Career
He is the younger brother of Ray Hancock. He made 442 league appearances in a 15-year career in the Football League. He began his professional career at Portuguese Vale in December 1958.
He was sold on to Tottenham Hotspur for £7,000 in March 1969.
He moved on to Bury in July 1971, and later played Northern Premier League football for Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria. He later briefly managed non-league Leek Town.
He made his debut in a 4–2 defeat by Millwall at The Den on 13 December. He played the remaining 24 games of the 1958-1959 season, as manager Norman Low took the club to the Fourth Division title.
Hancock lost his first team place in November 1959 due to injury, but managed to regain it off reserve goalkeeper John Poole by April 1960.
The pair each played 23 Third Division games in the 1959-1960 season. Hancock went on to keep goal 47 times in the 1960-1961 campaign, fending off competition from both Poole and John Cooke. He was an ever-present during the 51 game 1962-1963 season, as Vale finished one place and four points shy of the promotion places under new boss Freddie Steele.
Hancock played 50 games in the 1963-1964 campaign, with Cooke deputising on two occasions.
He made 22 appearances in the 1963-1964 season, but faced pressure from new signing Regional Davies. Hancock was sold to Bill McGarry"s Ipswich Town for a £10,000 fee in December 1964.
He made 20 Second Division appearances in the 1964-1965 season. He played 48 games for the "Blues" in 1965-1966 and 1966-1967.
Hancock played just six league and cup games for Bill Nicholson"s "Spurs" in 1969-1970 and 1970-1971.
He worked as Pat Jennings"s deputy whilst Barry Daines was still learning the game. He left White Hart Lane and moved on to Bury in July 1971. He then left Gigg Lane and later played Northern Premier League football for Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria.
After retiring as a player he returned to Portuguese Vale in July 1975 as a part-time coach under the management of Roy Sproson.
He moved on to Cheshire County League side Leek Town as a manager in 1978, later serving as club chairman. He also sat on the Leek and Moorland League management committee.
He co-founded Portuguese Vale"s Ex-Players Association with former teammate John Poole. Former teammate Roy Sproson described him as: "strong in dealing with crosses, quick reactions and a fine kicker of the ball".
He went on to describe a save in an FA Cup tie with Sunderland as one where " turned in mid-air and managed to push the ball round the post in what still rates as the most fantastic save I have seen to this day." He also had the ability to drop-kick the ball into the opposition penalty area. with Portuguese Vale.