Alan Cork

Alan Cork (born 4 March 1959) is an English former professional football player. He played as a striker for several clubs, most notably Wimbledon (where he spent 14 years and played in all four divisions of the Football League and gained an FA Cup winner's medal) and has held a number of managerial and coaching posts since his retirement from playing.

He holds the record for first team appearances and first team goals at Wimbledon, and is also the only player to have scored in all four divisions of the pre-1992 Football League and also the Premier League.

He is the father of Swansea player Jack Cork.

Playing career

Early career

Cork started his career at Derby County. However, despite a loan spell at Lincoln City, Cork failed to break into the Derby first team and subsequently joined Wimbledon, who had been recently elected to the Football League and were playing in Division Four at the time, on a free transfer in 1978.

Wimbledon

Cork's very substantial contribution to the team over more than 14 years helped Wimbledon climb the football league pyramid and eventually gained them entry into the First Division, playing in every division of the Football League in the process. Initially the club's first choice starting striker, Cork also played sixty minutes of Wimbledon's famous FA Cup triumph over Liverpool on 14 May 1988. Four days later, his testimonial match was held at Plough Lane against an All Stars XI from various club sides, to mark 10 years of Cork's service to Wimbledon.