Hastings takes pride as star plays 350th AFC Bournemouth game

One of Hastings' finest ever footballers has clocked up 350 appearances for AFC Bournemouth.
Steve Cook in action for Bournemouth against Nottingham Forest - his 350th Cherries game / Picture: GettySteve Cook in action for Bournemouth against Nottingham Forest - his 350th Cherries game / Picture: Getty
Steve Cook in action for Bournemouth against Nottingham Forest - his 350th Cherries game / Picture: Getty

Steve Cook reached the milestone during the Cherries' 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night.

He wrote on Twitter afterwards: "Proud moment making my 350th appearance for the club tonight. Delighted with the win and clean sheet. That day at Preston only seems like yesterday though. Hopefully the journey can continue for a while yet."

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Cook joined the Dorset club, initially on loan, from Brighton & Hove Albion in October 2011 before making the move permanent for a fee of around £170,000 in January 2012.

Bournemouth were in League One back then, but they won promotion in Cook's first full season, with the defender playing 33 times. Two years later, Cook featured in every game and scored five goals as Bournemouth clinched the Championship title.

They spent the next five years in the Premier League and Cook played 168 times in the top flight, including every minute of the 2016/17 season.

The 29-year-old was named supporters' player of the year that term and picked up the club's goal of the season award for his strike against Liverpool.

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Cook also had the most clearances as a defender and made the most headed clearances of any Premier League player in 2016/17.

After the Cherries were relegated at the end of last season, Cook was handed the captain's armband for the current campaign. He now sits ninth in the club's all-time list of league appearances and has scored 21 goals across all competitions.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall said: "It's a great achievement. I think you don't see it too often nowadays, players making that many appearances for clubs. Great credit to him.

"He's worked extremely hard, he's been a really good servant to the football club so far and even looking at his performances so far this season, he's delivered some really good, consistent performances.

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"Delighted with Steve, but knowing Cookie and knowing the way he is, he'll want to make that 400, 450, 500. Keep him fit and hopefully he'll stay out there and continue playing."

A former pupil at Ark Alexandra Academy, or William Parker Sports College as it was then, Cook became the Hastings United Football Club academy ambassador in 2018.