Steve Cook

Steve Anthony Cook is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for League One club Wycombe Wanderers. Born on 19 April 1991 in Hastings, East Sussex, Cook began his senior career with Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his first-team debut in September 2008 during a League Cup victory against Manchester City, followed by an FA Cup appearance against Hartlepool United. He signed a professional contract with Brighton in May 2009 alongside youth teammates Steve Brinkhurst and Josh Pelling.

To gain match experience, Cook undertook several loan spells away from Brighton. He joined Havant & Waterlooville in December 2008, Eastleigh in November 2009, Eastbourne Borough in September 2010, and Mansfield Town through January 2011. During his stint at Eastbourne Borough, he made seven appearances and scored once. Manager Gus Poyet noted that playing away from Sussex contributed positively to Cook's development. He returned to feature for Brighton in a League Cup match against Liverpool in September 2011.

In October 2011, Cook joined League One team AFC Bournemouth on loan before completing a permanent £150,000 transfer in January 2012. After helping the club finish 11th in his initial season, Cook became an integral defender during the 2012–13 campaign. Following early-season manager changes, Cook entered the starting lineup in December 2012, contributing to a club-record streak of eight straight wins. He scored his first goal of that season against Carlisle United to secure Bournemouth's promotion to the Championship.

Cook established himself in the Championship during the 2013–14 season, scoring against Millwall, Barnsley, and Ipswich Town as Bournemouth earned a 10th-place finish. In the 2014–15 season, Cook played every minute of a 14-game unbeaten run that included an 8–0 victory over Birmingham City. He was ever-present throughout the league campaign, starting all 46 matches and scoring four goals as Bournemouth won the Football League Championship title and earned promotion to the Premier League.

During Bournemouth's time in the top flight, Cook reached several milestones, including scoring an equaliser and assisting the winning goal in a 4–3 victory over Liverpool in December 2016. He made his 300th appearance for the club in February 2019. In January 2022, Cook joined Nottingham Forest on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He played the full 90 minutes in the 2022 playoff final victory over Huddersfield Town to secure Premier League promotion and made 14 appearances the following season to assist in maintaining top-flight status.

Cook signed a two-year contract with Queens Park Rangers in August 2023, making his debut on 12 August 2023. He was voted QPR's Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season following improved team performances under manager Martí Cifuentes. After QPR extended his deal in May 2025, the club announced his departure in April 2026. On 3 July 2026, Cook signed with Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer. Additionally, in June 2022, Cook acquired majority ownership of eleventh-tier football club Westfield.