What aspects of your role do you enjoy most & why?
I love the people, the autonomy, the instant results, the competition and the business decisions that I know I stand and fall by. Managing Cricklewood provides me with such variety, and requires such focus that it is unlike any other club or business that I have ever been involved in. It is hard work, and it can occasionally be frustrating but when you say good night to the last customer after one of our many 1000+ admission nights you do feel as if you have just played 90 minutes for a premiership side and won!
General Manager of the Beacon Bingo Cricklewood must be the pinnacle of anyone’s career in the industry. The day you were informed you had the position must have been one of the most proud and exciting days of your life? Every day on my way to work when I turn the corner and see the Club I feel 10 feet tall. I know that everyone with a passion for this industry from the fresh trainee manager to the corporate company director would relish this job above all else. Whatever I may move to from here my name will be engraved on the cup (‘I MANAGED CRICKLEWOOD’) .I have been fortunate to have been able to manage the biggest club in Europe and I like to think that people will say that on Cooke’s watch business was good. Ferguson can keep his 19 titles, he’s never managed Cricklewood!
What have been the achievements over the years that you are proudest? Being given the opportunity to manage Cricklewood, the business results we have achieved while I have been at Cricklewood, paying out the most ever prize money session in the history of the UK bingo market (£130k on the one session £50,000 full house) in March 2011, opening up a session of bingo with over 2300 people looking at me. Being recognised a number of times in Mecca Manager of the year award ceremonies, the amount of colleagues and friends that I have within the industry. The opportunity and exposure to
12 Bingo Life
the casino industry I had with Grosvenor and knowledge I gained to reinvigorate me and adapt in the Bingo division.
Do you have any ambitions outside of work a hobby or a desire to travel? This is such a difficult one to try and not sound too sad....... I think my personality is a perfect match for this industry as my life away from work is just as varied with different social groups and a drive to try anything twice! I’m so lucky that in both my lives I haven’t yet run out of new ideas; however good/bad/successful or not they have been.
Finally what is your wish for the future of the UK Bingo industry, as for a paste time that can be fairly described as soft gaming it is highly competitive within its own industry as well as in many people’s opinions far to regulated and heavily taxed?
The Bingo industry needs to become more united and pull together for the future good of the industry. Legislation changes should be positively received and not seen as a bigger advantage for one than another. With smoke free venues, an ageing population and our very own on-line bingo training sites springing up everywhere we have a larger than ever potential market to attract rather than trying to take from each other.
Paul Cooke
... Was born the week that England won the world cup
... Likes autobiographies especially that of Muhammad Ali
... Watches mostly comedy on TV - notably Only Fool’s and Horses ... Loves anything by Quentin Tarantino
...Supports Leeds United
... Goes to the Gym and likes all sports, special events, socialising and travel
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36