Ken Coote

Kenneth Alexander Coote (19 May 1928 – 2 August 2003) was an English footballer. He is best remembered for his 14 years as a full back and utility player with Brentford, for whom he tops the all-time appearances list with 559 and was also captain of the club. In 2013, Coote placed second in a Football League 125th Anniversary poll of Brentford's best ever captains and he is a member of the club's Hall of Fame.

Club career

Early years Coote began his career as a youth at Alperton Old Boys, a team managed by the father of future England manager Ron Greenwood. He moved on to join Middlesex Senior League club Wembley as an amateur and impressed enough to spend two weeks on trial at First Division club Burnley in the spring of 1949. He made his debut for the club in a 4–1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Griffin Park on the opening day of the 1949–50 season. he also played in six other outfield positions. After missing the first 9 games of the 1954–55 season, Coote missed only 16 of the club's next 378 league games. At the end of the 1960–61 season, Coote was jointly-awarded a testimonial with Johnny Rainford versus an All Star XI for his service to the club. He remains the club's record appearance-maker and (rarely for a defender) was never booked in his career. Coote was offered opportunities to continue his career in non-League football, but chose to remain in retirement.

Representative career Coote's exploits for Brentford saw him win representative honours.

Personal life

After completing his National Service and before signing for Brentford, Coote worked for his father in removals. He later became manager of a betting shop in Hounslow, owned by former Brentford teammate Frank Morrad. Second Division

1950–51 Second Division 5 1 1 0

6 1 1951–52 Second Division 24 3 4 1

28 4 1952–53 Second Division 17 1 0 0

17 1 1953–54 Second Division 40 0 3 0

43 0 1954–55 Third Division South 37 1 6 0

43 1 1955–56 Third Division South 45 2 2 0

47 2 1956–57 Third Division South 44 1 3 0

47 1 1957–58 Third Division South 45 2 1 0

46 2 1958–59 Third Division 44 0 4 0

48 0 1959–60 Third Division 42 0 2 0

44 0 1960–61 Third Division 41 0 2 0 3 0 46 0 1961–62 Third Division 45 0 5 0 1 0 51 0 1962–63 Fourth Division 46 0 1 0 2 0 49 0 1963–64 Third Division 19 0 1 0 4 0 24 0

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Honours Brentford Football League Fourth Division: 1962–63

Individual

Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1961–62 Brentford Hall of Fame