Terry Cochrane launches his autobiography in Killyleagh

Terry Cochrane launches his autobiography in Killyleagh

29 October 2014

KILLYLEAGH’S Terry Cochrane, who played for Northern Ireland 26 times between 1975 and 1984, is launching his autobiography, See You at the Far Post, at Killyleagh Castle, on Monday, November 10, at 7.30pm.

A second launch will take place at Coleraine Football Club on Saturday, November 15, before and after the match on that day.

Terry, now aged 61, started playing football for his Scouts troop and the Killyleagh and Downpatrick teams in the late 1960s.

He began his professional career in 1969 with Derry City, followed by a move to Linfield and then to Coleraine where he was part of the squad that won the league in 1974 and the Irish Cup in 1975.

In his seven years in the Irish League he turned out nearly 200 times and scored on over 50 occasions.

His international career, from 1975 until 1984, is best remembered for his spectacular goal against England in May 1980, the year when Northern Ireland won the Home Championships for the first time in 100 years.

In 1976 he moved to Burnley, where he played 62 times, in 1978 to Middlesbrough where he made nearly 100 appearances and then to Gillingham in 1983 where he turned out on more than 100 occasions. He scored regularly for all three clubs and was always popular with both players and fans.

In his introduction to the book Terry says: “I was a good player, but not a great one, but I was an entertainer of which there are unfortunately so few in the present day game. I gave value to each club I played for and I hope the fans thought the same.”

In his later career he joined a number of Northern League clubs where he enjoyed the pure fun of the game contributing to the enjoyment of the loyal supporters of those lesser-known clubs.

During his long career Terry also spent time with clubs in Hong Kong, the United States and Saudi Arabia, opportunities which he enjoyed, knowing that he contributed to improving the skills of the young players there.

Nowadays Terry continues coaching youngsters in the Middlesbrough area, where he has lived for over 30 years, and broadcasts regularly on local radio close to his home.

He wrote the autobiography with the able assistance of his friend and former scout leader Clive Scoular, who is also the publisher.

Further book launches will take place in the Middlesbrough area during November. The book costs £9.99 and will be available at the book launches, in Killyleagh and Coleraine shops and from terrycochrane.co.uk from November 11.