Cockerill Harry Image 1 Bristol City 1922

Description

Ryhope, County Durham born left half Harry Cockerill began his senior football career after the end of the First World War when he signed for First Division club Arsenal, spending 1919-20 on The Gunners’ books without making a first team appearance. He joined newly elected Third Division club Luton Town in the 1920 close season and made his Football League debut in a win over Swindon Town at Kenilworth Road that September, but lost his place after 4 matches at the end of the month and only appeared in 4 further matches that season before a transfer to Southern League club Mid Rhondda United, where he had a brief spell before a return to Football League action when he signed for Second Division club Bristol City in early 1922.

He played 3 matches before the end of the season as The Robins suffered relegation, but he then featured in 13 matches as Bristol City won the Third Division (South) Championship at the first attempt in 1923. Transferred to Reading in the 1923 close season, Cockerill missed only 3 matches in The Royals; 1923-24 campaign, when he scored twice in 40 matches, but he lost his place in December 1924 and only played once more that season for Reading before joining Merthyr Town after 56 appearances for The Biscuitmen. At Merthyr he played in 2 matches that September, scoring in his second match at Gillingham in a defeat, but he lost his place and played only once more the following January. His career thereafter is uncertain, with Merthyr Town being his last recorded club.

NB in the photograph taken for the Football Favourites magazine “Peeping Tom” series of club visits, Cockerill sits on the bench far left along with team mate Jerry Paulton in training gear, the man in the boater is Mr Charles Hancock, perhaps a club director, and the player holding the camera is team mate Bob Pullan.