Cochrane: Thomas (Tom)

1928-1936 (Player Details)

Outside Left

Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne: 07-10-1908

Debut v Manchester City (h): 20-10-1928

5’8 1/2” 11st 4lb

He began with St Peter’s Albion in the Tyneside League and had trials with Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday. Dick Ray, who was the Doncaster Rovers Manager at the time, was also present at the trials and, after taking over at Leeds, persuaded Cochrane to turn professional in August 1928. He was inconsistent in his early days and was subject to barracking from the fans, who preferred to see the popular Tom Mitchell on the left wing. Once he had won over the fickle fans, Cochrane played with the confidence of a world-beater. He won over his critics and his partnership with Billy Furness was one of the keys to United’s Division Two Promotion success in 1931-32. He moved to Middlesbrough on 5th October 1936 for £2,500 and had three good years there, highlighted by scoring four goals in the 6-1 rout of Manchester City at Maine Road in March 1938. He scored sixteen goals in eighty League appearances before leaving on 31st May 1939 to join Bradford Park Avenue for £1,100. However the War intervened and he scored once in eight appearances in the 1939-40 War-time League, before going on to guest for other clubs. In 1939-40 he scored three goals in six appearances for Darlington. He played for both Bradford City and Middlesbrough in the next two seasons of 1940-41 and 1941-42 when he played one game in each season, without scoring, at Valley Parade, but scored twice in six games in 1940-41 and seven times in twenty-seven games in 1941-42 for Boro. There were two more games, without scoring for Bradford City in 1942-43 and his last games before retiring came with Hartlepool United in 1944-45 where he scored seven times in eleven appearances. He died in Cleveland in 1976.