Eric Brook

Infobox Football biography
playername = Eric Brook


fullname = Eric Brook
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1907|11|27|mf=y
cityofbirth = Mexborough
countryofbirth = England | dateofdeath = death date and age|1965|3|29|1907|27|11
currentclub =
position = Outside Left
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1928-1939
clubs = Barnsley Manchester City
caps(goals) = 494 (178)
nationalyears = 1929-1937
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 018 0(10)
ntupdate =
pcupdate =

Eric Fred Brook (27 November, 1907 - 29 March, 1965) was an English footballer who is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City.

Brook was born in the Yorkshire town of Mexborough in 1907. He started his professional football career with nearby Barnsley, playing outside left. In 1928 Brook and teammate Fred Tilson were transferred to Manchester City for a combined fee of £6,000, [cite book |last=Clayton |first=David |title=Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more! |publisher=Mainstream publishing |location=Edinburgh |date=2002 |id=ISBN 1-84018-687-9 p40] the pair making their debuts on 17 March against Grimsby Town [cite book |last=James|first=Gary |title=Manchester: The Greatest City |publisher=Polar |location=Leicester |date=2002 |id=ISBN 978-1899538225 140.] In 1929 Brook made his first appearance for England against Northern Ireland. Brook went on to play for England a total of 18 times, scoring 10 goals. He would have played more times but faced competition from Arsenal's Cliff Bastin. The high water mark of his international career was the 1934 British Home Championship, in which he scored in every one of England's matches.cite book |last=Brandon |first=Derek |title=A–Z of Manchester Football: 100 Years of Rivalry |publisher=Boondoggle |location=London |year=1978 p26] In the Battle of Highbury international in 1934 against Italy he missed a penalty but redeemed himself scoring two goals to help England to victory. [cite web |url=http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=195|title=England 3–2 Italy |accessdate=2008-02-02 |publisher=Englandstats ]

In the mid-1930s Brook played in consecutive FA Cup finals, collecting a winners medal on the second occasion, and he was an ever present in the first Manchester City side to win the League Championship, in 1937. Over 11 years with Manchester City, Brook scored 178 goals in 494 appearances, making him the all time highest Manchester City goalscorer, and sixth in terms of appearances.

Although his position was outside left Brook was a player who could play anywhere on the pitch if the need required, including in goal. He replaced an injured goalkeeper on at least three occasions over the course of his career. [cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=The Maine Road Encyclopedia |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |year=1995 |id= ISBN 1-85158-710-1 p34]

In 1940, Brook was selected to represent England in a wartime international against Scotland. Whilst travelling to the match, he was involved in a car crash, suffering a fractured skull. Unable to head a ball, Brook retired from football, and became a coach driver in his home town of Mexborough. Later in his life he also spent time working as a publican, and as a crane operator. [Manchester: The Greatest City, p141] He died at home in Wythenshawe in March 1965.

He is regarded as one of the finest players to have graced the English game and has been inducted into the Manchester City FC hall of fame.

References

External links

*englandstats|id=161|name=Eric Brook