Mike Cockerill’s journalistic integrity and social consciousness set him apart from his fellow football writers as he not only invested time into the professional standard of the A-League and national teams but also the grassroots level.
Cockerill wrote for Fairfax newspapers as well as being a regular football pundit and match commentator for Fox Sports and was inducted into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Honour in 2011 for outstanding off-field contributions to football. His death in August of 2017 left a hole within the Australian journalistic football landscape, which is still being felt two years on.
The impact of Cockerill’s work is highlighted through the creation of the Mike Cockerill Cup, which celebrated its second year on Sunday 14 October at the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex in Sydney’s Hills District. The Mike Cockerill Cup was born out of the work by close friend Lou Dulisse and colleague Romano Bit, who believed Cockerill’s legacy needed to continue well after his passing.
The Mike Cockerill Cup is an event that looks to bring together the football family in a way that both acknowledges the legacy of the man within the Australian football community as well as celebrating the cultural diversity that football brings together. Hills Football graciously hosted the event this year as personalities from both the media and the wider football community descended on the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex in Kellyville to take part in a day of football celebration.
The various groups that were represented showcased the many people that Mike had impacted during his life. Mike’s family was also represented through his wife Jo, son Toby and brother Ian, with Jo emphasising what the day meant for her and Mike’s family.
“Life together was football,” she said. “We lived and breathed it together. This day shows how big a part football played in our lives and how inclusive the football family is.”
Adam Peacock, John Kosmina, Francis Awaritefe and Zlatko Nastevski were also there. The Brazilian team put on a traditional Brazilian BBQ for all of the participants. The support from Legea to supply the football kits, as well as the free heart checks from Heartbeat of Football initiative run by the Victor Chang Cardiology unit, showcased the breadth of people and organisations that were represented.
Cockerill set himself apart through his social awareness and the important way football could help with social isolation and debilitation. This awareness was captured at the cup this year as Romano Bit succinctly and powerfully acknowledged the First Nations people in his speech.
The second Mike Cockerill Cup was ultimately a showcase of what community and football are able to do in collaboration. The bringing together of people from all walks of life through football highlighted the ability of sport to connect and cut through social and cultural differences.
Mike Cockerill’s legacy must never be forgotten as his contribution to football journalism within Australia has been integral in trying to move the sport forward within an environment that still struggles to fully embrace the world game.
Mike Cockerill truly represented the great Johnny Warren’s sentiment wherein real football people will do anything for anyone.
Kannga2
Guest
Great article
Kafka
Guest
Hope to meet one day -no better reason than our infinite connection to Mike Cockerill and the legacy of his presence on this earth. K????????
chris
Guest
Cheers kafka : )
Kafka
Guest
Yes Chris - your memory captures the true nature of this man and how his love for football gave him a heart felt link to the very lifeblood of the beautiful game: its social grassroots capacity to bring together a bunch of ‘amateurs’ in the true sense of the word- to play and do something out of love. His writing reflected the same integrity.
chris
Guest
Thanks for the article Sebastian. Mike used to come down and have a kick around with us on a Sunday afternoon on Sydneys lower north shore. He was a great writer (not the best of players!) and is sadly missed. This cup is a great way to honour his legacy.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
well said
Midfielder
Roar Guru
He was a great nay brilliant journalist whose love of the game shown Thu.
BlueFinger
Roar Rookie
Thanks for writing this up. I was upset I couldn't make it to Bernie Mullane on the weekend, and particularly as it's so close to home for me. Every time I read a Mike Cockerill article and his voice entered your mind as you inflected, the world was a better place. I remember sharing some short chats with him at Lambert Park when APIA or Sydney FC NPL were playing and just genuinely enjoying his company. Even now when his name is mentioned or you hear the commentary on an old game he so expertly described, you can't help but shake your head and smile. Definitely missed. I will try and make this day next year.
Rabbit
Guest
Fantastic tribute Sebastian to a legacy that will always be remembered. Mike was an investigative journalist of the top order. His passion and love of the game was depicted in every article he wrote. It was befitting that association football and the many good people that represent community together with his dear friends and family were there to honour and cherish a wonderful day. Thank you for your contribution and look forward in doing it all again next year.
Kafka
Guest
So good to read a story of what constitutes the ‘true football’ family after the disgrace and pall placed over the football community in Bulgaria. Mike Cockerill was a thinking persons football journalist who eschewed shallow sensational headlines for a much deeper thoughtful analysis and writing - giving sincere reviews of the game and where the need to smooth the way forward and re- calibration of self- interest ,that often inhabits its multi- ethnic competitive arenas both on and off the field, was required. Mike Cockerill cared wonderfully for his craft - the power of the pen ; and the social capacity of the beautiful game to bring together ,with greater human understanding , different cultures. Nowhere was this more evident it appears on Sunday ,than the moving acknowledgement by Romano Bit that prefaced the day of commemoration and football where age and cultural origins merged into a ‘greater humanity’ and unconditional reciprocity and celebration. Mike Cockerill represented a ‘pinch of soul’ that now is hard to find in much of the self- promotion that inhabits sports journalism. K