About Us

The early days of Cogenhoe were not documented and are now obscured by the mist of time. Inter village friendlies gradually led to membership of the now extinct Central Village League. As typical with village football, a variety of pitches were ‘home’ until in 1950 the first game, against Northampton Yeomanry, was played on the then new playing field.

New purpose built facilities were developed together with a new spectator stand which gained us promotion into the UCFL, for the season 1985/86. The first competitive match at Compton Park was our final match in the Central Combination, when The Cooks defeated Bugbrooke St.Michaels, 1-0 with Jason Moore scoring the historic first goal. Compton Park was officially opened when Ron Atkinson, then manager of Manchester United brought a team to play in the inaugural game.

The Cooks entered the F.A. Vase for the first time in 1988/89 and at the end of the season, Brian Foley stepped down as Chairman after 21 years loyal service. This achievement was recognised and Brian was elected Vice President of the United Counties Football League.

Cogenhoe United Under-18’s side was elected to the Northamptonshire Senior Youth League in 1991/92 and won the Championship at the first attempt. This was followed with the excellent news that further land was obtained for youth pitches to be developed.

The first team entered the F.A. Cup for the first time in 1994/95. In the subsequent three seasons Steve and Dino guided the team to further success culminating in the most successful season campaign in The Cooks history. Runners-Up in the UCFL Premier Division, Winners of the UCFL Knock Out Cup and Buckingham Charity Cup plus Runners-Up in the Daventry Charity Cup. In the Northants Senior Youth League, the club’s Under-18’s were not to be outdone by winning the League Knockout Cup and finishing Runners-Up in the League.

Another former Northampton Town midfielder was appointed as First Team Manager. Adam Sandy took the hotseat and linked up with former Cooks legend Dino Cirelli to become his assistant. They finished the 2003/04 season in sixth place and Runners-Up in the Daventry Charity Cup. Dino Cirelli retired at the end of the season.

In the following season, 2004/05, Dave Jones stepped up from Reserve Team Coach to assist Adam and the season became a very successful affair. The last game of the UCFL season finished with The Cooks playing Potton (1st vs 2nd) in a winner takes all game. Cogenhoe only required a draw to clinch our first UCFL title and the game ended 2-2 making sure the trophy came to Compton Park.

During the 2005/06 season, Cogenhoe acheived their best ever run in the FA Cup. The Cook’s eventually lost in extra time, in a replay, to Chasetown 4-3.

In 2006/07, The Cooks equaled their best run in the FA Vase by going out to Causeway United, after extra time, in the fourth round. At the end of the season, the club announced the appointment of Darren Collins as 1st Team Manager as Adam Sandy resigned.

Chapman started the 2017/18 season with former Cooks Neil Champlovier (assistant) and Jamie Wright (player-coach) to help him out but things didn’t totally go to plan. Wright was injured very early on and wasn’t seen again, while injuries and too many players making themselves unavailable for games meant the side was changed every week and piled the pressure on the Cooks gaffer. After a home defeat to Harborough Town in October 2017, Tom resigned out of the blue with the Cooks fourth from bottom, but still in the F.A Vase. Jake Stone stepped up from the reserves as caretaker-manager as was eventually persuaded to take the role on full-time with the Vase run continuing and an eight-game winning run helping us to finish as the UCL’s highest Northamptonshire club in 8th spot. The F.A Vase ended at home to Wolverhampton Community Sporting 2-3 in the 3rd Round proper, but those wins at Histon and Great Wakering Rovers will go down as some of the best results in the club’s history as they equalled their best ever run.

2020/21 started later than usual as football was allowed to return as we saw a dip in Covid cases, but it was on everybody’s minds that this may be another season that failed to reach its natural conclusion. A Tuesday night start saw us make the long trip to play Kirkley & Pakefield in the F.A Cup and two extremely late goals gave us a 2-1 win in Lowestoft. League form was improved on the previous year with Nat Ansu on fire in front of goal and the F.A Vase had seen us progress through three rounds before we headed into another national lockdown in early November. On 12th of December we were allowed back into action, but only in the F.A competitions and on a wet afternoon in Norfolk we crashed out 0-5 to a better prepared Mulbarton Wanderers team and following a sad period after Christmas that saw 10,000s of people lose their life to this deadly desease, the F.A brought all football at level to an early finish once again at the end of February.