The Longside Reference

Name : Jack Cork 

Date of birth : 25 June 1989

Place of birth: Carshalton, London.

Previous Clubs:Chelsea, Bournemouth(loan), Scunthorpe United(loan), Southampton(loan), Watford(loan), Coventry(loan), Burnley(loan)

Signed by Brian Laws

Burnley fee: Signed on loan

Burnley Debut:

Last Game for Burnley:7th May 2011, Cardiff City (H) 1-1

International Stats: England International U16'S(4 caps), U17s (7 caps), U18's(1 cap), u19's(10caps), U21 International

Claret Stats: 50(7) Appearances, 4 goal

Jack Cork the son of former Wimbledon player Alan Cork has been at Chelsea since the age of nine, a product of the Blue's youth academy, he also captained the Chelsea youth team.

Bournemouth were the first team to take advantage of Jack, by loaning him twice during the 2006-07 season making 7 appearances. When Chelsea went to America in the summer of 2007, Jack Cork was a late stand in for Lee Sawyer who was forced to pull out due to injury, making his first team debut against Club America playing left back.

The entire 2007-08 season Cork spent on loan at Scunthorpe United. Making 35 appearances, despite Scunthorpe's ultimate relegation from the Football League Championship, he was voted the club's Player of the Year.

Hisfirst league goals came for Scunthorpe, both against Coventry City; in a 1–1 away draw on 27 November 2007[4] and in a 2–1 home victory on 1 March 2008.

In August 2008, Cork joined Southampton on loan until 1 January 2009, after the Saints beat off competition from Brian Laws' and his then Sheffield Wednesday side, from there Cork was again loaned out to Watford for the rest off the season.

On 21 August 2009, Cork signed a three year contract with Chelsea and immediately signed for Coventry City on loan until the end of December 2009.

Burnley and Brian Laws came in for Cork again in January 2010 making Jack the sixth new face at Turf Moor when he signed until the end of the season.  Cork quickly became a fans favorite scoring his first Premier league goal on the last day of the 2009/10 season, a header in front of the the Jimmy Mac stand.

As Chelsea prepare to name their 25 man squad for the upcoming 2010/11 season, it became apparent that Jack Cork would become available, Brian Laws managed to secure a season long loan deal for the Chelsea man to return to Turf Moor. Burnley were amongst numerous clubs chasing the highly talented 21 year old.

With Jack's former team-mate Eddie Howe taking charge of Burnley, there is hope that Jack signs permenatly as he has soon become a fans favorite, winning the 'Goal of The Season' award from the supporters for the brave diving header against local rivals Preston North End, which turned out to be also the winning goal at Deepdale in the 2-1 victory.

This season had a scare for the U21 International when he suffered from Heart Palpitations while on England duty, a unusual ailment which is surprisingly become far too common in professional football. He was taken back to Stamford Bridge where the Chelsea doctors checked Jack out, it wasn't too long before he received the all clear to return to Burnley and continue in the rich vein of form which he has desplayed for the 18 months he has been a Claret.

Jack started 50 times in two seasons on loan which surely puts him in the Claret record books, for appearances for a loan player. But it is totally apparent to all who follow the Clarets that Jack is a Claret and no matter where his boots shall take him next as he is still officially a Chelsea man, all the Burnley fans wish him well.