One of Dunstablians best ever players, Norman Cook passed away this week. His rugby career began in the early sixties at Brewers Hill School, Dunstable where Tom McNab (author, sprint trainer and legendary D's 4th team captain), who was the then school’s sports teacher, noticed Normans sprinting prowess in the school’s athletics team. Tom thought that Rugby might be Norman's true calling and suggested he try out for the school team. How right he was.
By the age of 15, He was playing rugby for Dunstablian colts, after an invite from another ex-club stalwart Paul Adams and by the mid-sixties he was playing for East Midlands colts. His skills were getting noticed and along with his best friend Lyn Harding, slowly progressed to become became first team regulars as a dynamic young teenage halfback pairing. On the opening of the new clubhouse at Bull Pond Lane the club’s elite players were mixed with a host of international stars for a grand opening match. Norman and Lyn were selected along with the likes of Keith Roberts, Dave Marchant and Tony Brooker.
Norman then joined Bedford during the1972/3 season playing at centre under the captaincy of the legendary England and British Lions flanker, captain Budge Rogers OBE. After two seasons at Bedford, Norman was persuaded by fellow centre and England cap Nigel French to abscond to London and join Wasps for the 1974/5 season. During these London days Norman rubbed shoulders and played with and against an array of legendary rugby icons. One of his most notable tries was against London Welsh scoring against the opposing Wales centre John Dawes. His opposition on that day included Welsh legends, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams who also played with for Sudbury Court Jesters Sunday team.
In 1974 the Oil Crisis hit, and Norman was made redundant and he had to think fast to support his wife, Debbie and young son James who was to follow in his father’s footsteps as a rugby player. He applied and was successful in joining the Bedfordshire Police force. He was now based in Luton, and he joined Stockwood Park RFC and played between 1975 and 1983. James was joined with another little Cook with the arrival of Stephanie in 1976. He played for Bedfordshire police and was eventually selected for the British Police, playing with a very young Wade Dooley amongst many others, most notably against the French Police at Park des Princes the night before the England v France 5 nations international in1978. In 1984 he rejoined his starter club, Dunstablians and the family Cook move to Dunstable, just round the corner from Bull Pond Lane at Garden Rd. He became first team captain in 1985 and held the position for three years. He brought the first silverware to the club since the early sixties when he captained the winning sevens team for both the Stockwood and Vauxhall sevens tournament. He introduced an attacking flair team whose backs were the match of anybody in the county, but they often were limited with the possession they got.
