Tim Cook was nine-years-old when he saw his first game at The Dell. He was instantly hooked. Little wonder, as West Ham United (1966 World Cup stars and all) were walloped 6-2. He played in the inaugural season of the Tyro League and impressed Ted Bates’s Chief Scout, Tom Parker while turning out for Southampton under-15s and Hampshire Schools.

A two-footed, attacking full-back, Tim was extremely comfortable on the ball.

He has Brian O’Neil to thank for the nick-name of “Berti”, after the legendary West Germany international, Berti Vogts. Shortly after signing pro, he got an early taste of the big-time against Red Star Belgrade. Lawrie McMenemy slipped in a friendly between the Fourth and Fifth Rounds of the triumphant 1976 FA Cup-run and blooded Tim, Austin Hayes, and Steve Williams. Tim made his competitive first appearance at left-back, the following season, when David Peach was away on duty, as an over-age player with England U-21s. Saints beat Orient 3-2 away and the Echo described his debut as “very satisfying”. Then, in 1977-78, he played in a cameo of four games in a fortnight, two each in the League and FA Cup, one at left-back and three on the right.

He appeared just once more in that promotion season. He stayed on the fringes of the first team into his seventh year with the club but was then released. Despite approaches from other League clubs, he opted for a full-time career outside the game while playing non-league, semi-professional football. He started at Salisbury, linking up with Roger Fry, then had a string of Hampshire clubs. As a testament to his fitness – he was never seriously injured – he played around 70 games in a season, in his late 30s, for Romsey Town, Fareham Town Veterans, Hants Intermediate and Ex-Saints. 

When his playing days were over, Tim participated in the club’s community projects and coached their Centre of Excellence. He also coached at schoolboy level for the Hampshire FA and worked with the students at Southampton University. Having pursued a career in international logistics, he has latterly been a Shipping Manager for an engineering firm in Chandler’s Ford.