Geoff Cox (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Geoffrey Cox[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 November 1934[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Nuneaton,[1] England | ||
| Date of death | 3 November 2014 (aged 79) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1950–1951 | Birmingham City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1951–1957 | Birmingham City | 35 | (3) |
| 1957–1967 | Torquay United | 261 | (62) |
| 1967–19?? | Bridgwater Town | ||
| – | Welton Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Geoffrey Cox (30 November 1934 – 3 November 2014) was an English professional footballer who scored 65 goals in 296 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City and Torquay United.[2]
Life and career
Cox was born in the Stockingford district of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He began his football career as a youngster with Birmingham City in 1950, and turned professional at the end of the following year.[1] A winger, Cox made his debut in the Football League Second Division on 27 August 1952 in a 1–0 win at Luton Town, and played in more than half of the games in the 1952–53 season.[3] He was then called up for National Service; by the time he returned, Gordon Astall and Alex Govan were established on the wings. He remained with Birmingham as cover,[1] and played in their early matches in the inaugural staging of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, including in their first match in European competition, a goalless draw against Internazionale in Milan in May 1956 while Astall was away on England international duty.[4]
In December 1957 Cox moved to Torquay United,[1] then playing in the Third Division South. In a ten-year career he scored 62 goals in 261 league games and twice contributed to Torquay's promotion from the Fourth Division back to the Third.[2][5] The club awarded him a benefit match against West Ham United at the end of the 1967–68 season.[6] After leaving Torquay he wound down his football career with Bridgwater Town and Welton Rovers of the Western League.[7]
Cox went on to work as an estate agent. He and wife Madge had two sons: Maurice, a former professional footballer who played for Torquay United and Huddersfield Town, and Michael.[7] He died on 3 November 2014.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- ^ a b "Geoff Cox". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ Matthews, p. 188.
- ^ Matthews, p. 241.
- ^ "Torquay United". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ "1967–68 Friendlies". West Ham United Football Programmes: A pictorial history. Steve Marsh & Stuart Allen. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Torquay United: Gulls great Geoff Cox dies at the age of 79". Herald Express. Torquay. 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ Lewis, Peter (10 November 2014). "Geoff Cox (1934–2014)". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.