Les Cocker (footballer, born 1939)

For the England national team squad trainer of the 1960s and 70s, see Les Cocker (footballer born 1924).

Leslie James Robert Cocker (18 September 1939 – February 2017) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He played one game in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Les Cocker

Personal information
Full name	Leslie James Robert Cocker^[1]
Date of birth	(1939-09-18)18 September 1939
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Date of death	February 2017 (aged 77)
Place of death	Newport, Shropshire, England
Position(s)	Wing half
Youth career
1956–1958	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1958–1961	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1	(0)
1961–1966	Wellington Town
1966–1968	Arcadia Shepherds
1968–1969	Hereford United
1969–????	Kidderminster Harriers
Total		1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Wolverhampton, Cocker began his career in the youth team of Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1956, playing in their 1958 FA Youth Cup triumph. He turned professional in Summer 1958 and eventually made his senior debut on 4 February 1961 in a 2–1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. This turned out to be his only appearance for Wolves' first team and he was released at the end of the season.^[2]

He joined local non-league side Wellington Town immediately after, playing in over 200 games during the 1960–61 season. After breaking a collar bone, he left and relocated to South Africa in February 1966 for a two and a half year spell with the Arcadia Shepherds, in which he was the club's top scorer. He then returned to England when he signed on with Hereford United.^[3]

In 1969, he appeared as a substitute for Kidderminster Harriers in an FA Cup tie against Telford United at the latter's Bucks Head ground.^[3]

In later life he lived at Newport, Shropshire until the time of his death in February 2017, aged 77.^[4]

References

1. "Les Cocker". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
2. "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
3. Toby Neal (18 March 2017). "Funeral of 1960s football ace who played for Wolves and Wellington". Shropshire Star. p. 16.
4. "Wolves Heroes » Blog Archive » Death of Youth Cup Finalist".

• Matthews, Tony (2001). The Wolves Who's Who. West Midlands: Britespot. p. 45. ISBN 1-904103-01-4.
• Matthews, Tony (2008). Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-632-3.