Jordan Alan Cook (born 20 March 1990) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or a striker.
He began his career with Sunderland and played three times in the Premier League during the 2010âÂÂ11 season, also spending time on loan with Darlington, Walsall and Carlisle United. In 2012 he signed for Charlton Athletic and has since gone on to feature in the EFL for Yeovil Town, Luton Town, Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United, as well as stint with non-league club Gateshead. After leaving Hartlepool, Cook went on to play semi-professionally for Blyth Spartans and Shildon.
Cook was born in Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear and attended Hetton School. He began his career with Hetton Juniors, before joining Sunderland aged seven. Cook progressed through the club's youth system and signed his first professional contract on 30 May 2008. He joined League Two club Darlington on loan on 18 August 2009, before making his debut later that day in a 1âÂÂ0 defeat at home to Crewe Alexandra, in which he was substituted for Jeff Smith in the 58th minute. His loan spell with Darlington was cut short after sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage. Cook made his Sunderland debut on 26 December 2010 after being introduced as an 82nd-minute substitute for Steed Malbranque in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat away to Manchester United. He replaced Nedum Onuoha as an 87th-minute substitute to make his home debut in a 4âÂÂ2 defeat to Chelsea on 1 February 2011.
On 24 March 2011, Cook signed for League One club Walsall on loan until the end of 2010âÂÂ11. He debuted a day later in a 1âÂÂ1 draw away to Milton Keynes Dons, having entered the match as a 68th-minute substitute. His first goal for Walsall came in a 3âÂÂ2 win at home to Brentford on 12 April, and completed the loan spell with eight appearances. After returning to Sunderland, he played in their final match of 2010âÂÂ11, a 3âÂÂ0 win away to West Ham United, having entered the match as a 72nd-minute substitute for Asamoah Gyan.
Cook joined Carlisle United on 16 January 2012 on a one-month loan. After making four appearances during his initial loan spell, Cook's loan was extended by a further month until 10 March. He scored his first goal for Carlisle after being introduced as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4âÂÂ1 win at home to Bury, after which his loan was due to expire. However, the loan was extended on 22 March by a further month, and would expire after the penultimate match of the season against Exeter City under emergency loan rules. Cook scored a brace five days later to help Carlisle come from behind to earn a 2âÂÂ1 win away to Milton Keynes Dons. He completed the emergency loan with 14 appearances and four goals. After failing to make an appearance for Sunderland in 2011âÂÂ12, Cook was amongst nine players released by the club in May 2012.
Cook signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Championship club Charlton Athletic on 9 July 2012. He debuted in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Leyton Orient in a League Cup first round tie on 14 August, before making his league debut in a 1âÂÂ1 draw away to Birmingham City four days later, having entered the match as a 77th-minute substitute for Bradley Wright-Phillips. Cook made six further league appearances and one FA Cup appearance for Charlton in 2012âÂÂ13. He joined League One club Yeovil Town on a one-month loan on 18 March 2013. Cook debuted as a 61st-minute substitute for Gavin Williams in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat at home to Swindon Town. However, a knee injury meant he returned to Charlton for treatment and made no further appearances for Yeovil. Cook made his first appearance of 2013âÂÂ14 after being named in the starting lineup against Oxford United in the League Cup first round, which finished as a 4âÂÂ0 victory. However, his first-team opportunities were limited, and finished the season with only five appearances. On 22 May 2014, it was announced that Cook would be released following the expiration of his contract.
On 7 July 2014, Cook returned to League One club Walsall and signed a two-year contract, having previously been on loan with them for two months in 2011. He made his first appearance since his return in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Bristol City on 4 October after being introduced as a 34th-minute substitute for the injured Tom Bradshaw. One week later, he scored the opening goal, his first since April 2012 in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat away to Oldham Athletic. Cook scored a brace to help Walsall come from behind to earn a 3âÂÂ1 win at home to Barnsley on 13 December. He scored his fourth goal of the season on 7 February 2015 in a 2âÂÂ0 win away to Doncaster Rovers after only three minutes. Cook came off the bench as a 72nd-minute substitute for Tom Bradshaw to score his fifth goal of the season in stoppage time against Crawley Town in a 5âÂÂ0 victory on 14 April. Cook also played in every Football League Trophy match, which saw Walsall reach the final of the competition, only to be defeated 2âÂÂ0 by Bristol City at Wembley Stadium on 22 March. He finished 2014âÂÂ15 with 39 appearances and five goals.
Cook was named in the starting lineup against Oldham Athletic on the opening day of 2015âÂÂ16, but was replaced in the 66th minute by Milan Lalkoviàin a 1âÂÂ1 draw. Thereafter, he assumed the role of a substitute, making 36 of his 44 appearances from the bench. However, he scored three times including Walsall's third goal in the 93rd minute of a 3âÂÂ1 win away to Shrewsbury Town, prior to a brace in a 2âÂÂ0 win at home to Port Vale after being introduced as a 60th-minute substitute for Kieron Morris. His contributions helped Walsall to qualify for the play-offs after a third-place finish in League One. Cook played in both semi-final legs as a substitute, scoring a late consolation goal in the second leg as Walsall lost 3âÂÂ1 to Barnsley and 6âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
On 5 July 2016, Cook signed a two-year contract with League Two club Luton Town after rejecting a new contract with Walsall. He debuted on the opening day of 2016âÂÂ17 in a 3âÂÂ0 win away to Plymouth Argyle. Cook scored his first goal for Luton in a 4âÂÂ1 win at home to Wycombe Wanderers on 3 September. He was released by Luton at the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season after the club won promotion to League One.
Cook signed for League Two club Grimsby Town on a two-year contract on 22 June 2018. Cook was released at the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season. He made 49 appearances in all competitions for The Mariners, scoring eight times.
Cook joined Gateshead of the National League North on 20 October 2020 for the 2020âÂÂ21 season. Injuries limited Cook to 10 appearances for Gateshead.
In September 2021, Cook moved up two divisions when he signed for League Two side Hartlepool United. In October 2021, Cook picked up a groin injury which saw him out for over six weeks. Cook made his return to the starting eleven on 1 January 2022 in 0âÂÂ0 draw against Oldham Athletic, in which he had a goal ruled out for offside. However, he picked up an injury in the game which saw him ruled out for the rest of the 2021âÂÂ22 season. At the end of 2021âÂÂ22 season, Cook was offered a new contract with the club. He joined the club for pre-season training in July but did not sign the contract. On 23 July 2022, Cook tweeted that his surgery had been completed and was aiming to play football again before Christmas time.
At the start of the 2023âÂÂ24 season, Cook began training with Hartlepool during pre-season and appeared as a trialist in their friendly against Blyth Spartans. It was the first time he had played in over 18 months.
Cook made his return to football when he signed for National League North side Blyth Spartans in January 2024. Upon signing, Blyth boss Jon Shaw said "He's a talented footballer who has played at a very good standard and he's ready to go after a tough year, I'm delighted that he's here." On 13 January 2024, Jordan made his first competitive appearance in 742 days in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Banbury United.
After turning down a new contract with Blyth, Cook signed for Shildon on a one-year deal. Cook left football in 2024 to take up a career in renewable energy.
Walsall
Luton Town