Ben Coker

Ben Coker (born 17 June 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for National League club Barnet.

Ben Coker
Coker playing for Southend United in 2014
Personal information
Full name Ben Coker[1]
Date of birth (1989-06-17) 17 June 1989[2]
Place of birth Hatfield, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender/Winger
Team information
Current team
 Barnet
Number 3
Youth career
2000–2005 Cambridge United
2005–2008 Northampton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Ånge IF (2)
2008 Histon 1 (0)
2008 Barton Rovers 2 (0)
2008–2010 Bury Town 66 (17)
2010–2013 Colchester United 41 (0)
2010 → Chelmsford City (loan) 4 (0)
2012 → Histon (loan) 5 (0)
2013 Histon 14 (0)
2013–2019 Southend United 186 (4)
2019–2020 Lincoln City 0 (0)
2020 → Cambridge United (loan) 0 (0)
2020 → Stevenage (loan) 0 (0)
2020–2022 Stevenage 74 (1)
2022–2023 Solihull Moors 28 (1)
2023– Barnet 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 May 2023 (UTC)

Career

In 2007, Coker spent time with sixth-tier Swedish club Ånge IF,[3] scoring two goals.[4]

Coker joined Bury Town in October 2008 from fellow Southern League side Barton Rovers. He was previously with Conference side Histon. He impressed on his debut for Bury, earning the sponsors man of the match award.[5] Coker helped the Suffolk club win promotion to the Isthmian League.[6]

Colchester United

In summer 2010, Coker joined Colchester United after he impressed in a trial period at the end of 2009–10 season, having done well for non-league Bury Town during the 2009–10 campaign.[7] On 30 September 2010, Coker joined Chelmsford City on loan for a month.[8] The loan was extended by a further month and was given permission to play in an FA Cup tie against Hendon.[9]

On 14 January 2011, Coker made his debut for Colchester against Bournemouth in a 2–1 victory, providing assists for both goals.[10] He was awarded the Colchester United Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2010–11 season, his first with the club.[11] On 15 May 2012, Coker signed a 12-month contract extension to see him through to summer 2013 with Colchester.[12] On 12 October 2012, Coker was loaned to former club Histon on a month-long deal.[13]

On 4 February 2013, Coker had his contract with Colchester cancelled by mutual consent having made only two first-team appearances in the 2012–13 season.[14]

He returned to Histon permanently on 8 February 2013 following a loan spell earlier in the same season.[15]

Southend United

Prior to the 2013–14 season, he played in three friendlies for Southend United, impressing sufficiently in the games he played to be offered a contract by manager Phil Brown. On 16 April 2014, Coker signed a new two-year deal at Southend United, keeping him contracted until June 2016,[16] and on 7 August 2015 this was extended for another 3 years[17] with an option for a further year.[18]

On 27 October 2018 he suffered a serious knee injury whilst playing for Southend against Sunderland, and did not play any more games that season.[19] His struggle to recover from the injury was the subject of a BBC documentary series entitled 'Coming Back'.[20] He never played any more games for Southend, and was released by them at the end of the 2018–19 season.

Lincoln City

On 23 August 2019 it was announced that he had signed for Lincoln City.[21][22][23] He only played one cup game before being loaned to Cambridge United in January 2020.[24]

Coker signed a season-long loan at League Two club Stevenage on 7 August 2020.[25]

Stevenage

On 16 October 2020, he made his season-long loan permanent at Stevenage.[26] Coker was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.[27]

Solihull Moors

On 4 August 2022, Coker signed for National League club Solihull Moors on a one-year deal.[28] At the end of the 2022–23 season, Coker was one of eight players to be released by the club.[29]

Barnet

Coker joined Barnet for the 2023-24 season.[30]

Personal life

Coker developed type 1 diabetes at the age of 15.[31]

Career statistics
As of end of 2022–23 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Histon 2008–09[32] Conference Premier 1000—0010
Colchester United 2010–11[33] League One 200000000200
2011–12[34] League One 200211000231
2012–13[35] League One 1000001[lower-alpha 1]020
Total 410211010451
Chelmsford City (loan) 2010–11[36] Conference South 4020—0060
Histon (loan) 2012–13[36] Conference North 5000—0050
2012–13[36] Conference North 11000—00110
Total 16000—00160
Southend United 2013–14[37] League Two 45240103[lower-alpha 2]0532
2014–15[38] League Two 32100104[lower-alpha 3]0371
2015–16[39] League One 40110103[lower-alpha 1]0451
2016–17[40] League One 31010101[lower-alpha 4]0340
2017–18[41] League One 220000000220
2018–19[42] League One 160001000170
Total 186460501102074
Lincoln City 2019–20[43] League One 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Cambridge United (loan) 2019–20[44] League Two 0000000000
Stevenage (loan) 2020–21[45] League Two 0000101[lower-alpha 1]020
Stevenage 2020–21[46] League Two 380310000411
2021–22[47] League Two 36120211[lower-alpha 1]0411
Total 741513120842
Solihull Moors 2022–23[48] National League 28130—2[lower-alpha 5]0331
Career totals 3506182911703938
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and two in the League Two play-offs
  3. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
  4. Appearance in the EFL Trophy
  5. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Southend United

Individual

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Lincoln City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 38. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. "FootballSquads – Colchester United – 2012/13". FootballSquads. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  3. "På slutsignalen: Östavalls IF - Ånge IF". st.nu (in Swedish). 8 August 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "Skytteliga Division 4 Herrar". idrottonline.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "Ben Coker Bury Town Profile". Bury Town F.C. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  6. "Ex-builder Coker lays solid foundations at Colchester". BBC Sport. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. "Ben Coker Colchester United Profile". Colchester United F.C. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  8. "Coker Heads to Chelmsford". Colchester United F.C. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  9. "Colchester's Ben Coker extends Chelmsford City spell". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  10. "Colchester 2–1 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  11. "Cokes Is Your Young Player of the Year". The U'sual. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  12. "Colchester United contracts for Wilson, Heath & Coker". BBC Sport. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  13. "Colchester United left-back Ben Coker join Histon on one-month loan". BBC Sport. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  14. "Coker the latest player to be released by U's". Colchester Gazette. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  15. "Stutes offer a fresh start to young Coker". Cambridge News online. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  16. "News:Ben Coker signs new contract". Southend United FC. 16 April 2014.
  17. "Breaking News: Ben Coker signs new Southend United deal". www.southendunited.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  18. "Blues Confirm Retained/Released List". www.southendunited.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  19. "Ben Coker: Southend United defender out for season with knee injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  20. "Coming Back: A footballer's battle to overcome a serious knee injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  21. "Ben Coker: Lincoln City sign ex-Southend defender who is recovering from knee surgery". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  22. "Southend United Announce Retained List". www.southendunited.co.uk.
  23. "Coker becomes an Imp". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  24. "Coker departs LNER Stadium on loan". www.redimps.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  25. "Ben Coker Joins Stevenage". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  26. "Duo depart The Imps". Lincoln City F.C. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  27. "Stevenage FC Retained & Released List 2021/22". www.stevenagefc.com. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  28. "Coker in at left-back for Moors". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  29. "Retained and released lists announced". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  30. "Ben Coker agrees to join the Bees". www.barnetfc.com. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  31. "Ben Coker: I haven't let diabetes stop me being a footballer and want others to know dreams don't end at diagnosis".
  32. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  33. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  34. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  35. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  36. Ben Coker at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  37. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  38. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  39. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  40. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  41. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  42. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  43. "Ben Coker | Football Stats | Lincoln City | Season 2019/2020 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  44. "Ben Coker | Football Stats | Cambridge United | Season 2019/2020 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  45. "Ben Coker | Football Stats | Steveange | Season 2020/2021 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  46. "Ben Coker | Football Stats | Stevenage | Season 2020/2021 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  47. "Games played by Ben Coker in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  48. Ben Coker at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  49. Shepka, Phil (23 May 2015). "Southend United 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  50. "League Two Team of the Year: Matt Grimes in after Exeter stint". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
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