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Bert Cooke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bert Cooke
Cooke in 1921
Cooke in 1921[1]
Personal information
Full name Herbert Michael Cooke
Date of birth 1882
Place of birth Birkenhead, England
Date of death 1959 (aged 76)
Place of death Wirral, England
Managerial career
Years Team
1912–1935 Tranmere Rovers

Herbert Michael Cooke[2] was a football manager. He managed Tranmere Rovers from 1912 to 1935, the longest spell of any manager at the club. He oversaw their first Football League match in 1921.

Management career

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Born in Birkenhead in 1882,[3][4] Cooke became manager of Tranmere in 1912, and stayed in charge for 23 years, the longest spell of any manager at the club.[5]

In 1919, Tranmere were promoted to the Central League. Within a year, Division Three North was created and, in 1921, Cooke oversaw the club's first Football League match.[6] A string of talented local youngsters were developed by Cooke before moving to First Division clubs - Dixie Dean, Ellis Rimmer, Pongo Waring and Nibbler Ridding.[7]

In the 1934–35 season – Cooke's last in charge – Rovers led Division Three North for most of the campaign but, in the last few weeks, blew their promotion chance. They did however win the Welsh Cup that year. He left under acrimonious circumstances, amid FA enquiries into illegal payments to players to induce them to sign for Rovers and the dismissal of several directors. Cooke was replaced by former England international, Jackie Carr.[7]

Cooke died in Wirral in 1959, aged 76.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Bishop, Peter (1 November 1998). Tranmere Rovers Football Club. Images of England. Stroud, U.K.: Tempus. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7524-1505-5.
  2. ^ Upton, Gilbert (December 1991). Tranmere Rovers, 1881–1921: A New History. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-9518648-0-7.
  3. ^ Bishop, Peter (1990). "Cooke, Bert". The A–Z of Tranmere Rovers. Ellesmere Port: Chester IV Graphics. pp. 10–11. ASIN B0011SRSOG
  4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Tranmere Rovers Managers Since 1912". Tranmere Rovers official website. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Club History". Tranmere Rovers official website. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  7. ^ a b "History". TheCowsheds.co.uk. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
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