Tommy Cook

Thomas Edwin Reed Cook (5 January 1901 – 15 January 1950) was an English sportsman. He played professional football, playing as a centre-forward and additionally had a substantial career in First-Class cricket primarily as a batsman.

Football career Cook commenced his football career with his home-town club Cuckfield Town. In 1921 he signed as an amateur with Football League Third Division South club Brighton & Hove Albion and turned professional in 1923 and remained with Brighton & Hove until 1930. Cook remains Brighton's all-time top scorer, with 123 goals from 209 games played. In 1930 he moved on to Kent League club Northfleet United remaining for one season. Thereafter he moved on in 1931 for two seasons with Football League Third Division South Bristol Rovers after which, aged 32, he retired from football and focused on his cricket career.

In February 1925 Cook became Brighton's first player to play for England after he made one appearance for England in a British Home Championship match against Wales.

In June 1947 Cook returned to Brighton & Hove Albion as team manager but after a few difficult months in which the team won only 3 from 17 matches he lost his job.

Cricket career Primarily a right-handed batsman and also an occasional right-arm medium pace bowler he was recruited to Sussex County Cricket Club after being spotted playing for Cuckfield's second X1. He scored 20,198 runs with 32 centuries and a highest score of 278 runs. As a bowler he took 60 wickets with one 5 wicket innings. He was prolific in the seasons of 1933 and 1934 when Sussex were County Championship runners-up.

Non-sporting life Born in Cuckfield, Sussex Cook married twice. Firstly in 1925, then after divorce in April 1931 he remarried later that same year.