Cook on his Goal of the Season award...
THERE was plenty of competition for the 2014/15 Goal of the Season award.In the end, Jordan Cook’s thunderbolt against Barnsley back in December fought off the challenge of the likes of Romaine Sawyers’ fine team goal against Bristol City and that memorable free-kick from Anthony Forde in our Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Area Final victory at Preston North End.
“I knew from the moment the ball left my boot that it was going to go close,” said Cook as he remembered the stunning strike, which also made it into the final ten of The Football League's Goal of 2014 award. “It started just outside of the post and then came back in. I was already celebrating as it reached the net!
“It wasn’t something we had practiced on the training ground, to be honest. Actually I was supposed to be at the edge of the box so I was making a run to get there when the ball suddenly came towards me and it was too good an opportunity not to have a strike... I’m glad I did!
“The goal is right up there with the best I have scored. There were a couple that I scored for Carlisle United and the Sunderland Under-21s which were pretty special, but that is the one to beat.
“To know that so many people voted for it to help me win the Goal of the Season award means a lot. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who did and hopefully I can win it next year too!”
Having joined the club on a permanent basis from Charlton Athletic last summer, Cook’s early progress was halted by an injury that he picked up during a pre-season friendly at Torquay and saw him laid low until early October.
“This year is all about having an injury-free pre-season,” he added. “I was always playing catch-up last year, but this time around I want to give myself a good foundation to take into the new season and really push on from there.
“I want to get a regular place in the team and also weigh in with as many goals as I can.”