Cook clinches title triumph

Steve Cook has helped AFC Bournemouth clinch the Sky Bet Championship title. Picture courtesy AFC Bournemouth

The Hastings born and raised defender helped the Cherries clinch the title on the back of a 3-0 win away to Charlton Athletic yesterday (Saturday).

Bournemouth had all but nailed down one of the two automatic promotion berths to the Barclays Premier League following a 3-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers last Monday.

In order to finish top, however, they needed to better the result of rivals Watford on the final day. And while Bournemouth were winning comfortably at The Valley, Watford conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Cook has been a key figure in Bournemouth’s success. The composed central defender has made just shy of 50 appearances this term for a Bournemouth side which has scored more goals than anybody else in the division and possesses the best goal difference.

Having joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion on a permanent basis in the early part of 2012, Cook has already enjoyed one promotion at the Goldsands Stadium when Bournemouth went up from League One at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Former ARK William Parker Academy pupil Cook, who turned 24 earlier this month, signed a new three-year contract in pre-season to end speculation linking him to a number of Championship and Premier League clubs.