Ernest 'Ernie' Samuel Cockle (12 September 1896 – 1966) was an English professional footballer who played as an Centre-forward in the English Football League.

Ernie Cockle
Personal information
Full name Ernest Samuel Cockle
Date of birth (1896-09-12)12 September 1896
Place of birth East Ham, London, England
Date of death 1966
Place of death Thornton Heath, London, England
Position(s) Centre-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1920–1921 Clapton Orient 22 (4)
1921–1922 Margate Town
1922–1923 Maidstone United
1923–1924 Arsenal 0 (0)
1924 Luton Town 7 (1)
1924–1927 Northampton Town 97 (46)
1927–1930 Wigan Borough 78 (16)
1930–1931 Guildford City
1931 Wigan Borough 6 (0)
1931– Chorley
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Born in East Ham, Cockle joined his local Second Division club Clapton Orient after the Great War. After dipping into non-league with Margate Town and Maidstone United, Cockle signed for Arsenal at the start of the 1923 season,[1] but failed to make an appearance despite being a prolific goalscorer for the reserves. In search of first team football, he signed for Luton Town in May 1924.[2]

Northampton Town (1924–1927) edit

Cockle signed for Northampton Town in December 1924 alongside fellow Luton Town teammate Ralph Hoten. They were signed by manager Bob Hewison due to the injury of record goalscorer at the time, William Lockett.[3] He played every game in the 1925–26 season, which started in great fashion, scoring all 4 goals in a 4–3 win against Brentford at Griffin Park.[3] He also ended up the leading league goalscorer, however Les Robinson's six FA Cup strikes left him the leading goalscorer in all matches. Cockle continued as a regular goalscorer, including leading the overall scoring charts the following year, but lost his place from the start of the 1927–28 season before transferring to Wigan Borough in June 1928.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Cockle Ernie Image 1 Arsenal 1923". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Ernie Cockle". Hatters' Heritage. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Grande, Frank (1997). Northampton Town F.C.: The Official Centenary History. London: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427674.