Terry Cooke Interview

By: Jake Olley
Date: 09/04/2006

TERRY Cooke has had a fairly eventful and unsettled career. A big money move from Man Utd to Man City didn't work out and Cooke was offloaded on a free transfer to Town, where he was popular but fell out with boss Paul Groves and ended up leaving. He now plays in the USA.

Terry you are at the Colorado Rapids where you have become a regular, how's that working out and how does the MLS compare with the English game and do you prefer it?

I don't prefer it. Obviously I miss the English game, but there are aspects of the English game I don't like. Why I like the game over here is that it is similar to the English game, it is quick. It is not as physical but it is very quick and very demanding. But the downside of it is that this sport at the moment doesn't get the support that the English game gets.

You were regarded as a hero at Blundell Park but were never really given the backing to go on and show what a talented player you were, why do you think this occurred?

I think it was because I was pulled out of the team because of circumstances that had nothing to do with me. The manager had his own opinion but I fully enjoyed my time there. I honestly think that if I was given more of a chance we wouldn't have gotten relegated.

There are rumours of a rift with ex-manager, Paul Groves, which he strongly denies. What was your opinion on the situation and was there a fallout?

Not much of a fallout, just a disagreement and it wasn't due to football. It was due to the fact that I was travelling from Manchester. And the fact is, I was travelling from Manchester because I couldn't afford a place in Grimsby and keep my mortgage going in Manchester at the same time. The fact is that the same year I was dropped from Man City was the same year that ITV Digital collapsed so there wasn't any money in the game. So basically I took what was offered to me so I couldn't afford to rent. The manager had a problem with me travelling from Manchester but there were people travelling from Middlesboro and you had people travelling from Nottingham but yet there was a problem with me travelling from Manchester. I was never once late for training and I never missed training but yet he had a problem with me travelling everyday.

Would you say that Groves maybe halted your progression as not only a GTFC player but overall?

Partly yes. There were times that he was playing someone in front of me that baffled me. Right now I have a great life in America and I love the game again and I've moved on.

Since you left the Mariners you've played for a few clubs, have you enjoyed your time since you left?

I've not played for many clubs but I went to Sheffield Wednesday after Grimsby and there I was a crowd favourite. I'd have to say that every where I have been I've always worked hard and given 100% even if I was having a bad game. Their fans appreciated that and the fans at Blundell Park appreciated it too. When I was sitting on the bench (at Grimsby) they used to sing my name, that they wanted Terry Cooke on the pitch. I felt it was really great on the days I was a bit depressed when the fans were still singing my name. It's a great privilege and pride to hear the fans sing your name.

You spent a few years at Manchester United, what we want to know is do you still keep in touch with any of the boys from United and do you keep in touch with anyone from Grimsby?

It's funny, when you leave clubs you meet new friends, you meet new teammates. It's difficult (to keep up with old teammates) especially in England. It is very hard, there are a lot of games going on and when you play against each other you get to speak to them but it's usually quite hard to keep up with people. I enjoyed Grimsby Town, there was great team spirit even though we got relegated that year. The lads kept bonding together and gelling and I really enjoyed my time at Grimsby Town.

And finally, do you have a message to the Grimsby fans that were so disappointed to see you leave?

I'd like to say think you. When I was at Sheffield Wednesday we played Grimsby at home at Hillsboro and when we played them away at Blundell Park the fans clapped when my name was mentioned. The fans clapped and cheered me which was very warming and I very much appreciated that the fans never forgot me even though I didn't play as much as I should have. I just want to thank them for giving me a nice warm welcome. I still keep tabs with all my old teams in England and wish Grimsby Town the best and I hope they get promoted this season and I know they are second in the table at the moment.

We'd also like to take this chance to thank Terry Cooke who took time out from his busy schedule to do this interview for Town fans

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