“I’ll probably be busier in retirement than doing a full-time job" - Micky Cook

The Colchester United legend, the club’s record appearance maker, officially retired from his role at the Colne Community School and College in Brightlingsea last week, after 12 years of coaching talented teenagers.

That followed more than three decades of service at the U’s, where Cook safely wrote himself into the club’s folklore as a successful player and coach.

For someone who has been such an influential and proactive part of Colchester sport for so long, one might think retirement could be something of a daunting prospect.

Typically though, the cheery 65-year-old is taking it all in his stride.

“I’ll probably be busier in retirement than doing a full-time job,” said Cook, as he reflected on his rewarding career.

“I’m looking forward to spending even more time with my family and I’ve got two beautiful grandchildren.

“My wife has put up with football, football, football and I think it’s time to do a lot more things together – we have a list of stuff we want to do.

“I want to play a bit of golf and I’m going to do some coaching on three afternoons at Colne, plus I’ve had one or two other coaching offers, too.

“I have to be doing stuff and I think that’s what keeps you young.”

Cook will forever be one of Colchester United’s favourite sons.

But he was born in Enfield in North London and his first tentative footballing experiences actually came across the capital as a teenager at Orient.

It was an intervention by legendary former Layer Road boss Dick Graham in 1969, when Cook was 18 years old that paved the way for his long association with the U’s to begin.

He said: “When it was coming up to pro time at the Orient, they were really struggling for money and Dick Graham, who was an ex-manager there, wanted to talk to me.

“I got the train up and Dick put me up overnight.

“I didn’t know much about Colchester beforehand but I realised after having that time with Dick that Colchester were a very, very affluent and well run football club.

“They paid my train fare, they gave me some expense money and they were totally in the black.

“They also bought me a season ticket on the trains from when I was 18 to when I was 21, going from Ponders End, Liverpool Street and back.

“Dick did a fantastic selling job on me and said look, there’s opportunities here, come and join us – there was nothing to think about and I signed a two-year deal.

“I was living the dream, playing football for a living so I always considered myself very lucky.

“I did a bit on the ground staff with Adrian Webster for a short while and then signed pro and broke into the first team at 18 and played all those games.”

Cook took little time to settle in his new home in Colchester, both on and off the field.

As a speedy right-back he was quickly establishing himself with the U’s and by the age of 21, was married and living in a clubhouse at number 75, Layer Road.

In 1971, he was a member of the Colchester squad that sensationally humbled the mighty Leeds United 3-2 in the FA Cup at Layer Road and also played his part in their Watney Cup triumph the following year, before going onto achieve two promotions.

Cook said: “There was a feeling back then that in a footballing context, you had to be in Colchester for about 12 years before you were fully accepted!

“But the Colchester people have been fantastic to me and after I stopped playing, I had tremendous support from when I did all the things at the club.

“I had 16 years as a pro and I played my heart out and I’d do it all over again.

“I was a bit of a trier I suppose; I gave my all and I think the public who came and watched appreciated that.

“If players just do that alone and give 100 per cent, I think they get the respect of the supporters.”

Cook ended up spending his entire 16-year playing career at Colchester, clocking up a club record 695 league and cup appearances for them between 1969 and 1984.

In this day and age where loyalty in football is a rare commodity, it is a milestone that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

“Being Colchester United’s record appearance maker is something that I’m extremely proud of,” said Cook.

“I’ve got to say, I’d be surprised if it were ever broken, purely because lads don’t stay about like they used to.

“You don’t get many ten-year players or testimonials, because you have to go where the money is and there are agents now who probably won’t let players stay at a club for ten or 15 years.

“I had 16 years – who gets that these days? Is the game harder and more dynamic – I don’t know.

“I’d argue it was more physical in my day but you have to make hay while the sun shines.”

Not that Cook did not have opportunities to leave Colchester, during his mammoth stint with the club.

“If I’d have moved around, I could have gone to Southend many years ago when Jim Smith was Colchester manager.

“I was playing really well and Jim called me in and said they’d had an offer of £10,000 from Southend for me.

“He said “I’ve got to say to you, you’re my first name on the teamsheet and if you go there and you do well, it won’t look very good on me – you’re too valuable”.

“I’m sitting there sticking my chest out and feeling good but I’ve gone out of the door and had a lightbulb moment thinking “has he just mugged me off there?”.

“I also remember having a really good game against Leighton James who was a Wales international, which created a bit of attention – he didn’t get a kick.

“I had family in the Midlands and it was all over the Derbyshire and Leicester papers – Micky Cook to join this week!

“I really thought I was on my way as a result of playing against him.

“I also once had a testimonial comment from Bobby Robson, which I have in my gallery at home.

“He says he came to see me on a lot of occasions and was really torn and that he regretted not taking me to Ipswich.

“I remember Bobby Cram saying to me before one game that Bobby Robson was in the crowd and that if I had a good game, I’d be on my way.

“But I didn’t have my best game and a week later, he brought in George Burley and what a great shout that was because look at the career he had.”

After nearly 700 appearances and more than 15 years, the end of Cook’s long playing career came in Colchester’s 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United on April 14, 1984.

But his bond with the U’s continued - and more success was to be achieved in a different guise.

See the Daily Gazette website tomorrow for part two of our in-depth feature with U's legend Micky Cook.