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Players Index Page Last Updated
26 December 2022
 
 

Jack Cock

Huddersfield Town AFC, Chelsea FC

2 appearances, 2 goals (one on debut)

P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 6: A 5
75% successful

1919-20

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Sergeant-Major John Gilbert Cock DCM MM
Birth 15 November 1893 in Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall [registered in Redruth, December 1893]. Birthdate confirmed by the 1939 register
 

According to the 1901 census, the eight year-old John G. is the third of five children to James and Eliza (née Charleston), living at 38 Atalanta Street in Fulham, London. His father is an iron trimmer.

  According to the 1911 census, Gilbert is revealed to be one of eight children, another had tragically died. He is a moulder at the Iron Foundary and his father remains as an iron trimmer. They all live at 81 Ancill Street in Fulham.
According to his army records, Cock was still living at 81 Ancill Street when he joined the Footballers' Battallion in 26 April 1915. He was demobilised on 20 February 1919.
  According to the 1921 census, John Gilbert, a professional footballer (for Chelsea FC), is married to Gertrude (see below!), and they live together at 1 Sullivan Road in Fulham.
Marriage to Gertrude Annie Martin [registered as John A., in Redruth, September 1924].
Gertrude Annie was born in Birmingham, 20 February 1884, this Gertrude was registered in Birmingham March 1884, and the only one to marry a John Cock
According to West Devon Electoral Registers, The Cock's were living at 3 Hazelwood Terrace in Plymouth in 1927.
"NEWMARKET TRAINER INJURED IN ROAD SMASH
"Miss Elsa Macfarlane, the actress
(left), and Mr. Sam Darling, the Newmarket trainer, were involved in a car smash on the Kingston by-pass road yesterday. They were on their way to Sandown Races with Mr. Clifford Whitley, Miss Macfarlane's husband, and Sir Francis Towle, when they collided with a car in which Jack Cock, the international footballer, was riding.
"Mr. Darling's head went right through a window, and Miss Macfarlane received cuts on the hands."
- Friday, 2 May 1930, The Yorkshire Post.
"FORMER PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALLER SUMMONED.
"John Gilbert Cock, the well known Millwall and international footballer, who was formerly with Plymouth Argyle, was summoned at Greenwich Police Court on Saturday for failing to notify his change of address on a motor registration-book, for failing to stop after an accident, and for driving without due care and attention.
"Cock was stated to have collided with a London County Council ambulance, damaging a wing.
"For the defence it was said that Cock, who described himself as 'an estate agent and footballer,' had been driving for six years without complaint. The last summons was withdrawn, and the other two were dismissed on payment of 44s. costs."
- Monday, 27 July 1931, The Eastern Morning News and Mercury.
"FORMER FOOTBALLER FINED.

"John Gilbert Cock (38), estate agent, of Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, popularly known as 'Jack' Cock, was at Greenwich yesterday fined £10 for being under the influence of drink while driving a motor-car in Blackheath, and a further £10 for dangerous driving. He was ordered to pay £2 2s. costs." - Thursday, 29 October 1931, The Sheffield Daily Independent.
"LICENCE RESTORED - £20 A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH PENALTY
"John Gilbert Cock applied at Greenwich Police Court for the withdrawal of the disqualification of his motorist's driving licence, imposed last October when he was fined £20 for driving a car when under the influence of drink on the night of the General Election.
"Cock said he was a sales agent, and that the nature of his employment made it essential that he should be able to drive his car. His employers had continued his employment in the hope that his licence would be restored; he would lose his situation if it were not, and he had no other employment.
"'I think £20 was a sufficiently heavy penalty,' said the magistrate, in removing the disqualification, 'but let this be a lesson to you.' Cock replied: 'It has been, sir!'"
- Saturday, 30 April 1932, The Citizen
  According to the 1939 register, John G., a hotel manager, and Gertrude A., a hotel manageress, are still married and are living at The White Hart, at 184 New Cross Road in Deptford.
Death 19 April 1966 in Kensington, London, aged 72 years 155 days [registered in Kensington, June 1966].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Jeff Gaydish &

Playing Career

Club(s) His first football club was West Kensington United FC in 1908. He was also playing with junior clubs, Forest Gate FC, and the Old Kingstonians FC club from December 1912. He signed amateur forms with Brentford AFC in March 1914, making three Southern League appearances, scoring once. By the end of that year, he had signed amateur forms with Huddersfield Town AFC, eventually turning professional. War curtailed his career, but he did guest again for Brentford AFC, scoring 52 goals in 48 outings, and Croydon Common FC. And after he scored nine goals in eighteen League appearances, Chelsea FC paid £2650 for his services on 29 October 1919, shortly after his England debut. He went on to make 99 league appearances, scoring 47 goals. Joined Everton FC on 19 January 1923, scoring 29 goals in 69 league appearances. Plymouth Argyle FC then signed him, along with F.J. Forbes on 11 March 1925, and he made ninety league appearances, scoring 72 goals. Then Millwall FC, for a then record fee signed him on 16 November 1927, and after a final 115 league outings and another 77 goals. In April 1931, Cock was placed on the transfer list, and on 31 July he had signed with Folkestone FC, despite three other clubs seeking his signature. After a season, amateur side, Walton FC, of the Surrey Senior League, had Cock as a permit player from 27 October 1932.
Club honours Football League Division Three South winners 1927-28;
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions Brother of Donald Cock
Height/Weight 5' 10" [1915], 5' 10", 12st. 0lbs [1919], 5' 11", 12st. 0lbs [1922].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

Management Career

Club(s) Manager of Millwall FC from November 1944 until August 1948.
Club honours War Cup South runners-up 1944-45;

England Career

Player number One of seven who became the 383rd players (389) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
First match No. 120, 25 October 1919, Ireland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged 25 years 344 days.
Last match No. 122, 10 April 1920, England 5 Scotland 4, a British Championship match at Hillsborough, Owlerton, Sheffield, aged 26 years 147 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1919-20;
Team honours England victory (one appearance, 1919),
Individual honours England's Top Goalscorer 1919 (1); Joint Topscorer 1919-20 (2);
Distinctions Cock scored after only thirty seconds against Ireland, possibly, along with Bill Nicholson, the fastest debut goal in all international football.
He became the second player, after Jack Hillman, to come from Cornwall and represent England.

Beyond England

A somewhat flamboyant character, the best dressed footballer of his day, who had showbiz connections in films and 'on the halls', having a fine tenor voice. He starred in The Wiinning Game (1920), Smilin' Through (1922) and The Great Game (1930 left). In the Great War, he rose to the rank of sergeant major and won the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal. Was a licensee at The White Hart in New Cross latterly. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.69.
During the early 1920's, Cock was found in the newspapers to be endorsing Phosferine. However, by the early 1930's, his name in print was for more unfortunate reasons, which also stated that he turned his hand to estate agency.

 

Jack Cock - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. goals ave.min comp. goals Capt. Disc.
2 2 2 180 2 90 min 2 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Jack Cock - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 5 4 +1 0 0 5.00 4.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All - British Championship 2 1 1 0 6 5 +1 0 0 3.00 2.50 75.0 +1

 

Jack Cock - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1919-20 2 1 1 0 6 5 +1 0 0 3.00 2.50 75.0 +1
BC All 2 1 1 0 6 5 +1 0 0 3.00 2.50 75.0 +1
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 1 1 0 6 5 +1 0 0 3.00 2.50 75.0 +1
All 2 1 1 0 6 5 +1 0 0 3.00 2.50 75.0 +1

 

Jack Cock - Match History
 Club: Huddersfield Town A.F.C. - 1 full cap

F.A. International Select Committee - 2 full capsx

Age 25
1 120 25 October 1919 - Ireland 1 England 1, Windsor Park, Belfast BC AD Start 1 cf
 Club: Chelsea F.C. - 1 full cap  
Age 26
2 122 10 April 1920 - England 5 Scotland 4, Hillsborough, Sheffield BC HD Start 9 cf

Notes

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CG