Right-back Cochrane was brought over to England from Northern Ireland by Leicester in 1900 but he spent less than a year at the club before moving on to Middlesbrough. That said, he was an ever-present from making his debit to moving on, making 27 appearances for the Foxes in the Football League.

He arrived in Leicestershire from Distillery and just two years after Scottish side Celtic had seen a £200 bid turned down for his services. He was a regular Northern Ireland international, securing eight of his caps whilst at Leicester, and enjoyed his football more in his home nation than during his spell in England. After his stint with Boro, Cochrane returned to former club Distillery and finished his career at Belfast Celtic.