The Poolie Bunker

Playing for Peterlee Helford United in Sunday League apparently
https://www.pdsl.org.uk/core/playerProf ... rID=135758

He was hot and cold with us but surely better than Sunday league level?

You'd have thought he'd have his pick of northern clubs in tiers six and seven.

Matty Dolan is still turning out regularly for Spennymoor in the NLN. Last season he couldn't for his game for Pools from either Askey or Phillips whereas Cookey started 30-odd matches.

You wouldn't say that either of them are great trainers so fitness has nothing to do with it. Maybe Cookey just decided that if part-time was the level he'd fallen to he couldn't be arsed with it.

Can only assume that he's fallen out of love with the.game. Shame really as he was a good footballer on his day- just became a bit of a luxury player when we were up against it.

doubt its that as if it was he,d have just packed it in.

You don't think turning out once in a blue moon for a Sunday League team is the equivalent of packing it all in He's started one game in 4 months...

Whatever the reason and I wouldn't even hazard a guess, it is a waste of talent, that's for sure. What some of us would give to have had the chances he's had.

Yep - and when he was good he was very good. Will never forget his last minute run and cross for Mani's winner against Gateshead at the beginning of last season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGxJUkaaQds

Shame he didn't produce like that more often.

This is what Cookie is saying regarding his move to Sunday football.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/32556374 ... e-england/

Cheers for that - a good read. Still only 27! No wonder he wants to stay in full time professional football. Plying his trade abroad sounds like a good option.

If I was him I would definitely go abroad.

the last sentance sums it up where those with the biggest hearts are not good enough to get their ambition. doubt anyone on here would moan about travelling and playing 3 games in 8 days if they were wearing a pools shirt doing it.

A good read. Sounds to me like he is overvaluing his worth though. When he says the contracts to go abroad were not worth his while and he knows his true worth perhaps he doesn't?

When he played well for us you could see he had a little extra class than our level but the problem to me was he wasn't able to last the 90 minutes, or even to be fair 45 minutes. It looked like when he put the maximum effort in his legs had gone before 45 minutes and he would be a bit part player after that. Maybe down to injuries but if you can only last 45 minutes at 4th Division level it reduces your worth a little I would think.

As for saying clubs only buy players in August and January again that it is not true if you have no contract, you can join any club. Sounds like he wasn't getting offered the gold he had been before.

Hopefully he will get somewhere but maybe a reappraisal of his current worth would help.

Should have a nice PFA pension though so not all doom and gloom. Good luck to him.

Just signed for morecambe til end of season

shows what can happen for players if they keep their boots clean and make themselves available and have something positive on their CV from the past.

He's got the full-time contract he held out for and 3 1/2 months to help keep Morecambe in the Football League. Doesn't look easy, but if Carlisle and Harrogate go down that'll be something to celebrate