Ernie Cooksey
Encyclopedia
Ernest George Cooksey was an English
footballer, who was described as a utility player
. He could play as a left-sided defender
and midfielder as well as in a central-midfield role. He started as a trainee with Colchester United
, before joining non-League
clubs Heybridge Swifts
, Bishop's Stortford
, Chesham United
and Bromley
. In 2002, he joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Crawley Town
before turning professional
with Football League
side Oldham Athletic
in 2003.
He then moved to Rochdale
in 2004 and Boston United
in 2007, totalling 140 appearances in the Football League
over a four-year period. He dropped down back into non-League football
, joining Conference National
club Grays Athletic
, making 19 league appearances.
Cooksey had a form of skin cancer
removed from his back in 2006, but was diagnosed with a recurrence of a malignant melanoma
in February 2008. He died in the early hours of 3 July 2008, aged 28.
, prior to moving onto a number of non-League
clubs. His first move was to Heybridge Swifts
before joining Bishop's Stortford
in 1998. He then moved onto Chesham United
in 2000, leaving in 2002 to have a brief spell at Bromley
.
He joined Southern Football League Premier Division club, Crawley Town
in July 2002, ready for the 2002–03
season. Cooksey made his debut for Crawley on 26 August, against Welling United
coming on as a substitute, after he returned from coaching schoolchildren in Las Vegas
, United States
for six-months. He made 34 appearances, scoring once during his spell with Crawley, helping them to finish seventh in the Southern Football League Premier Division.
on trial in July 2003. At the age of 23, he stepped up three leagues into professional football permanently when Iain Dowie
signed him on for financially troubled Oldham in August, who were in the Second Division
. Bob Dowie
, who was Cooksey's former manager
at Chesham United, recommended the player to his brother, Iain. He followed in the footsteps of Fitz Hall
and Wayne Andrews who also joined the club from Chesham as recommendations from Bob Dowie. Cooksey scored twice in Oldham's 3–0 home victory over Carlisle United
in their FA Cup
first round match on 8 November 2003. When the new season, 2003–04
, started Cooksey was unable to make his debut due to suspension. He made 37 Second Division appearances for Oldham in the 2003–04 season, scoring four goals.
Cooksey started the 2004–05
season with Oldham Athletic, playing one match, away against Luton Town
on 7 August. He was released by Oldham on 15 September, after he was left out of manager Brian Talbot
's plans. He dropped down into the Third Division
, newly renamed as League Two
and signed for Rochdale
a day later on 16 September, despite discussing terms with Carlisle United. He made his debut, away against Mansfield Town
in the 1–0 away defeat on 18 September. During his first season with Rochdale, Cooksey picked up six yellow cards and two red cards on the field. However, his first red card of the season against Notts County
was later overturned and downgraded to a yellow after a successful appeal to The FA
.
At the start of the 2006–07
season, he signed a 12-month extension to his contract. He spent more than two years with League Two side Rochdale, before joining Boston United
in the January transfer window
of 2007. Boston United were reduced to just 12 professionals on their books in the closing stages of the 2006–07 season, as the club could not afford to pay players wages. Cooksey had not been paid since February, and was spending £30 a day in fuel travelling from his Manchester
home. He spent six months at Boston United and played 16 League Two games, but was unable to prevent them from being relegated from The Football League
on the final day of the season.
, Cooksey stated that he'd like to reunite with former Boston manager Steve Evans, who was now manager of Cooksey's previous club, Crawley Town. He had an unsuccessful trial at Barnet
, before joining Conference National
side Grays Athletic
in July 2007. He made his debut in Grays' first game of the season away to Torquay United
in the 0–0 draw, on 12 August. Cooksey was sent-off
in Grays' 1–0 home defeat on 8 September, for a mistimed tackle on Michael Brough
, as his trailing leg caught the opposition player. His last ever game before his death was for Grays Athletic at home in a Conference National match, against Exeter City
on 16 February 2008. Cooksey played the full 90 minutes in the 2–0 defeat. During the 2007–08
season, he made 19 appearances in the Conference for Grays.
, due to his versatility on the left-flank and in the centre of midfield as a box-to-box midfielder. He was predominately a midfielder, throughout his career playing in the centre or on the left-wing. During his spell with Grays Athletic
, he was used as a defender
, playing as a left full-back.
in August 2003, Cooksey worked as a builder
fitting false ceilings
, leaving the better-paid job to fulfil a lifelong ambition to become a professional footballer.
In early 2008, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer
. He had fought the disease before, when he had a form of skin cancer removed from his back in 2006. Cooksey suspected his cancer originated from a six-month spell coaching schoolchildren in the searing heat of Las Vegas
in the United States
. In April 2008, Grays Athletic staged a benefit match for Cooksey. The match consisted of former professional players, as well as current professionals such as Leroy Lita
, Nicky Shorey
, Aaron McLean
, Ray Parlour
, Justin Edinburgh
, Iain Dowie
, Bob Dowie
, Clive Allen
, Scott Fitzgerald
and Paul Merson
. He returned to his former club Oldham Athletic in May 2008, where another benefit match was staged for his appeal at Boundary Park
, attended by 1,500 fans to see such former players as John Barnes
, Luther Blissett
and Chris Waddle
as well as television
actors from Coronation Street
.
Cooksey was born in Bishop's Stortford
. He died in the early hours of 3 July 2008, at the age of 28, five weeks before partner Louise Newlove was due to give birth to their first child. Newlove gave birth to their daughter, Isabella-Georgia Cooksey, on 27 July 2008.
match between Oldham Athletic and Rochdale on 12 August, both sets of players and management emerged from the tunnel wearing special Ernie Cooksey t-shirts bearing the number 4, the shirt number he wore at both clubs. The t-shirts bore both clubs' crests on the front along with the slogan "ERNIE COOKSEY – A TRUE GENT", and the reverse read "4 ERNIE". A bucket collection also took place with all the proceeds going to a fund set up in Cooksey's name. Additionally, his family, including partner Louise, were present at the game.
Oldham Athletic fans had a St George's Cross
flag made in his honour, which was due to be displayed at Oldham's matches, as well as being taken abroad for England international
fixtures. The tribute flag was stolen in February 2009, when Spanish
hooligans
attacked English fans in Seville
before an international friendly
on 20 February, stealing England flags from fans as trophies. The flag was replaced after a number of donations helped to cover the costs.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who was described as a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
. He could play as a left-sided defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and midfielder as well as in a central-midfield role. He started as a trainee with Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, before joining non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
, Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
, Chesham United
Chesham United F.C.
Chesham United is an English football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Generals" because they were once the football team of the General Baptist Church in Chesham. Chesham Generals merged with Chesham Town to form United...
and Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
. In 2002, he joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
before turning professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
with Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
side Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 2003.
He then moved to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
in 2004 and Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in 2007, totalling 140 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
over a four-year period. He dropped down back into non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, joining Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
, making 19 league appearances.
Cooksey had a form of skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
removed from his back in 2006, but was diagnosed with a recurrence of a malignant melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
in February 2008. He died in the early hours of 3 July 2008, aged 28.
Early career
Cooksey had started his career as a trainee with Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, prior to moving onto a number of non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs. His first move was to Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
before joining Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
in 1998. He then moved onto Chesham United
Chesham United F.C.
Chesham United is an English football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Generals" because they were once the football team of the General Baptist Church in Chesham. Chesham Generals merged with Chesham Town to form United...
in 2000, leaving in 2002 to have a brief spell at Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
.
He joined Southern Football League Premier Division club, Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
in July 2002, ready for the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season. Cooksey made his debut for Crawley on 26 August, against Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
coming on as a substitute, after he returned from coaching schoolchildren in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for six-months. He made 34 appearances, scoring once during his spell with Crawley, helping them to finish seventh in the Southern Football League Premier Division.
Turning professional
Cooksey joined Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on trial in July 2003. At the age of 23, he stepped up three leagues into professional football permanently when Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
signed him on for financially troubled Oldham in August, who were in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Bob Dowie
Bob Dowie
Bob Dowie is a British football coach. He is a former Director of Football at Championship club Crystal Palace.An experienced non-league player, he played for Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt where he played 49 times and scored three goals between 1983 and 1985, Enfield, Hertford Town, St Albans City...
, who was Cooksey's former manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Chesham United, recommended the player to his brother, Iain. He followed in the footsteps of Fitz Hall
Fitz Hall
Fitz Benjamin Hall is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a central defender who can also play as a central midfielder. His nickname is "One Size" Fitz Hall, a pun on the phrase "one size fits all"...
and Wayne Andrews who also joined the club from Chesham as recommendations from Bob Dowie. Cooksey scored twice in Oldham's 3–0 home victory over Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
first round match on 8 November 2003. When the new season, 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
, started Cooksey was unable to make his debut due to suspension. He made 37 Second Division appearances for Oldham in the 2003–04 season, scoring four goals.
Cooksey started the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season with Oldham Athletic, playing one match, away against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on 7 August. He was released by Oldham on 15 September, after he was left out of manager Brian Talbot
Brian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...
's plans. He dropped down into the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, newly renamed as League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and signed for Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
a day later on 16 September, despite discussing terms with Carlisle United. He made his debut, away against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in the 1–0 away defeat on 18 September. During his first season with Rochdale, Cooksey picked up six yellow cards and two red cards on the field. However, his first red card of the season against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
was later overturned and downgraded to a yellow after a successful appeal to The FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
.
At the start of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, he signed a 12-month extension to his contract. He spent more than two years with League Two side Rochdale, before joining Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in the January transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
of 2007. Boston United were reduced to just 12 professionals on their books in the closing stages of the 2006–07 season, as the club could not afford to pay players wages. Cooksey had not been paid since February, and was spending £30 a day in fuel travelling from his Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
home. He spent six months at Boston United and played 16 League Two games, but was unable to prevent them from being relegated from The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
on the final day of the season.
Return to non-League
Following his release from Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, Cooksey stated that he'd like to reunite with former Boston manager Steve Evans, who was now manager of Cooksey's previous club, Crawley Town. He had an unsuccessful trial at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, before joining Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
in July 2007. He made his debut in Grays' first game of the season away to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in the 0–0 draw, on 12 August. Cooksey was sent-off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
in Grays' 1–0 home defeat on 8 September, for a mistimed tackle on Michael Brough
Michael Brough
Michael Brough is a footballer who plays for Darlington. Although born in England, he has represented Wales at under-21 level.-Career:...
, as his trailing leg caught the opposition player. His last ever game before his death was for Grays Athletic at home in a Conference National match, against Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
on 16 February 2008. Cooksey played the full 90 minutes in the 2–0 defeat. During the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season, he made 19 appearances in the Conference for Grays.
Playing style
Cooksey was a utility playerUtility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
, due to his versatility on the left-flank and in the centre of midfield as a box-to-box midfielder. He was predominately a midfielder, throughout his career playing in the centre or on the left-wing. During his spell with Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
, he was used as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, playing as a left full-back.
Personal life and illness
Before joining Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in August 2003, Cooksey worked as a builder
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
fitting false ceilings
Dropped ceiling
A dropped ceiling is a secondary ceiling, hung below the main ceiling. They may also be referred to as a drop ceiling, false ceiling, or suspended ceiling, and are a staple of modern construction and architecture. The area above the dropped ceiling is called the plenum space, as it is sometimes...
, leaving the better-paid job to fulfil a lifelong ambition to become a professional footballer.
In early 2008, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
. He had fought the disease before, when he had a form of skin cancer removed from his back in 2006. Cooksey suspected his cancer originated from a six-month spell coaching schoolchildren in the searing heat of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In April 2008, Grays Athletic staged a benefit match for Cooksey. The match consisted of former professional players, as well as current professionals such as Leroy Lita
Leroy Lita
Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita , is a Congolese-born English footballer who plays for Swansea City. Lita was a product of the Chelsea youth system. He failed to play for Chelsea, and moved to Bristol City and Reading, where his form helped him earn a place with the England under-21 side...
, Nicky Shorey
Nicky Shorey
Nicholas "Nicky" Robert Shorey is an English footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League as a left-back.-Leyton Orient:...
, Aaron McLean
Aaron McLean
Aaron McLean is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a striker.-Early career:Born in Hammersmith, London, McLean attended Robert Clack School in Dagenham. He has played for Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town....
, Ray Parlour
Ray Parlour
Raymond "Ray" Parlour , is a retired English footballer. He spent his career playing for Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Hull City. During his Arsenal career he was nicknamed "The Romford Pelé"; although the nickname was given with an ironic sense of humour, on account of his solid performance but...
, Justin Edinburgh
Justin Edinburgh
Justin Charles Edinburgh is an English professional football manager and former player. He is currently manager of . Nicknamed 'Musselburgh', he has previously played for, or managed, six other clubs.-Playing career:...
, Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
, Bob Dowie
Bob Dowie
Bob Dowie is a British football coach. He is a former Director of Football at Championship club Crystal Palace.An experienced non-league player, he played for Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt where he played 49 times and scored three goals between 1983 and 1985, Enfield, Hertford Town, St Albans City...
, Clive Allen
Clive Allen
Clive Darren Allen is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961...
, Scott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald may refer to:*F. Scott Fitzgerald , American author*Scott L. Fitzgerald , member of the Wisconsin State Senate*Scott Fitzgerald , former Wimbledon defender, former manager of Brentford...
and Paul Merson
Paul Merson
Paul Charles Merson is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and finishing his playing career at Tamworth. He also played for England 21 times...
. He returned to his former club Oldham Athletic in May 2008, where another benefit match was staged for his appeal at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
, attended by 1,500 fans to see such former players as John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
, Luther Blissett
Luther Blissett
Luther Loide Blissett is a former professional footballer and manager, who is currently a first-team coach at Hemel Hempstead Town. Blissett played as a striker, and is best known for his time at Watford, whom he helped win promotion from the Fourth Division to the First Division...
and Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle is a former footballer from England. He played for a number of clubs in the 1980s and 90s, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France...
as well as television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actors from Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Cooksey was born in Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
. He died in the early hours of 3 July 2008, at the age of 28, five weeks before partner Louise Newlove was due to give birth to their first child. Newlove gave birth to their daughter, Isabella-Georgia Cooksey, on 27 July 2008.
Tributes
Before the League CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match between Oldham Athletic and Rochdale on 12 August, both sets of players and management emerged from the tunnel wearing special Ernie Cooksey t-shirts bearing the number 4, the shirt number he wore at both clubs. The t-shirts bore both clubs' crests on the front along with the slogan "ERNIE COOKSEY – A TRUE GENT", and the reverse read "4 ERNIE". A bucket collection also took place with all the proceeds going to a fund set up in Cooksey's name. Additionally, his family, including partner Louise, were present at the game.
Oldham Athletic fans had a St George's Cross
St George's Cross
St George's Cross is a red cross on a white background used as a symbolic reference to Saint George. The red cross on white was associated with St George from medieval times....
flag made in his honour, which was due to be displayed at Oldham's matches, as well as being taken abroad for England international
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
fixtures. The tribute flag was stolen in February 2009, when Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
hooligans
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
attacked English fans in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
before an international friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
on 20 February, stealing England flags from fans as trophies. The flag was replaced after a number of donations helped to cover the costs.
External links
- Ernie Cooksey profile at OldhamAthletic.co.uk
- Ernie Cooksey profile at RochdaleAFC.co.uk
- ErnieFlag.co.uk