The 27-year-old midfielder has been appointed as club captain and joins the Row permanently following his successful loan spell from former league rivals Farnborough last season, having re-joined them in June 2021.

He was signed as an 8-year-old by Reading, but he left the Royals at the age of 16. 

Following a short spell as a scholar with Queens Park Rangers he signed for Vanarama National League side Aldershot Town before making the switch to AFC Wimbledon in 2013 after just one first-team appearance for the Shots.

In 2014 he decided to take the opportunity of a place at Limestone University in South Carolina, USA, and played for the Limestone Saints.

Two years later, he moved to New York to attend the St John`s University and turned out for their Red Storm side.

After spending four years in the United States, he returned to Europe and signed for Segunda División B side Mallorca, for whom he made a handful of appearances for the club's B team in the Tercera División.

In January 2019, he returned to England and signed for Farnborough for the first time, making a dozen appearances during the second part of the 2018/19 season.

Whilst on Boro`s books, he also spent time on loan with Combined Counties League side Badshot Lea.

In the summer of 2019, Cooksley signed for Austrian third tier side Pinzgau Saalfelden where he scored 11 goals in the 2019/20 season before leaving in December 2020.