Tommy Cook was born 100 years ago in Cuckfield and to this day remains the scorer of the greatest number of aggregate goals for the Albion in peacetime.

Between 1922-1929 he netted 123 in a total of 209 appearances. Truly, his achievements have stood the passage of time.

It is doubtful if a finer all-round sportsman came out of Sussex than Cook who was also a county cricketer of distinction. Indeed, Cook preferred cricket to soccer and only narrowly missed playing for England in both sports.

To his lasting credit this remarkable man was the first Albion footballer to be capped for his country. To be called-up to play against Wales in 1924-25 was astonishing recognition for a Third Division (South) player. Then, in the early Thirties, Cook, a forcing batsman, had an England trial.

Tommy Cook remained the only Albion player to make the full England side until Peter Ward 55 years later. That gives some idea of his stature in the game yet he had less than ten seasons as a Brighton player and hung up his boots at 32 when in the service of Bristol Rovers.

After the war Cook returned to manage Albion and suffered the indignity of losing his job when the side had only three wins in 17 games.

That was in November, 1947 and, dogged by failing health, Cook took his own life aged 48. There is absolutely no suggestion that the hostility towards him by a pitch demonstration at the Goldstone following a heavy home defeat, and the subsequent arrival as manager of Don Welsh, had anything to do with Cook's tragic death from an overdose.

Tommy Cook had an extraordinary life of which relatively little is known. His son Roger used to live in Goldstone Lane and when we met some years ago, he maintained a degree of reticence when the conversation touched on private matters which was as it should be.

However, it is my firm belief that an accident in which Cook was involved while serving with the Royal South African Air Force in 1943 brought about a fundamental change in his personality.

Several of his friends were burned to death in the crash and Tommy sustained injuries that meant hospitalisation for six months and plunged him into deep depression. There was no counselling service in those days and you just got on with life in the best way possible. And as for compensation - don't make me laugh.

Thomas Edwin Reid Cook was a pupil at York Place, Brighton and, aged 16, he enlisted as a boy seaman in the Royal Navy. He served on the mine sweeper, HMS Glow Worm and it was while the vessel was in northern Russia that Cook won a medal for saving life. He dived into the icy waters off Archangel harbour to rescue a ship mate.

While at school he had been noticed during a casual match on the Marine recreation ground at Hove by Albert Underwood, Albion's secretary. Word was passed on to manager Charlie Webb. Whenever Cook was on shore leave he played for Albion reserves but, towards the last months of the war, Webb was a prisoner in Germany. Nevertheless, Cook had made an impression.

On returning to civilian life Tommy attended the Crystal Palace School of Engineering and eventually qualified as a structural engineer.

But, before obtaining his passing out papers, he worked as a fitter for Southdown bus company and kept fit by playing for Cuckfield. He signed amateur forms for Albion in the late summer of 1921 and later had a trial with Sussex. Tommy had played only one game for Cuckfield 2nd XI when the call came to turn out for Sussex the following Saturday.

The skipper, Arthur Gilligan, required him to bowl. "But I don't bowl," said Cook. "You jolly well will bowl," replied Gilligan, and very shortly the new boy was taking the first of 80 wickets which he captured for the club. But it was as a batsman that he made his mark.

After playing friendly matches in 1921-22, Cook then proceeded to his first League season with Albion. He had not always played in the forward line and more often than not appeared at half-back. After the opening three matches Webb gave him his chance, and it was on his third appearance that Tommy scored his first League goal at home to Gillingham. It was the first of an avalanche that included eight hat tricks.

In September 1922 Cook signed professional and 16 matches after opening his account Tommy lined-up for the first of three memorable FA Cup-ties against the famous Corinthians. Albion could hardly believe their good fortune in getting such a plum draw and a record 23,642 crowd paying £1,923 saw a 1-1 draw. For the first time on the ground a film was taken of the match and shown in cinemas throughout the south.

Crystal Palace, home of the Corinthians, was the setting of the replay. The entire Albion club caught the 11 o'clock train from Brighton while two specials carried an estimated 4,000 supporters travelling on cheap tickets.

Seven minutes from half time Cook drove Albion ahead with a searing shot but Corinthians equalised and it stayed 1-1 after extra time. The second replay was set for Stamford Bridge on the Monday.

The attendance of 43,760 reflected how the battles had caught the imagination of the public and Cook was feted when he scored the only goal. He performed his usual habit of picking the ball out of the net after he had put it there and the quality of his play alerted the England selectors.

An historic dinner was held after the match, given jointly by the clubs in commem-oration of one of the most sporting cup-ties ever played. Telegrams were read and a typical message went: 'Heartily congratulate 22 British sportsmen.' The seats were so arranged that amateurs and professionals mingled. Many toasts were drunk that night at the Cafe Royal and the singing could be heard down Regent Street.

Both clubs were invited to a West End show, but as Albion were committed to returning by the 10 o'clock train the invitation was declined. At Brighton station fans gained every vantage point and the players were mobbed as they made for the Hove platform. A total of 76,702, paying £5,609 had seen the three matches and Albion prepared for the visit of West Ham.

Charlie Webb always maintained that his side were lucky to draw 1-1 and that was due to Cook's equaliser. The replay saw Cook shifted to inside-left but he couldn't find the net again and one goal sent West Ham through.

Seasons came and went and 1923-24 will be best remembered for the second round hammering of Everton when Cook scored a hat trick in the 5-2 triumph.