Gems of the Lower Leagues: Jack Cork

22 Mar, 2011 guest England, Europe, Features, Gems of the Lower Leagues, Latest

by Theo Fan

21 year old Jack Cork, son of former Wimbledon player and current Sheffield United assistant manager Alan Cork, is currently enjoying the best form of his early career. Under the new and more creative style of Burnley manager Eddie Howe the young midfielder is being looked to to provide his skills and work rate in midfield with a regularity that highlights just how much his exciting brand of midfield play brings to the table.

No stranger to the role of the loan player Jack has spent the last five seasons plying his trade with six different clubs. Officially still a Chelsea player, the young midfielder has enjoyed time in League One and the Championship with the likes of Bournemouth, Scunthorpe United, Southampton, Watford, Coventry City and most recently Burnley.

Navigating the Lower Leagues

Having joined Chelsea’s youth set up at the age of nine and despite captaining the youth and reserve teams during his time at the club, Cork failed to break in to the all-star first team and began a journey through League One and Championship football via the loan market.

His first destination was two separate loan spells with A.F.C. Bournemouth in 2006 and 2007, where he made a slightly underwhelming 7 first team appearances alongside current Burnley manager Eddie Howe.

For the 2007/08 season Cork made his way to newly promoted Championship club Scunthorpe United. Despite Scunthorpe’s disappointing relegation at the end of the season Cork made 34 appearances and was awarded the honour of club Player of the Year, testament to how his style was developing.

The next two seasons saw periods at Southampton, Watford and Coventry where Cork went on to learn the ways of Championship football inside out. Alongside his domestic appearances Jack was earning notice on an international level playing for England from U16 through to U20 level, successfully captaining the U19’s to qualifying for the European Championships. Since then his performances have earned him a coveted U21 call up alongside Premiership rising stars such as Jack Rodwell, Marc Albrighton and Josh McEachran.

Burnley January 2010 – …?

Brought to the Lancashire club in a rare master stroke by former Clarets manager Brian Laws in January 2010, Cork was given 11 first team appearances in England’s top flight. Having tasted the pleasures of Premiership football in his first loan spell with Burnley in their relegation 2009/10 campaign in the Premier League the young Londoner is now in his second stint at the club and eager for more.

Burnley boss Eddie Howe has shown faith in the youngster who has started every game since the manager’s January arrival and the change in Burnley’s playing style he has instigated suits Cork perfectly.

Under the new regime of more passing, positive football the midfield maestro is thriving and is really developing his style of play. Comfortable in possession with a keen eye for incisive balls in behind defensive lines, Cork is proving formidable in the opposition half. Never letting his attack-minded playing style detract from his defensive responsibilities, the wiry midfielder draws upon a remarkable fitness level to make crucial impacts at the back as well as in advanced areas.

Despite his slight frame and lightweight build the hard working Cork is strong in the tackle and very difficult to shrug off. Couple this with an unparalleled hunger and work ethic and Jack is quickly becoming one of the hottest midfield assets on show in the Football League right now.

Cork’s skills and hunger alone stand out above others playing in his position but what really sets this young talent aside from the pack is his vision. His movement off the ball is inspiring and the ground he covers during a game is paralleled only by the most mobile of wing backs.

Valued at an impressive £2million by Chelsea, Jack Cork is a name that will only grow in football. Don’t be surprised to see Burnley attempt to raise the funds necessary to make him a permanent team member. If one thing is for certain it is that if Burnley don’t snap Chelsea’s arm off for him, there will be others who recognise his talent and are prepared to meet the asking price.

Theo Fan is a new contributor to Just Football.

Burnley FC, Chelsea, English Championship, Football League, Gems of the Lower Leagues, Jack Cork

The Unsung Championship Team of the Season 2011-2012
18 May, 2012 James McMath 0 Comment
Gems of the Lower Leagues: Charlie Austin
28 Oct, 2011 guest 2 Comments
Transfer deadline day deals: The view from the Championship
1 Sep, 2011 James McMath Comments Off

Share This Post!

About guest

This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above. If you'd like to guest post for Just Football check out the 'Come Join Us!' link at the top of the page for details on what we're looking for.

2 Comments

Jonathan F
March 23, 2011 • 2:03 pm

Nice article Theo and welcome to the team!

I remember seeing Cork a few times when he first went to Bournemouth on loan. He was a bit lightweight – as a Chelsea loanee obviously there were big expectations but in the games I saw he didn’t really impress (obviously he was very young then, this isn’t meant as particularly a criticism).

It’s interesting to see how he has developed over the last few years into a solid Championship player and U-21 international – proof perhaps that if decent players get their chance to play regularly at a young age, rather than sit in the reserves, their opportunities to improve and progress are significantly greater.
- Theo Fan
  March 23, 2011 • 9:28 pm
  
  When I was researching the article a lot of fans seemed to be of the opinion that he was too lightweight in his earlier career also.
  
  I think that one of the main reasons he now stands out as a player is that, despite his build, he has managed to develop and find strength without upsetting the natural balance of his physique. Seeing him come out of some of the challenges he goes into with the ball at his feet is probably the thing that excites me most about him.
  
  A lot of the comments I have been getting in response to this article have been raising the issue of how 20 or 30 years ago a player of his talent could have grown within the ranks of Chelsea and gone on to play top flight football with them without having to go through the loan markets but are now in a position where the big clubs would rather buy talent in and, as you say, leave their homegrown talent in the reserves.
  
  Whilst I think there is still a valuable place in football for reserve/youth set ups I agree that Jack managing to establish himself as a strong Championship player via the route he has taken is encouraging and suggests that the cream will, more often than not, still rise to the top. Or perhaps I am kidding myself and I just want to believe that is the case?