 Cox joined Torquay United as a junior and remained on the club's books while a student at Cambridge University, making his debut on 3 November 1979 as a substitute for Peter Coffill in the 1–1 draw away to Scunthorpe United.He played nine times that season, scoring twice in the penultimate game of the season against Halifax Town and once in the final game, a 5–2 defeat at home to Lincoln City.He played sporadically in the first part of the following season, but played every game from the 2–0 win at home to Rochdale on 14 February until the end of the season.