Former Hartlepool United midfielder finds new club following spell training with Pools
Former Hartlepool United midfielder Callum Cooke has signed for New Zealand Central League side Napier City Rovers.
The 29-year-old had been without a club since leaving Morecambe, where he scored once in 18 appearances, in the summer after the Shrimps were relegated to the National League.
Since then, the attack-minded midfielder had spent time training with Pools, leading to speculation he could be set for a surprise return to Victoria Park, although manager Nicky Featherstone was quick to pour cold water on the idea.
Cooke, a former England under-18 international, was born in Peterlee and came through the ranks at Middlesbrough.
Having failed to break into Boro's first team, Cooke spent time out on loan at Crewe Alexandra and Blackpool before signing permanently for Peterborough United in July 2018.
After an underwhelming spell with the Posh, the midfielder signed for Bradford City, initially on loan, and soon established himself as a regular at Valley Parade.
Having featured 27 times during his loan spell, Cooke signed permanently for the Bantams in August 2020 and would go on to score six times in 85 matches in West Yorkshire.
Cooke signed for Pools in the summer of 2022 but was unable to save his new side from relegation back to the National League during his first campaign in the North East, scoring five goals in 40 games.
The attacking-midfielder featured regularly again in his second season at Victoria Park, finding the net six times in 36 appearances, but was released at the end of the campaign as Pools set about on a complete overhaul of their midfield under new manager Darren Sarll.
Having endured six months without a club, Cooke linked up with Derek Adams, who he played under previously at Bradford, at Morecambe in January last year but was unable to help steer the embattled Lancashire side clear of relegation before departing in the summer.
Renowned for his prowess on the ball, Cooke was often criticised for his lack of mobility and dynamism during his time at Pools and the midfielder is now set to try his luck overseas having linked up with Napier City Rovers, who play in New Zealand's second tier.
On their website, the Blues said Cooke arrived with "serious pedigree" and that he would bring "creativity, experience and a winning mentality to our midfield", hailing him as "one of our most exciting signings in recent memory".