Andy Cook is in talks with Grimsby Town as the League Two side explore a deal for one of the division’s most reliable goalscorers. Grimsby Town, currently 12th in League Two, are understood to be keen on adding proven firepower to push up the table, and Cook fits the profile perfectly. At 35, the Bradford […]
Andy Cook is in talks with Grimsby Town as the League Two side explore a deal for one of the division’s most reliable goalscorers.
Grimsby Town, currently 12th in League Two, are understood to be keen on adding proven firepower to push up the table, and Cook fits the profile perfectly. At 35, the Bradford City striker has fallen firmly out of favour at Valley Parade, though largely through circumstance rather than decline.
Cook’s last 12 months have been defined by misfortune and timing. On New Year’s Day last year, he suffered a devastating ACL injury that ruled him out for eight months. His return could hardly have been more dramatic. In September, he made his comeback against Grimsby Town of all teams in the Vertu Trophy, scoring twice in a 25-minute cameo to secure a 2–1 win for Bradford City. It looked like the perfect platform to pick up from where he left off.
However, that moment proved to be a false dawn. During Cook’s lengthy absence, Bradford City were forced to evolve. A tactical shift transformed their fortunes, propelling the Bantams from mid-table obscurity in League Two to promotion to League One on the final day of the season. That momentum has carried into this campaign, with City now sitting third in League One after an impressive first half of the season.
In the process, Cook has been left behind. The club now appear convinced that alternative attacking options better suit their current style of play, leaving a proven scorer on the fringes and searching for a new chapter.
Despite his current situation, Andy Cook’s legacy at Bradford City is already secure. Initially arriving on loan in January 2021 before signing permanently the following summer, Cook went on to score 88 goals in 205 appearances.
His crowning achievement came in the 2022/23 season, when Andy Cook won the League Two Golden Boot. Remarkably, only Erling Haaland scored more goals than Cook in English football that campaign. It was an extraordinary return that cemented his status as a fan favourite and, for many supporters, a genuine club legend.
During six bleak seasons in League Two, Cook was a shining light — a consistent source of goals in an era short on optimism. His contributions played a huge role in keeping belief alive at Valley Parade when little else did.
A move to Grimsby Town would represent a return to familiar ground. Cook previously played for the Mariners between 2012 and 2014, scoring 22 goals in 95 appearances. While a respectable record, his later career has shown that, with the right service and system, he is capable of far more.
Now firmly in the twilight years of his career, questions naturally remain following a serious ACL injury. Yet Cook has already demonstrated his resilience, and there is little doubt he still knows where the goal is.
For Grimsby, this could be a low-risk, high-reward gamble — a seasoned striker with unfinished business and a point to prove. For Cook, it may be one final opportunity to lead a promotion charge and add another achievement to an already impressive CV.
The question now is simple: can Andy Cook do it one more time?
