Geoff Cox (footballer)

Geoffrey Cox (30 November 1934 – 3 November 2014) was an English professional footballer who scored 65 goals in 296 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City and Torquay United.[2]

Geoff Cox
Personal information
Full name Geoffrey Cox[1]
Date of birth (1934-11-30)30 November 1934[1]
Place of birth Nuneaton,[1] England
Date of death 3 November 2014(2014-11-03) (aged 79)
Position(s) Winger, inside forward
Youth career
1950–1951 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1951–1957 Birmingham City 35 (3)
1957–1967 Torquay United 261 (62)
1967–19?? Bridgwater Town
– Welton Rovers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Cox was born in the Stockingford district of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He began his football career as a youngster with Birmingham City in 1950, and turned professional at the end of the following year.[1] A winger, Cox made his debut in the Football League Second Division on 27 August 1952 in a 1–0 win at Luton Town, and played in more than half of the games in the 1952–53 season.[3] He was then called up for National Service; by the time he returned, Gordon Astall and Alex Govan were established on the wings. He remained with Birmingham as cover,[1] and played in their early matches in the inaugural staging of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, including in their first match in European competition, a goalless draw against Internazionale in Milan in May 1956 while Astall was away on England international duty.[4]

In December 1957 Cox moved to Torquay United,[1] then playing in the Third Division South. In a ten-year career he scored 62 goals in 261 league games and twice contributed to Torquay's promotion from the Fourth Division back to the Third.[2][5] The club awarded him a benefit match against West Ham United at the end of the 1967–68 season.[6] After leaving Torquay he wound down his football career with Bridgwater Town and Welton Rovers of the Western League.[7]

Cox went on to work as an estate agent. He and wife Madge had two sons: Maurice, a former professional footballer who played for Torquay United and Huddersfield Town, and Michael.[7] He died on 3 November 2014.[8]

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. "Geoff Cox". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. Matthews, p. 188.
  4. Matthews, p. 241.
  5. "Torquay United". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  6. "1967–68 Friendlies". West Ham United Football Programmes: A pictorial history. Steve Marsh & Stuart Allen. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  7. "Torquay United: Gulls great Geoff Cox dies at the age of 79". Herald Express. Torquay. 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  8. Lewis, Peter (10 November 2014). "Geoff Cox (1934–2014)". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
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