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LION CAGED
I achieved England glory with Gomez & Solanke… but here’s the harsh reality of what the transfer window is really like
He's willing to take a life-changing move to continue in the game
THE WINDOW is officially open with the top clubs ready to splash the cash - but it is a much “harsher reality” for many unemployed lower league footballers.
And for an England European Championship winner it could lead to a potentially huge life-changing career.
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Callum Cooke, 27, was part of an Under-17 squad that included future senior internationals Joe Gomez, Dominic Solanke and Lewis Cook when they lifted the trophy back in 2014.
But while they and the likes of Adam Armstrong are still in the Premier League bubble, Cooke is now one of the hundreds of players that find themselves out of work.
For two straight seasons he produced some of the top goal involvement numbers in the fourth tier playing for Bradford.
But a move back to his native North East with Pools ended up with them suffering relegation into the National League, and despite 35 appearances last term, he departed in June.
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After a host of false promises led to him being unable to secure a club in August, the Middlesbrough academy graduate is now fighting to continue doing his dream job.
Cooke, who is just four games shy of reaching 200 in the EFL having also played for Crewe, Blackpool and Peterborough United previously, said: “It’s been tough mentally.
“I’ve had training opportunities with several clubs, one where I trained for five days and played in a game for them to prove my fitness, but the problem I’ve had is that once the August window shut, most clubs had their squads full and no budget until January.
“I knew then I was going to be in this difficult situation and I've had to make big changes in my life financially and to make sure I stay fit, getting myself a watt bike and treadmill which I use each day.
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“It has been a massive life experience because I've never dealt with this type of thing before.
“I’m just hopeful that I can find something in January. It was my dream job growing up and to potentially have that taken away from me is very difficult, but you’ve got to remain positive.
I'm unemployed ex-Arsenal star training with little-known squad to find new club
“Also, being in the job, you've got to have thick skin. You have a lot of setbacks with injuries and other things and hoping this is just one of them setbacks but hopefully that'll change.”
Cooke is keen to stress that this is no sob story and has a career he can look back on with pride, especially his days as an England youth international alongside some now household names.
He recalled: “I knew a lot of them really well, and you’ve also got Patrick Roberts at Sunderland who I was close with.
These lads obviously got their chance at the top and took it. For whatever reason, I never got mine.
Callum Cooke
“It was a brilliant time playing with England and these lads and it’s great to see so many push on.
“These lads obviously got their chance at the top and took it. For whatever reason, I never got mine at Middlesbrough and that's why I took the jump to leave.
“But I'll always remember the sliding doors conversation at Boro for the rest of my life because I think about it daily and how life could have been different.”
After impressing on loan at Crewe and with Boro just suffering relegation from the Premier League, Cooke was told by Steve Agnew that he would get his chance the following pre-season.
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But Garry Monk ended up taking charge and, without having a serious look at him, told the ace to get back out on loan and it was the same 12 months later under Tony Pulis even though he had impressed at Blackpool on loan.
That led to him taking the plunge and leaving the Riverside now he is fit, raring to go and willing to take another big one in order to kickstart his career.
He said: “I don’t have any children yet and I’m really starting to think about moving abroad to try and experience that.
Being in the job, you've got to have thick skin.
Callum Cooke
“It could be a good time to do that but it’s another big decision that I’ve got to weigh up as some of the money and contracts being mentioned are just not worth it. I still know my worth.
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“Everybody always thinks that it's all rosy being a professional footballer and when you're a kid, you never see this side or even think it exists. However, the situation I’m in is becoming the harsh reality for a lot of other players.
“You are relying on the opinions of other people so much at the end of the day, such as managers and club recruiters. It just takes one person to watch you and take that chance and show confidence in you for things to change.”
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