- Ernie Cooksey
Football player infobox
playername = Ernie Cooksey
fullname = Ernest George Cooksey
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1980|06|11|df=y
dateofdeath = death date and age|2008|07|03|1980|06|11|df=y
cityofbirth =Bishop's Stortford
countryofbirth =England
height =
position =Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs = Colchester United
years = 2002–2003
2003–2004
2004–2007
2007
2007–2008
clubs = Crawley Town
Oldham Athletic
Rochdale
Boston United
Grays Athletic
caps(goals) = 34 (3)
37 (4)
87 (8)
16 (0)
19 (0)Ernest George Cooksey (
11 June 1980 –3 July 2008 ) was an English footballer.cite news
title = Edinburgh nets midfielder Cooksey
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/6896130.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date =2007-07-12
accessdate = 2007-07-12]Football career
He had started his career in the
Southern Premier League with Crawley Town but on1 August 2003 made the big step into professional football when, at the age of 23,Iain Dowie signed him on a free transfer for financially troubled Oldham Athletic, who were playing inLeague One . He was a regular player for the Latics in 2003–04 and on16 September 2004 he was transferred to Rochdale.He spent more than two years with
League Two side Rochdale, before joining Boston United. He spent six months at Boston United and played 16 League Two games, but was unable to prevent them from being relegated from theFootball League . Cooksey signed for Grays Athletic, aConference National side, in July 2007.Illness
In early 2008, he was diagnosed with
malignant melanoma , a severe form ofskin cancer , and fundraising events were organised in order for the expensive treatment to become affordable for him. In April 2008, Grays Athletic staged a benefit match for Cooksey. The match consisted of such former professional players, as well as current professionals such asLeroy Lita ,Nicky Shorey ,Aaron McLean ,Ray Parlour ,Justin Edinburgh ,Iain Dowie ,Bob Dowie andPaul Merson . [cite news
title = Ernie Cooksey Benefit Match
url = http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002502.html
publisher = Grays Athletic
date =2008-04-28
accessdate = 2008-06-18] In May 2008, he returned to his former club Oldham Athletic who also staged a benefit match for his appeal.Cooksey died in the early hours of
3 July 2008 , five weeks before partner Louise was due to give birth to their first child. [cite news
title = Former Latics ace loses cancer battle
url = http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1056642_former_latics_ace_loses_cancer_battle
publisher = Oldham Advertiser
date =2008-07-03
accessdate = 2008-07-03] [cite news
title = Ernie Cooksey
url = http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002635.html
publisher = Grays Athletic
date =2008-07-03
accessdate = 2008-07-13]Tributes
Before the League Cup match between Oldham Athletic and Rochdale, both sets of players and management emerged from the tunnel wearing special Ernie Cooksey t-shirts bearing the number 4 - the squad number Ernie wore at both clubs. The t-shirts bore both clubs crests on the front along with the slogan "ERNIE COOKSEY - A TRUE GENT". The reverse read "4 ERNIE".
A bucket collection also took place in the vicinity, with all proceeds donated directly to Ernie's fund. Additionally, Ernie's family, including partner Louise, were present at the game. cite news
title = LATICS & DALE REVEAL COOKSEY TRIBUTE
url = http://www.oldhamathletic.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0,,10337~1342335,00.html
publisher = Oldham Athletic
date =2008-07-11
accessdate = 2008-07-13]Career statistics
References
External links
* [http://www.erniecooksey.com/ ErnieCooksey.com]
*
* [http://www.oldhamathletic.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10337~24135,00.html Ernie Cooksey profile] at OldhamAthletic.co.uk
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