Andy Cook eyeing another big season with Bantams

The mobile was out in the pouring rain at Valley Parade to scrutinise the replay and determine that the City striker had his hat-trick after all.

Forget the fact it was “only” a friendly against Middlesbrough, Cook is sniffing goals again.

Last season’s League Two golden boot sits pride of place in his bar in the garage - “my man cave” - but the number nine is hungry for a lot more.

Being a marked man given his 31-goal exploits before does not fluster him one bit.

“People will be asking big questions this year and I totally understand that,” he said. “I’ll just take each game as it comes and see what happens.

“I was top scorer in the league, so people are going to try and stop me. But if I get stopped, we’ve got others who can score goals.

“It doesn’t really matter as long as we’re winning games. It’s not just about me.”

But it was last season - too much. Scott Banks was the club’s second highest scorer a massive 25 goals behind.

Cook admitted: “I scored 31 goals - how am I still in this league? How did we not get promoted?

“It was clear for everyone that we didn’t score enough goals from elsewhere on the pitch. We did create a lot of chances that obviously weren’t taken.

“But you look at the lads we’ve got here now. I think Tyler (Smith) will score goals, you’ve got others who will create and score.

“Matt Derbyshire will contribute and we’ve just signed Patto (Alex Pattison) who got the most goals from midfield last season.

“It feels like I’ve known him for years. He’s a good lad, straight in and settled down like all the lads.

“It’s a good group and everyone straight away is getting on with each other.”

Last summer saw a major upheaval in the dressing room as Mark Hughes put his stamp on the club. This time the recruitment has been more measured with six new faces up to this point - a third of the number from 12 months ago.

Andy Cook silenced plenty of opposition fans last season (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Keeping the bulk of the squad, Cook believes that shared disappointment of the play-off heartache against Carlisle will provide a powerful spur to go better this time.

“I know what it’s like to get promoted but I’ve never been promoted out of this league.

“Obviously I’ve been promoted out the Conference in the play-offs. That was also the second time I’ve lost in the play-offs.

“I’ve lost in a play-off final and that wasn’t nice last season losing in the semis. I don’t want to feel that again.

“It’s just demoralising. We went into the second game ahead and end up coming away with nothing - we didn’t even get to the final.

“You’ve got to put that disappointment to bed now. It’s done, it’s over and there’s no point in dwelling on it.

“We’ve just got to look forward to the future and the new season.”

The Carlisle play-off loss was demoralising for Andy Cook (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Cook switched on to watch the penalties as Carlisle edged past Stockport to clinch promotion. He wasn’t bothered about the rest.

“I had no interest because I wish it was us that was there. But you’ve got to get over the disappointment.

“Look at the Crawley game from last year. At times I look back and think, ‘if only I’d scored those chances I had that day’.

“And then I went and scored on the Easter Monday three days later. You’ve got to get over it quick.”

The play-off involvement has meant a shortened break as City prepare to head back to Crawley to start all over again a week tomorrow.

But having started the summer by putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract, it has felt longer for Cook.

“It’s been good to be back but the season’s so close and everyone wants to be playing competitive games,” he added.

“I was away with the missus at first and ready to be back in. It gets boring and you just want to get back in the swing of things.

“The previous year, I had a week off and did nothing and then started training for seven weeks. This time I had four weeks training so it’s a bit different.

City had a shorter summer break before pre-season training (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“But I’ve recovered well enough and can probably say that for all the lads.

“It’s common knowledge that I had interest from above. But for me, I love it here.

“My missus and family really get on with some of the fans and I feel the love here.

“I was out of contract and there was no thought in my head that I wanted to be away from this club. I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

And Cook is happy to accept the spotlight as the figurehead for City’s promotion push.

“It doesn’t bother me. You’re a footballer and you’ve got to enjoy the good moments because bad ones will come along in your career.

“I scored 31 goals last year but I’m not finished. I want to score more.

“That’s me from a selfish point of view and I want to get promoted with the lads that are here and get the club where it probably should be.”