| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1963–1977 | Wimbledon | 427 | (191) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Ian Cooke is an English former professional footballer who played for Wimbledon for his entire career.
Cooke joined the amateur Isthmian League club Wimbledon in 1963,[1] and played in the club's final two amateur matches a year later.[1] Wimbledon turned professional in 1964, and Cooke's employers, Westminster Bank, initially refused to let him sign for the club.[1] Wimbledon eventually managed to secure Cooke's signature, and the young forward had made eight appearances by the end of the 1964–65 season.[2] Cooke broke into the side during the following season, and scored 29 goals in 44 matches to be Wimbledon's top scorer,[2] something he would remain for six out of the next seven seasons.[2] Cooke later became captain of Wimbledon,[1] and moved back into midfield during his later years as a player;[1] taking part in Wimbledon's final season as a non-League club,[1] Cooke's career finally ended in 1977, just before Wimbledon's election to The Football League.[1] Cooke made the second highest number of appearances for Wimbledon, with 615; his 297 goals was also the second highest number scored for the club.[2]
Cooke later became a director of AFC Wimbledon, the club founded by supporters in 2002 after approval had been given to Wimbledon F.C.'s relocation to Milton Keynes.[3]