Lee Cook (born 3 August 1982) is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a midfielder.

[edit] Career

Born on 3 August 1982 in Hammersmith where he lives currently, London, Cook began his career at non-League Aylesbury United where he made 19 appearances, scoring twice, having progressed from the club's youth team.^[1] In 1999, after impressing in a trial period, Cook moved on to Watford. His transfer was the subject of an unsuccessful lawsuit from his former club.^[2]

Cook made his debut against Grimsby Town on 14 April 2001 as a substitute. In his fourth game for Watford he injured his knee,^[2] which kept him out of football until the end of the 2001–02 season. Cook spent most of the 2002–03 on loan. He joined York City on a month's loan in October 2002,^[3] which was extended for another month in late October.^[4] With York, he made a total of seven appearances and scored once against Exeter.^[5] He was subsequently loaned to Queens Park Rangers in December 2002.^[6] Cook returned to Watford in March 2003, after QPR manager Ian Holloway had been hoping to sign him permanently.^[7] He scored once during 13 starts at Loftus Road. Cook made most his appearances for Watford during the 2003–04, playing 45 times.

Cook made no secret of the fact he was a fan of QPR, and he elected to leave Watford at the end of his contract in July 2004 to join them. As Cook was under the age of 24 when he moved, and the two clubs failed to agree a fee, it went to a tribunal where QPR were ordered to pay a fee of £125,000 to Watford.^[8] During his five year spell at Watford he made 64 appearances and scored seven goals.

Cook's QPR debut came against Watford at Vicarage Road on 9 August 2004 as a second-half substitute. Cook played poorly in the 3–0 defeat and was jeered by the Watford crowd.^[9] He was ruled out for six weeks in August 2005 after tearing his lateral knee ligament against Hull City.^[10]

Cook played a significant role in QPR's battle to avoid relegation in the 2006–07 season, and formed a great partnership with striker Dexter Blackstock.^{[citation needed]}

QPR rejected a bid from Fulham for Cook in June 2007,^[11] but he eventually joined them for £2.5 million on 19 July 2007, signing a four-year contract.^[12] Cook gave his £250,000 signing on fee to QPR as a parting gift to the club.^[13] He joined Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season in January 2008.^[14] He rejoined former club Queens Park Rangers on loan for the 2008–09 season in July 2008, with a view to a permament move.^[15] Fulham manager Roy Hodgson confirmed on 5 December that Cook would sign a permanent contract with Queens Park Rangers for a fee of £850,000, which could rise to £1.2 million.^[16] He completed the move on 8 January 2009 on a three-year contract, with the fee being officially undisclosed.^[17]

[edit] Personal life

Lee is cousins with Olympic gold medal boxer James DeGale.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Lee Cook career stats at Soccerbase
• Lee Cook player profile at qpr.co.uk
• Lee Cook Official Website at officialplayerwebsites.com