Former South Sydney player, administrator and Life Member, Mr Tom Cocking, has passed away overnight following a long illness, aged 82.
Mr Cocking, first grade player number 454 and Football Club Member number seven, was born in 1937 in Redfern and played his junior football with Redfern United and Waterloo Waratahs.
He was graded by Souths in 1957 and made his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs in 1959 in round one against Canterbury-Bankstown at Redfern Oval.
Mr Cocking played 76 grade games for South Sydney between 1957 and 1962 including 13 first grade games.
Mr Cocking moved on at the end of the 1962 season to play with Kingsford in the newly-formed Inter-District Competition, which was later called Second Division and Metropolitan Cup. He captained Kingsford throughout the year and played in the Final where they defeated Guildford by 14 points to two to be the first premiers of the new competition.
After retiring as a player Mr Cocking served Souths in many different roles which included deputy selector and selector between 1974-79, Members reviewing committee in 1976-78, third grade secretary in 1976-90, ways and means committee in 1980-87, team manager in 1991-99, he served on the Board of Directors at the South Sydney Football Club between 1983-90 and worked as a gear steward with the team for many years following reinstatement.
Mr Cocking was inducted as a Life Member of the South Sydney Football Club at the 76th Annual General Meeting held at the South Sydney Leagues Club in Redfern on 4 December, 1983.
Mr Cooking's funeral will be held on Monday 23 December at 12noon South Chapel, Eastern Suburbs Crematorium.
On behalf of everyone connected with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Tom Cocking.
