Redbridge2007–08League Two1000000010
Concord Rangers (loan)2008–09Isthmian League Division One North61000061
Carshalton Athletic (loan)2008–09Isthmian League Premier Division10000010
Braintree Town2008–09Conference South10000010
Chelmsford City2009–10Conference South377326[a]14610
2010–11Conference South165741[b]0249
2011–12Conference South40100050
2012–13Conference South3610518[c]14912
Total932216715212431
Ebbsfleet United2013–14Conference South4210417[d]15312
2014–15Conference South244204[b]2306
Total6614611138318
Bromley2014–15Conference South126126
2015–16National League2041000214
Total321010003310
Ebbsfleet United2015–16National League South1513[e]0181
2016–17National League South4110317[f]15112
2017–18National League902000110
Total6511511018013
Woking (loan)2017–18National League170170
Dulwich Hamlet2018–19National League South373002[b]0393
Welling United2019–20National League South318422[b]13711
2020–21National League South1221000132
Total431052215013
Cray Wanderers2021–22Isthmian League Premier Division4211113[b]14613
2022–23Isthmian League Premier Division397204[g]1458
2023–24Isthmian League Premier Division3810208[h]24812
Total119285115413933
Career total482903812005511575122

References