Born in Hayle,[3] he started his football career with amateur clubs West Kensington United, Forest Gate and Old Kingstonians.

[4] He played three Southern League Division Two matches in March 1914 as an amateur for Brentford, scoring one goal, before signing professional forms with Yorkshire side Huddersfield Town[3] later that year, though the First World War broke out shortly afterwards.

He served in the British Army during the conflict, rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant-Major and earning the Military Medal for "Bravery in the Field" and a Mentioned in Despatches for "gallantry".

His playing career ended on a high note, though, when he moved to Millwall and scored 92 goals in 135 appearances, helping the club win the Division Three South title in 1927–28.

The club's playing squad was hit hard by World War II and they were relegated at the end of the 1947–48 season; he left the job shortly afterwards.

Owing to his good looks and a tenor voice,[3] Cock appeared on the music hall stage numerous times (during his playing days, he was known for singing before entering the pitch).