Harry Cooksley, who finished second on the 2025 series of Love Island, is now focused on creating FA Cup history with Farnham Town. The 30-year-old midfielder returned to semi-professional football just weeks after leaving the villa, and is set to play in the club's fourth qualifying round tie against Sutton United.
Cooksley, alongside fellow Love Island contestants Dejon Noah-Williams and Harrison Solomon, entered the villa during the 2025 series. Despite the fame gained from the show, Cooksley prioritised a swift return to football. He told Mirror Football: 'It's all I've known since I was knee high... one of my main priorities coming out of Love Island was how quickly can I get fit and get back playing.'
After missing pre-season and the first eight matches, Cooksley made his comeback on September 13 in the FA Cup against Burgess Hill Town. Since then, he has made six appearances, scoring twice and providing two assists. He admitted concerns about letting the team down: 'I didn't want to go back and be awful... I didn't want to come back and hurt the team.'
Farnham Town, who play in the Southern Premier League South (tier seven), are 30 places below Sutton United in the non-league pyramid. However, they are unbeaten in 14 matches this season, giving Cooksley and his teammates confidence of causing an upset. 'It's all I've known since I was knee high and it's been a huge part of my life,' Cooksley added, reflecting on his passion for the game.
