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James Coppinger

James Coppinger (born 18 January 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He began his career at Newcastle United, making one appearance in the Premier League, and later spent two years at Exeter City, but is best known for his association with Doncaster Rovers, whom he represented over seventeen seasons between 2004 and his retirement in 2021.

James Coppinger
Coppinger playing for Doncaster Rovers in 2007
Personal information
Full name James Coppinger[1]
Date of birth (1981-01-18) 18 January 1981 (age 43)[2]
Place of birth Guisborough, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1994–1995[4] Middlesbrough
1995–1996[5] Marton Juniors
1996–1997[4] Woodgarth
1997–1998 Darlington
1998–1999 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Newcastle United 1 (0)
1999–2000 → Hartlepool United (loan) 10 (3)
2001 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 0 (0)
2001–2002 → Hartlepool United (loan) 14 (2)
2002–2004 Exeter City 82 (13)
2004–2021 Doncaster Rovers 614 (67)
2012 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 6 (0)
Total 727 (85)
International career
1997–1998[4] England U16 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

The only player ever to make over 600 appearances for Doncaster, he currently serves the club in a mentorship role. He is a former England under-16 international.

Career

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Early career

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Born in Guisborough, Cleveland, Coppinger started his career as a trainee for Darlington in 1997,[4][5][6] though he was signed by fellow north-east side Newcastle United before he even made an appearance. Aged 17, he moved to Newcastle in a £500,000 joint deal with 19-year-old Paul Robinson in March 1998 when Kenny Dalglish was manager.[7][8]

Coppinger was loaned out to his first loan spell at Hartlepool United in the 1999–00 season. His first loan spell at Hartlepool United was impactful and acknowledged by manager Bobby Robson saying: "Going to Hartlepool toughened him up."[9] Coppinger played in the Magpie's reserves in the pre–season friendly matches, where he scored a hat–trick.[10] His performance led manager Robson calling him to Newcastle United's squad and just played once in the Premier League as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August 2000.[11] However, Coppinger later stated that as a teenager from a small town he was not fully prepared for life as a top-level professional player[4][5][8] and he struggled to make any impact while coming through the Newcastle ranks.

Shortly after his making his debut for the Magpies, Coppinger signed a three–year contract with the club.[9] Throughout the 2000–01 season, Coppinger continued to attract interests from Division Three clubs, while playing for Newcastle United's reserve team.[12]

After his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers ended, Coppinger re–joined Hartlepool United on loan for two months.[13] He scored on his second debut for the club, in a 5–1 win against Rushden & Diamonds.[14] Like his first spell at Hartlepool United, Coppinger was a first team regular for the rest of the 2001–02 season.[15] He scored his second goal for the club, in a 5–1 win against Southend United on 23 February 2002.[16] His impressive second loan spell with Hartlepool United led to an extension until the end of the 2001–02 season.[17] Having helped the club secure a play–off place, Coppinger, however, returned to his parent club instead.[18]

After two loan spells at Hartlepool United and Queens Park Rangers, Coppinger's contract at Newcastle was ended by mutual consent and in July 2002 he moved to Exeter City in search of regular first team football.[19][7][4]

Exeter City

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He made his debut at Shrewsbury Town on 10 August 2002, netting his first goal two weeks later against Torquay United.[20] Despite suffering injuries in his first season at Exeter City, Coppinger went on to make forty–nine appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.[21]

Coppinger has since stated that the move to the other end of England was a poor career choice at that stage of his development,[4][8] and he admitted in 2015 that when Exeter were relegated from the Third Division at the end of the 2002–03 season, he was very close to quitting football. He said: "I had a lot of negative things going on in my life. I had a fear of failing – and also a fear of success. The way I was going and the way I was thinking, before I met Terry [Gormley, a motivational speaker], it was only a matter of time before I came out of football."[22] He was persuaded to return to the club by manager Eamonn Dolan, and in his second season with Exeter he was involved in the England C (non-league select) squad,[4][5] though records suggest he did not gain any official caps at that level.[23]

Doncaster Rovers

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Coppinger was bought by Doncaster manager Dave Penney for a reported £30,000[24][4] in May 2004[25] as he looked to strengthen the squad following promotion to League One. He was a constant feature in the side from the start, though in that first season, he failed to score in his 38 appearances.[26] He scored an average of five goals in future seasons, his first goal eventually coming on 26 November 2005 in a 2–0 victory over Bristol City at Belle Vue.[26]

He scored a hat-trick, described as "three goals of the highest quality" by the TV commentary,[27] in the 2008 play-off semi-final against Southend United in a 5–1 victory which secured a place in the League One play-off final at Wembley against Leeds United.[28][5] He was in Doncaster's starting eleven for the final, which Doncaster won, gaining promotion to the Championship.[29]

On 14 September 2010, Coppinger scored a hat-trick against Norwich in a 3–1 victory.[30]

On 21 July 2011, he signed a new contract at Doncaster which would keep him at the Keepmoat until 2014.[31] Doncaster were relegated at the end of the 2011–12 season and needed to offload players to reduce the wage bill. As a result, he became a subject of interest from several Championship clubs including Barnsley, who he rejected a move to.[32] After a few games, on 31 August, he was loaned to Nottingham Forest until January 2013 where he joined ex-Rovers players Simon Gillett and Billy Sharp under his former manager, Sean O'Driscoll.[33] Dissatisfaction with the lack of games at Forest[34] led him to return to Rovers after the loan spell.[35]

Coming on as substitute in the 2–1 win over Stevenage on 12 January 2013, Coppinger reached the milestone of 300 league appearances for Doncaster, one of only ten players to do so at the club.[36][37] On 27 April 2013, in an incredible final match of the season at Griffin Park, Coppinger scored the winning goal in a 1–0 away victory over Brentford in the final seconds of five minutes of added time just moments after Brentford's Marcello Trotta had hit a penalty against the crossbar.[5] If Brentford had won, they would have been promoted and Doncaster would have had to compete in the play-offs. As it was, his goal put Doncaster one point above AFC Bournemouth and they were crowned champions.[38]

Coppinger became only the fifth Rovers player to reach 350 league appearances when he turned out to play right wing-back against Nottingham Forest in a 0–0 draw at the City Ground on 15 March 2014. Doncaster were relegated back to League One on the final day of the 2013–14 season following a 1–0 defeat at Leicester City.[39]

On 9 September 2016, Coppinger won the Football League Two Player of the Month for the month of August.[40] The following day, he celebrated the remarkable milestone of reaching 500 Doncaster appearances by scoring in a 5–1 away victory over Morecambe.[41] On 31 January 2017, Coppinger extended his contract until the end of the 2017–18 season.[42]

In May 2019, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[43] In July 2020, Coppinger signed another one-year deal. He also confirmed that after 16 years at the club, this would be his final season as a professional footballer.[4][8]

In commemoration of his seventeen-year career with Doncaster, Coppinger was commissioned to design the club's third kit in support of the CALM charity. The team wore this for the first time in a home match against Hull City on 20 February 2021. Coppinger came on as a second-half substitute and scored a direct free kick to equalise in stoppage time. On 6 March 2021, Coppinger became the first player to reach 600 league appearances for Doncaster Rovers, setting up both goals in a 2–1 win against Plymouth Argyle at the Keepmoat Stadium. He is the 21st player in Football League history to reach this milestone. On 29 April 2021, in the EFL End of Season awards, Coppinger was awarded the Sir Tom Finney award, presented to a player who has contributed an enormous amount to the EFL during their career.[44] On 9 May 2021, Coppinger announced his retirement after club record of 695 games.[45]

Personal life

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Doncaster Rovers have worked with the NSPCC since the beginning of 2009. In June 2011, Coppinger, along with Mark Wilson, James O'Connor, other Rovers staff and local Doncaster businessmen David Plant and Brian Butcher walked the 62-mile Inca Trek raising almost £50,000 for the charity.[46] He has also set up 'Pro Mindset', a mentoring and support service for footballers,[5] and 'Kixx Middlesbrough', a local youth coaching academy.[8]

In January 2013, along with several other people, including fellow footballers, Coppinger faced a race-fixing inquiry with allegations of corruption in gambling on horses to lose on Betting exchanges in nine races between 1 November 2010 and 31 March 2011. He strongly denied the charges,[47][48] though was found guilty of corrupt and fraudulent practices by the British Horseracing Authority and given a three-year ban from any dealings with registered racing individuals.[49][50]

He received the Freedom of the Borough of Doncaster on 21 May 2022.[51][52][53]

Career statistics

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As of match played 9 May 2021[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Newcastle United 1999–2000 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2000–01 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2001–02 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Hartlepool United (Loan) 1999–2000 Third Division 10 3 0 0 0 0 — 1[a] 0 11 3
2001–02 Third Division 14 2 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 14 2
Total 24 5 0 0 0 0 — 1 0 25 5
Exeter City 2002–03 Third Division 43 5 3 0 1 0 — 2[b] 0 49 5
2003–04 Football Conference 39 8 — — — 1[c] 1 40 9
Total 82 13 3 0 1 0 — 3 1 89 14
Doncaster Rovers 2004–05 League One 31 0 2 0 3 0 — 2[b] 0 38 0
2005–06 League One 36 5 2 0 5 0 — 0 0 43 5
2006–07 League One 39 4 3 0 2 1 — 4[b] 0 48 5
2007–08 League One 39 3 2 0 1 0 — 4[d] 3 46 6
2008–09 Championship 32 5 4 0 1 0 — — 37 5
2009–10 Championship 39 4 2 0 1 1 — — 42 5
2010–11 Championship 40 7 2 0 0 0 — — 42 7
2011–12 Championship 38 2 1 0 1 0 — — 40 2
2012–13 League One 25 2 0 0 2 0 — 0 0 27 2
2013–14 Championship 41 4 0 0 2 0 — — 43 4
2014–15 League One 34 4 4 1 3 1 — 2[b] 0 43 6
2015–16 League One 39 3 2 0 2 0 — 1[b] 0 44 3
2016–17 League Two 39 10 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 39 10
2017–18 League One 38 3 3 2 1 0 — 0 0 42 5
2018–19 League One 43 4 5 0 1 0 — 2[b] 0 51 4
2019–20 League One 29 3 3 1 0 0 — 1[b] 0 33 4
2020–21 League One 32 4 1 1 1 0 — 3[b] 0 37 5
Total 614 67 36 5 26 3 — 19 3 695 78
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2012–13 Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Career total 727 85 39 5 27 3 0 0 23 4 816 97
  1. ^ Includes match in the Third Division play-offs
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Includes matches in the EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Includes match in the FA Trophy
  4. ^ Includes 1 match in the EFL Trophy and 3 matches in the League One play-offs

Honours

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Doncaster Rovers

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Doncaster Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 27. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. ^ a b "James Coppinger". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The impossible dream?, Chris Bevan, BBC Sport, 29 March 2021
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Unforeseen Evergreen: James Coppinger, English Football League, 14 April 2020
  6. ^ "Robinson delighted". The Northern Echo. 10 February 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Exeter's Coppinger swoop". BBC Sport. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e Meet the ex-Newcastle youngster once compared to Gianfranco Zola who went on to become an EFL legend, Sean McCormick, Chronicle Live,6 September 2020
  9. ^ a b "Amoebi has taste for big time". The Northern Echo. 12 September 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Phillips all-clear to kick-start season". The Northern Echo. 2 August 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Toffees unstuck in £4m Ferguson move". The Northern Echo. 15 August 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Two-year wait for team to match arena - Robson". The Northern Echo. 23 August 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Robson's chance to see rising star". The Northern Echo. 26 August 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Bobby's mind games". The Northern Echo. 29 August 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur, 26 August 2000". 11v11. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Bridges Leeds the way as reserves crumble to defeat". The Northern Echo. 2 October 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Bennett makes a move for former Quaker Coppinger". The Northern Echo. 5 October 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Lehit proves a miss". The Northern Echo. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Quakers storm to cup win". The Northern Echo. 9 January 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Boro fail to stop Gavilan". The Northern Echo. 1 March 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Coppinger Joins Pools On Loan". Chronicle Live. 25 January 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Five-star Pool shine like Diamonds!". The Northern Echo. 26 January 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Coppinger's dream debut boosts Pool". The Northern Echo. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Pool ease to victory". The Northern Echo. 10 February 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Pools leave it late". The Northern Echo. 1 April 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Coppinger shines for five-star Hartlepool". The Northern Echo. 23 February 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Pool are hoping for Friday frolic". The Northern Echo. 22 March 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Coppinger will get his chance, says Hartlepool boss". The Northern Echo. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "'Play-offs still in our sights' insists Westwood". The Northern Echo. 26 March 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Playoff joy for Pool". The Northern Echo. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Coppinger returns to Newcastle". The Northern Echo. 24 April 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  19. ^ "United wait on Bernard's return". The Northern Echo. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  20. ^ "James Coppinger season details 2002/2003". Footy Mad. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Newell turns to legends in bid to keep Pool top". The Northern Echo. 8 February 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
    "Quakers are out to halt basement boys' revival". The Northern Echo. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  22. ^ Goodwin, Paul (5 February 2015). "James Coppinger: James Coppinger: 'I almost quit football'". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  23. ^ Match Results | The C Team, England Football Online
  24. ^ "Coca Cola League 1". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  25. ^ "Transfers – May 2004". BBC Sport. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  26. ^ a b "James Coppinger appearances". Footy Mad. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  27. ^ James Coppinger – Best Hat-trick Ever!. YourRoversFC. Retrieved 14 January 2013 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ Edwards, Ian (16 May 2008). "Coppinger's hat-trick keeps Doncaster dreaming". The Times. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  29. ^ a b Lewis, Aimee (25 May 2008). "Doncaster 1–0 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Doncaster 3–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Doncaster Rovers extend James Coppinger's contract". BBC Sport. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Doncaster Rovers' James Coppinger rejects Barnsley". BBC Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  33. ^ "Nottingham Forest sign Billy Sharp and James Coppinger on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  34. ^ "James Coppinger reveals Nottingham Forest frustration". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  35. ^ "James Coppinger returns to Doncaster Rovers from Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  36. ^ "Report: Stevenage 1–2 Rovers". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  37. ^ "Coppinger Closing in on 300!". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  38. ^ "Brentford 0–1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Leicester City 1–0 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  40. ^ a b "Doncaster Rovers: James Coppinger wins League Two Player of the Month". Epworth Bells. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  41. ^ "Morecambe 1 Rovers 5". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  42. ^ "James Coppinger and Andy Butler sign contract extensions". The Star. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  43. ^ "Doncaster Rovers: James Coppinger agrees new deal for next season". BBC Sport. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  44. ^ a b "James Coppinger to be presented with Sir Tom Finney Award at 2021 EFL Awards". efl.com. 29 April 2021.
  45. ^ "James Coppinger: Doncaster Rovers legend retires after club record 695 games". BBC Sport. 9 May 2021.
  46. ^ "Doncaster Rovers is fundraising for the NSPCC". Justgiving.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  47. ^ "Footballers Chopra, Coppinger & Wilson face race-fixing inquiry". BBC Sport. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  48. ^ "James Coppinger denies horse racing betting charge by BHA". BBC Sport. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  49. ^ Wood, Greg (25 January 2013). "Michael Chopra given 10-year ban following corruption case". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  50. ^ McGrath, Jim (25 January 2013). "Michael Chopra and James Coppinger found guilty following investigation into alleged corruption". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  51. ^ "Coppinger to be presented with Freedom of the Borough on May 21". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  52. ^ Goodwin, Paul (22 March 2022). "Doncaster Rovers legend James Coppinger receives Freedom of the Borough". The Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  53. ^ "James Coppinger presented with Freedom of the Borough". Doncaster Borough Council. Retrieved 23 March 2022.[permanent dead link]
  54. ^ "J. Coppinger". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  55. ^ Hughes, Ian (1 April 2007). "Bristol Rovers 2–3 Doncaster Rovers AET". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  56. ^ "PFA teams of the year: Chelsea and Tottenham dominate Premier League XI". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  57. ^ "James Coppinger: 'If I felt like I couldn't give anything to the team then I wouldn't be here'". Doncaster Free Press. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
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