Iain Dowie and John Harbin have paid their tributes to former Oldham Athletic player Ernie Cooksey who sadly passed away after a battle with skin cancer.
Cooksey who was due to be a father for the first time in just under five weeks eventually lost his battle with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer he`s thought to have picked up whilst coaching in America.
Dowie and Harbin gave their condolences:
‘I feel there is a hole in my life now without that broad grin and infectious enthusiasm of the best player I have ever had the privilege to coach.” Dowie told the Rochdale Obsever
‘He had an impact on everyone he came into contact with and he was a sincere and caring man.
‘He found his soulmate with Louise and our hearts go out to her and all of Ernie`s family at this tragic time.”
‘My hope is that Ernie will be looking down on us now with that grin that I will never forget.
‘I loved Ernie as a player but more as a man.’
Rangers performance coach John Harbin added:
‘Iain and I visited Ernie shortly before he passed away and all I can say is that everyone that knew him is going to miss him.
‘He was a fantastic guy and the type of bloke you would want for a son.
‘Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time and I`m sure I speak on behalf of everyone on offering our sincere condolences.’
The midfielder who also played for Rochdale, Crawley Town, Boston United and Grays Athletic, scored against the R`s for the Latics back in December 2003 to knock the R`s off top spot in Division 2.
Cooksey made a total of 159 league appearances scoring 12 goals for five different clubs.
Vital QPR would like to express its deepest condolences to the friends and family of Ernie Cooksey
VITAL QPR IS 100% UNOFFICIAL – FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS
