Allan Charles Cockram (born 8 October 1963) is an English retired professional footballer who played in the Football League for Tottenham Hotspur, Bristol Rovers, Brentford and Reading as a midfielder or winger. He later player-managed St Albans City and Chertsey Town in non-League football. Cockram is the founder of the Brentford Penguins, a Down Syndrome football club associated with Brentford which featured in the 2023 documentary film Mighty Penguins.
Playing career
A winger, Cockram joined Tottenham Hotspur as a schoolboy in 1975 and went on to make two first team appearances for the Lilywhites towards the end of the 1983–84 season. He was released at the end of the 1984–85 season and a two-year period followed as a football nomad, which included short periods playing for Bristol Rovers and Farnborough Town and two spells in the United States. A move to Isthmian League Premier Division club St Albans City during the latter part of the 1986–87 season, in a bid to return to fitness following an achilles injury, proved to be the turning point in Cockram's career. He was voted the Saints' Player of the Year at the end of the 1987–88 season.
After a successful period training full-time with Brentford during the 1987–88 season, Cockram signed a contract with the club in March 1988. He made 118 appearances and scored 17 goals for the club before his release at the end of the 1990–91 season. After a spell back in non-League football with Woking, Cockram made a return to the Football League with Reading in October 1991 and rejoined St Albans City prior to the beginning of the 1992–93 season. He remained at Clarence Park until the end of 1995–96 season and scored 73 goals in 211 appearances across his six seasons with the club. Cockram finished his career with spells at non-League clubs Chertsey Town and Leatherhead.
Managerial and coaching career Cockram player-managed non-League clubs St Albans City and Chertsey Town. He was later a technical specialist at Philadelphia Union and coached at University College London. In 2019, he became manager of Cambridge University.
In 2017, Cockram established Brentford Penguins, a Down Syndrome football club. A documentary film about the club, entitled Mighty Penguins, was released in 2023. Fellow former footballer David Beckham, and his son Romeo, met the Mighty Penguins team in September 2023, and presented Cockram with The Suns Who Cares Wins Unsung Hero Award.
International career Cockram represented England Youth.
Personal life Cockram worked as a firefighter in west London and later became a businessman.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTottenham Hotspur1983–84First Division20000000—20Bristol Rovers1985–86Third Division10—10——20St Albans City1986–87Isthmian League Premier Division114———21 appearance and 2 goals in Herts Charity Cup, 1 appearance in Wallspan Floodlit Cup21361987–88332100——92 appearances and 3 goals in Herts Charity Cup, 2 appearances and 2 goals in Isthmian League Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in Herts Senior Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in General Motors Acceptance Challenge Cup, 1 appearance and 2 goals in Wycombe Floodlight Cup84229Total442500——11105535Brentford1987–88Third Division72————721988–893777230—4Appearances in Football League Trophy151101989–902620020—303121990–912033000—60293Total901410250—13111817Reading1991–92Third Division6110——1081St Albans City1992–93Isthmian League Premier Division351263——174 appearances and 1 goal in FA Trophy, 3 appearances in Herts Charity Cup, 3 appearances in East Anglian Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in Herts Senior Cup, 2 appearances in Eastern Floodlight Cup, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Isthmian League Full Members Cup, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Billy Minter Trophy458191993–9428710——103 appearances and 1 goal in Isthmian League Cup, 3 appearances in Isthmian League Full Members Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Herts Charity Cup, 1 appearance in Herts Senior Cup, 1 appearance in East Anglian Cup23991994–9515210——163 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 2 appearances and 1 goal in Herts Charity Cup, 2 appearances in Herts Senior Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in London Challenge Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in East Anglian Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in Eastern Floodlight Cup, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Full Members Cup43261995–9620400——52 appearances in FA Trophy, 2 appearances in East Anglian Cup, 1 appearance in Eastern Floodlight Cup0254Total1425093——602021173Career total241652056000742134191
Honours St Albans City Herts Charity Cup: 1986–87Individual'
St Albans City Player of the Year: 1987–88
References
External links Cocker's Chronicles – SKD AND THE LOST BOYS