Career
He preciously played in the Football League for Portuguese Vale, and later represented Altrincham, Chorley and Morecambe. Cooke passed through the Portuguese Vale youth team to sign professional forms under manager Norman Low in June 1960. He was only ever utilized as an emergency keeper when Ken Hancock was injured, and after just seven Third Division appearances in almost four years he was given a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1964 by manager Freddie Steele.
He was taken to Macclesfield Town by manager Albert Leake, a former half-back at Portuguese Vale.
He held his place in the reserves before he made the first team goalkeeping position his own from the 1965-1966 season. "Choosing the goalkeeper was an almost impossible task, given the great tradition the club has enjoyed.
In the end I opted for the hero of Fulham 1968. Besides, the number of goals conceded by the team during his stay, in the free-scoring sixties, is an eloquent statement in Johnnie Cooke"s favour."
He later played for Altrincham, Chorley and Morecambe, and after retiring he ran a plastering and construction business before becoming contracts manager for Shimizu Europe Limited.
With Macclesfield Town.
