Hastings lad heading for Premier League

Steve Cook was part of the AFC Bournemouth side which effectively clinched promotion from the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-0 win at home to Bolton Wanderers last night (Monday).

Only a defeat in their final game of the season this coming Saturday, a win for closest pursuers Middlesbrough and a near impossible 19-goal swing in the goal difference can deny the Cherries a place in the top flight next term.

Second-placed Bournemouth could even clinch the title as well if they achieve a better last day result than current leaders Watford.

Bournemouth’s impending promotion marks an amazing rise through the Football League for a club which was in administration and close to liquidation in 2008, and only just avoided relegation to the Conference in the 2008/09 campaign.

Cook has been a key figure in Bournemouth’s success. The composed central defender has made just shy of 50 appearances this term for a Bournemouth side which has scored more goals than anybody else in the division and possesses the best goal difference.

Having joined the club on a permanent basis in the early part of 2012, Cook has already enjoyed one promotion at the Goldsands Stadium when Bournemouth went up from League One at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Cook, who turned 24 earlier this month, signed a new three-year contract in pre-season to end speculation linking him to a number of Championship and Premier League clubs.

Earlier in his career Cook was part of a very strong ARK William Parker Academy team which won a national cup at the home of Premier League leaders Chelsea and progressed through the youth ranks at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Cook made his debut for the Seagulls in a League Cup tie against Manchester City in September 2008, but was allowed to go out on loan at several clubs before joining Bournemouth for a fee of £150,000.