Jim Cook

A "box of tricks", and one of six brothers to play for Gloucester

by Malc King

Jim Cook, the eldest of six Cook brothers, was a “box of tricks”  who played at centre for Gloucester at the turn of the century. His 5 brothers – Dave, Harry, Charles, George and Albert – also played for the Club. Extraordinarily they are only the second largest set of brothers to have played for the Club – they overlapped with the seven Hall brothers. Jim later played Rugby League for Hull.

Jim was the eldest brother, born in Gloucester in 1878, the son of a blacksmith’s labourer, also named James Cook. He first played rugby for the St Mark’s Club, before moving up to the City team in 1897. He played 92 games for Gloucester between 1897 and 1902, scoring 36 tries. He appears on the Honours Boards in the Lions’ Den for 1900/01 and 1901/02, which shows that he was playing regularly for the first team in those seasons. He followed his father in employment as well as name – he too was a blacksmith’s labourer.

When Jim died in 1933, WB (Bill Bailey, the doyen of Gloucester rugby correspondents) wrote the following obituary, which was published in the Citizen on 25th February 1933:

“Death of Jim Cook

Another old Gloucester footballer has “passed on” in the person of Jim Cook, whose sudden death occurred at Hull earlier in the week. Eldest of six brothers, Jim Cook was one of the most brilliant attacking centres ever turned out by Gloucester, and was well described as the “Box of Tricks”. He was an exceptionally clever exponent of the “dummy”, which he exploited with such rapidity that opponents were absolutely bewildered.

Cook made some amazing runs at Kingsholm, and on one occasion - I believe it was in a County Match against the Midlands – after “dummying” his way through the opposition and crossing the line, he came back into the field of play again, and beat another player before finally touching down for the try!

Member of Famous Team

Cook was associated with the Gloucester team under Walter Taylor’s successful captaincy – 1896-1900. Some notable triumphs were achieved during those four years against the strongest teams in England and Wales. In the four years, of 132 matches played 92 were won, as against 26 defeats and 14 drawn games. Llanelly and Swansea both lost unbeaten records during the period, and Cook had the distinction of dropping the winning goal against the famous All Whites. In Taylor’s fourth year as captain a great win was obtained over Blackheath at the Rectory Field, and Bristol (twice), Leicester and a powerful Barbarians XV, were also defeated.

What a host of fine players were contemporary with our departed friend: G Romans (full back); Percy Stout, G F Clutterbuck, F M Luce, G F Collett, C Smith and Walter Taylor (three-quarters); A Stephens, Car Cummings, G Hall and R Goddard (half-backs); and C Williams, Frank Stout, F Goulding, C Hall, C Rose, W Spiers, A H Click, T Hatherall, F Oswell, B L Watkins, G H Smith, J Lewis, A Hawker, H Manley, Cecil Miller, and others. And of all this long list only two players – Lewis and Miller – lived outside the city! Wonderful!

Joined Northern Union

The prowess of Gloucester players at that period attracted the attention of Northern Union (now the Rugby League) clubs, and Jim Cook, with George Hall, Dicky Goddard and Jack Lewis, all joined Hull, for which team they rendered splendid service. Cook played for Yorkshire – a distinct honour, for competition to get into the side was exceptionally keen with such a wealth of talent available. Cook’s son followed in his father’s footsteps, and signed on by Hull Kingston Rovers at an early age, also distinguished himself in the best class of Rugby League football for several years until heart trouble forced him to give up.

Remarkable Family

The Cooks, like the Halls, were a remarkable family of Rugby footballers. In addition to Jim Cook, his brothers Dave, Harry, Charles, George and Albert all appeared for Gloucester, four at least gaining their City caps. Charles and Albert were wounded in the War – one losing an eye and the other a leg. George, a very fine centre three-quarter, joined the Oldham (Rugby League) club, with which combination A Wood and Willie Hall (Gloucester players) were also associated. Of the Cook brothers, four are still alive, and the sympathy of old footballers will be extended to them in their bereavement. Jim Cook only paid fleeting visits to his native city after his departure North, and the last occasion, some months ago, was a sad one – to attend the funeral of his father. He was 55 years of age. Of cheery disposition, he will be remembered by his former colleagues not only as a splendid footballer, but also as a pleasant companion. Cook was a product of that famous local Rugby nursery – the old St Mark’s Club.”

Obituary

Extract from W.B. Notebook - The Citizen, Saturday February 25, 1933

“DEATH OF JIM COOK

REMINISCENCES OF FORMER GLOUCESTER PLAYER

BRILLIANT ATTACKING CENTRE

Another old Gloucester footballer has “passed on” in the person of Jim Cook, whose sudden death occurred at Hull earlier in the week. Eldest of six brothers, Jim Cook was one of the most brilliant attacking centres ever turned out by Gloucester, and was well described as the “Box of Tricks.” He was an exceptionally clever exponent of the “dummy,” which he exploited with such rapidity that opponents were absolutely bewildered.

Cook made some amazing runs at Kingsholm, and on one occasion - I believe it was in a County match against the Midlands - after “dummying” his way through the opposition and crossing the line, he came back into the field of play again and beat another player before finally touching down for the try !

Member of Famous Team

Cook was associated with the Gloucester team under Walter Taylor’s successful captaincy - 1896-1900. Some notable triumphs were achieved during those four years against the strongest teams in England and Wales. In the four years, of 132 matches played 92 were won, as against 26 defeats and 14 drawn games. Llanelly and Swansea both lost unbeaten records during the period, and Cook had the distinction of dropping the winning goal against the famous All Whites. In Taylor’s fourth year as captain a great win was obtained over Blackheath at the Rectory Field, and Bristol (twice), Leicester and a powerful Barbarians XV, were also defeated.

What a host of fine players were contemporary with our departed friend: G. Romans (full back); Percy Stout, G. F. Clutterbuck, F. M. Luce, G. F. Collett, C. Smith and Walter Taylor (three-quarters); A. Stephens, Car Cummings, G. Hall and R. Goddard (half-backs); and C. Williams, Frank Stout, F. Goulding, C. Hall, C. Rose, W. Spiers, A. H. Click, T. Hatherall,   F. Oswell, B. L. Watkins, G. H. Smith, J. Lewis, A. Hawker, H. Manley, Cecil Miller, and others. Ando of this long list only two players - Lewis and Miller - lived outside the city !  Wonderful !”

WB wrote the following about the Cook Brothers in The Citizen on 21st February 1948:

“Jim Cook, the eldest brother, was well described as the “artful dodger” by reason of the amazing way in which he completely deceived defenders. It was no isolated instance to see the old St Mark’s boy break through on his own, dodging man after man, or giving the “dummy” quite his own speciality – and scoring tries in a manner that made it look positively easy.

I remember one match against the Midland Counties, at Kingsholm, when Cook “obliged” with one of these extraordinary efforts and crossed the goal line, but, not content, came back into the field of play and beat two other opponents who had raced back, before he actually touched down for the try.

Cheeky, perhaps, but Jim Cook was a rare humourist and the spectators thoroughly enjoyed his by-play. Like so many other players of his time he finally went North, and was attached to the Hull Club, where later he was joined by R Goddard, George Hall and Jack Lewis.

The other brothers Cook were David, Harry, Charles, Albert and George, with the three latter the more in evidence for the senior Gloucester team. Charles and Albert were both casualties in the first great war, but previous to 1914, they rendered valuable service for the old club.

Charles, a full-back of great merit was contemporary with W R Johnson (Bristol and England) and in one or two County games he was given the selection over the international. In club football, the Gloucester player certainly held the advantage over his rival, his fine kicking, either foot, safe fielding and catching of the ball, and the ability to extricate himself at close quarters, serving him well in the position of custodian. Johnston, however, had the real big match temperament, and he never let England down, hence his selection in sixteen internationals.

George Cook bid fair to go far in the Rugby Union game, for he had all the attributes that make a sound and effective centre – safe pair of hands, smart in seizing on an opening, and always alert for a burst through. But he, too, left to join the professional ranks, the Oldham club again profiting by his services.”