Manchester City: Who was Eric Brook?

As we head into another game for Manchester City, attention turns to Sergio Aguero. The little Argentinian finally equaled the all-time goal scoring record for Manchester City. Every game, starting tonight, we could get to see history being made. If not tonight, then the same focus will go to the game at the weekend, against West Brom.

Eventually the record will go and, the record standing for almost eight decades, will fall. I think it is fair to say the name Eric Brook is not exactly a household name within the footballing world. This season, coming up to and equalling the record, is probably the most his name has been mentioned, at least in my lifetime. If you look at the image at the top of this article you might be able to pick out Brook. Looking at King George V, he’s the shorter, bald looking guy just above the Kings outstretched arm.

As far as records go, Sergio is still way off Brook’s ‘League only’ goals record. Brook played for City prior to the development of the League Cup or European club competitions. As a result he got all his goals in either the League or FA Cup. His 158 goals in League games (joint record with Tommy Johnson) is far from being eclipsed by Kun, who currently sits at 129 League goals for City.

Even in the FA Cup, Eric’s goal tally is 19. Aguero, on the other hand, is at 14 but will need another 8 to equal that record holder, Fred Tilson. Fred was bought by City, with Brook from Barnsley, in 1928.

I wanted to take some time, before the record falls, to acknowledge the guy who was our most prolific. Born in South Yorkshire, on 27th November 1907, Eric started off playing amateur football locally.

Joining Barnsley in 1925 he stayed there for three seasons before finding his way to Manchester City. He played on the wing and as a striker but also had a couple of games in-goal. In the days before substitutes it was the 5ft 9 Brook who would take the jersey.

Arguments have been made that Sergio Aguero has reached Brook’s record of 177 goals in fewer games. While that is true, Sergio has reached the tally in over 200 games less, it is also true that Brook could very well have increased that total, although he was 32 when it began.

Brook was an ever-present for City, it stands to reason. In the League and Cup games Manchester City had in the seasons Brook was there (508) he played in 494 of them. His average miss, as a result, was around one game a season.

As Manchester City went to on to win the League title in 1936-37 Brook was top scorer. It was our first League title and Brook, along with Frank Swift and Ernie Toseland, were ever-present.

In our first Premiership title, it was Sergio Aguero who was our top scorer with 23. That includes that final moment strike against QPR, which some of you might vaguely remember.

I had said earlier that the outbreak of the war halted his progress, and that was true. Taking part in wartime Internationals he was involved in a car crash. Unlike Sergio, who wasn’t seriously hurt in his accident, Brook suffered a fractured skull. Although he did come back for one final City game he was advised by doctors that heading those much harder balls they had back then, was not beneficial to his wellbeing.

After leaving football he had a couple of jobs. A coach driver and a pub landlord to name just a couple. Two decades after the war ended, Brook passed away at his house in Manchester, aged 57.