Premier League footballer is new owner of Sussex football club

The former Brighton and AFC Bournemouth defender, now at Nottingham Forest, has become the biggest stakeholder in the Mid Sussex League club.

Westfield, who are in the process of constricting a new ground, announced on Wednesday evening: "The club are delighted to announce that @SteveCook28 has taken majority ownership of the club, this is a massive step in the ambitions of the club #Westies #NFFC"

The former Ark William Parker Academy pupil, who was Hastings born and raised, has always kept close links to the area as well as having a stellar career with the Seagulls, the Cherries and now Nottingham Forest - themselves just promoted back to the Premier League.

Westfield finished 11th in the Mid Sussex premier last season but have big plans for development in line with the new ground currently being constructed.

Chairman Jack Stapley said: “I've known Steve a long time, and it has been a long few months of talks that have bought us to this point... it’s a fantastic time to be involved with the club that now has six adult teams and eight youth teams, a new ground happening and a chance to kick the club on to bigger things, Steve matches the ambition of the club and can't wait to get started.”

Cook said: “ Delighted to get this over the line, the opportunity arisen, as im close to the family, the idea fitted with my current ambitions and looking to help progress local football, im looking forward to adding to this great club and helping to take it to the next level”.

Cook's gift to Hollington United.

Cook backs Hastings United academy.

Stapley added: "The club are sure there will be plenty of questions regarding this change, but we feel there are so many benefits to having Steve involved with the club. He’s currently taking his Pro Licence badges, so the coaches can tap into his knowledge of that - and his experience within football and of how it is run is endless.

"This is a real catalyst for the club to grow organically with the ambitions we have set to get back to senior football on the adult side and grow the youth teams to match this. We currently have 51% of our adult section out of 120 players that have previously played for a Westfield youth team and want to raise that as the time goes by and the facilities grow.

"We are in a long term contract with Macron Store Hastings to provide our equipment and kit and this announcement allows us to make sure the whole club is aligned with kit and the best possible equipment out there."