Born and raised in Hemel Hempstead, Cook played for Hertfordshire as a schoolboy, and later for local sides Potten End and Berkhamsted Town.

Cook joined Football League Third Division South side Watford as an amateur in 1952, turning professional at the end of the 1952–53 season.

[3] Nonetheless, Cook played a central part in 1958–59, scoring 17 of Fulham's 96 goals as they gained promotion to the First Division for only the second time in their history.

[4] Under the management of his former Watford boss Len Goulden, Cook helped Banbury reach the Southern League for the first time in their history.

Coincidentally, the following day Fulham hosted Watford in a league match at Craven Cottage, where both sets of supporters observed a minute's silence in his honour.