Career
Born in Guildford, Surrey, Rooke began his playing career with local club Guildford City, followed by a spell with Woking. In 1933 he joined Crystal Palace, who were at the time in the Third Division South. A centre forward, he mainly played for the Palace reserve side, only playing eighteen league matches and scoring four goals between 1932 and 1936.
Rooke served in the Royal Air Force during World World War II and gained one Wartime International cap for England.
In 1946, at the age of 35, he was signed by Arsenal. He scored 33 league goals for Arsenal in 1947-1948, becoming the First Division"s top scorer that season.
Rooke left the "Gunners" in the summer of 1949 to rejoin former club Crystal Palace as player-manager. His first season as manager was moderately successful as Palace finished seventh in the Third Division South.
The next season began poorly and in November 1950 he moved on to Bedford Town, initially also as player-manager, continuing as manager until 1961.
He later worked at Heathrow Airport and died in July 1985.