The first book about a record-breaking sportsman who graced both the football pitch and the cricket crease will help raise funds for a worthy cause.

Former Northfleet United striker Tommy Cook led a remarkable double sporting life that would see him secure cult status following his tragic death aged 49.

In between service in both the First and Second World Wars he made his mark as a prolific goalscorer and later a first class county cricketer.

A new book has been published to commemorate his achievements, entitled “Tommy Cook, The Double Life of a Superstar Sportsman”.

During his time in Kent he netted 24 times for Northfleet United, as they were then known, during the 1930-31 season before the club amalgamated with Gravesend and later became Ebbsfleet United.

He joined the Cementers from Brighton and Hove Albion in autumn 1930 and held a scoring rate of 66 per cent.

Prior to this Tommy amassed 123 goals for the Seagulls, which is still a peacetime goal-scoring record for the Premier League club, and from 1922-1937 notched up more than 20,000 runs for Sussex cricket club.

In a life of adventure, personal disaster and triumph, Tommy served in Russia in the First World War and survived an horrific air crash in South Africa in the second global conflict.

The book also reveals in detail the background to his sacking as Albion manager in 1947 and his rise to cult status following his early death after suffering from depression.

Some of the proceeds from the book will be given to the mental health charity, Mind.

Author Phil Dennett, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, said: “Tommy’ s scoring rate with Northfleet was superb at 66 per cent, considering he missed the first ten games of the season.

"I wrote the book because a sportsman as good in two fields as Tommy deserved one. "

The 70-year-old retired journalist added: "In today’s sporting world, where professionals have to concentrate so hard on a chosen sport, his sort of achievement will never be repeated.

"He was a great servant to Albion and Sussex and had a terrific scoring record with Northfleet too.”

The book of more than 260 pages costs £15 and is available from the Brighton and Hove Albion shop online or the Sussex Cricket Museum at the County Ground in Hove.

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