Jack Lifts Cork On LIfe Story

Thirteen years ago today, Jack Frank Porteus Cork

was in my shoes at Glyn Technology School- today he has had the privileges of representing Great Britain

at the 2012 Olympics and captaining flourishing Premier league side Swansea City. A robust central midfielder for the

Swans, he has been transformed by manager Paul Clement, whom he has known since the age of 10; Jack told us that Paul has ‘always looked out for me throughout my

career.’ Cork was born in the London Borough of Carshalton

on June 25 1989, under the watchful eyes of mum

Emma and footballing father Alan, who played for

various sides in the late 1980’s. Alan Cork, the only

player to score in all four British divisions before

1992, was ‘only a dad’ to Cork, offering ‘top-level

advice’ as the London youth embarked on his

footballing journey at the tender age of 9. Joining

local side Chelsea, Cork admitted himself he never

thought he could complete the journey to

professional football- he said ‘I just enjoyed my

football and I felt no pressure’. Little would he

know that he would enjoy an 11 year tenure at his

hometown club. Despite this, Jack Cork struggled

little at school, joining the renowned Glyn

Technology School aged 11 in 2000- ‘A great

school’ in Jack’s opinion. Taking GCSE’s a year

early, Cork was very much influenced by his school,

quoting’ the PE department was very influential for

me, especially Mr. Kilpatrick.’ Jack Cork continued

to impress both academically and at Chelsea: as he

progressed from his successful GCSEs, he began his

‘A’ levels and started to captain Chelsea youth

sides. He told us that’ meeting my role models, in

the form of Frank Lampard and John Terry

impressed me.’ This seemed to shape his budding

career- the key word is seemed. A change in

managerial hands, and the departure of footballing

‘father’ Paul Clement to Real Madrid affected his

chances of starring at Chelsea. After various loans at

Burnley and Bournemouth, some successful, others

not, it was time to move on. Cork told us ‘I had to

better my career after so much time on loan’ It was

symbiotic move- best for Cork, best for the club.

A two million pound move to Southampton turned

Cork’s career on its head positively; it was

obviously the most successful year of his career. In

the 2012 season, promotion winning Southampton

allowed Cork to ultimately shine in the limelight.

Impressive displays followed by an excellent season

led to the Olympics for Cork- an incredible and

deserved call up. After the promotion that Cork

described as the ‘best moment of my career’ and the

successful 2012 Olympics. Continuing to impress,

Cork eventually left the Saints’ in a £3 million fee to

Swansea City.

A relegation dogfight was what seemingly called for

Cork- before his faithful ex- Glyn compatriot Paul

Clement took over the reign at the Welsh side. An

allegedly negative season fronted by the sacked

American Bob Bradley, Swansea look like a

different team under the Londoner.

Rejuvenated and boosted by a recent string of

positive results, Cork took the time to reflect on his

childhood, career and future: ‘I was affected by

demands of Chelsea socially as a youngster ,’ he

told us, ‘for the future, I would like to do my

coaching badges and see where that leads.’ He will

subsequently captain Swansea on Saturday at Dean

Court against Bournemouth on.