Ade Coker

Infobox Football biography


playername= Ade Coker
fullname = Adewunmi Olarewaju Coker
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1954|05|19|df=y
cityofbirth = Lagos
countryofbirth = Nigeria
height =
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1971-1975
1974
1974-1975
1975-1976
1976-1978
1978-1979
1980
1980-1981
1982-1984
1984-1987
1987-1988
clubs = West Ham United
→Boston Minutemen
→Lincoln City (loan)
Boston Minutemen
Minnesota Kicks
San Diego Sockers
Rochester Lancers
Baltimore Blast ("indoor")
San Diego Sockers
San Diego Sockers("MISL")
St. Louis Steamers ("indoor")
caps(goals) = 10 0(3)
19 0(7)
06 0(1)
29 (14)
28 (11)
13 0(7)
06 0(0)
? (?)
62 (33)
? (?)
? (?)
nationalyears = 1984
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 05 0(3)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
pcupdate = 12:33, 22 June 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 7 December 2006

Ade Coker (born Lagos, Nigeria) is a retired Nigerian-American soccer forward. Coker began with English club West Ham United then moved to the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned five caps with the U.S. national team.

Professional career

Coker was born in Nigeria, but moved to England at the age of 11. He was playing schoolboy football when he was spotted by West Ham scout Wally St Pier. In 1971, he signed with English First Division club West Ham United when he was 17. His first start with the Hammers came on 30 October 1971, against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park following a late injury to Geoff Hurst. He scored on his debut, a 3-0 victory, but despite this auspicious first game, he made only eleven first team appearances over three seasons.Belton, Brian (2006). "The Black Hammers p.23-24" Pennant Books. ISBN 0-9550394-5-2] He spent the 1974 off-season with the Boston Minutemen of the North American Soccer League (NASL), earning Second Team All Star honors. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerhall.org/history/NASL%20All-League%20Teams.htm
title=NASL All-League Teams
publisher=National Soccer Hall of Fame
accessdate=2008-06-10] Returning to England, in December 1974 he joined Lincoln City on loan, making his debut in the 2-0 home victory over Stockport County on 20 December, 1974. He remained with the Imps for a month before returning to West Ham.

Coker then moved permanently to America, rejoining the Boston Minutemen. Halfway through the 1976 season, Minutemen owner John Sterge began selling his players in order to forestall bankruptcy. Coker was sent to the Minnesota Kicks. Three games into the 1978 season, Minnesota traded Coker to the San Diego Sockers. At the end of the 1979 season, the Sockers sent Coker to the Rochester Lancers for the 1980 season. Coker spent the 1980-1981 Major Indoor Soccer League club Baltimore Blast. In 1982 Coker was back with San Diego as the Sockers began to transition towards indoor soccer. When the NASL collapsed following the 1984 season, the Sockers moved to MISL and became the league’s dominant team. Coker remained with the Sockers until 1987. He spent one more season (1987-1988) in MISL with the St. Louis Steamers.

U.S. national team

Coker earned 5 caps with the U.S. national team. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerhall.org/Registry/MensNationalTeam_A-E.htm#C
title=U.S. Men's National Team Player Registry
publisher=National Soccer Hall of Fame
accessdate=2008-06-10] He earned his first cap in a September 9, 1984 scoreless tie with Netherlands Antilles. A month later, he scored twice as in a 4-0 victory over the Netherland Antilles after coming on for Chance Fry. He scored again two matches later, a 1-0 victory over Colombia. [cite web
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E3D71639F930A25753C1A962948260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSoccer
title=U.S. Captures Title in Soccer
publisher=The New York Times
date=13 October, 1984
accessdate=2008-06-10] He played his fifth and last match for the U.S. in a 2-1 loss to Mexico on October 17, 1984. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerhall.org/history/MNTAlltime_1980-89.htm
title=Men's National Team International Results and Lineups:1980-1989
publisher=National Soccer Hall of Fame
accessdate=2008-06-10]

Post-Career

Coker lives Finn Hill, married with two children who he coached throughout their youth. He is currently head coach of Crossfire D, a nationally ranked youth team on which his son plays. In 2008, Coker alongside his West Ham teammates, Clive Charles and Clyde Best, were the subjects of the book 'East End Heroes, Stateside Kings'. [cite web
url=http://www.blake.co.uk/e-store/product.php?productid=5553&cat=0&page=1
title=East End Heroes, Stateside Kings
author=Brian Belton
date=7 January, 2008
publisher=John Blake Publishing Ltd
accessdate=2008-06-10]

References

External links

* [http://www.jimmunro.co.uk/4751/16518.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val* Reminiscence of Coker at West Ham]
* [http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=139&united=Ade_Coker West Ham stats]
* [http://www.redimps.com/archive3/index.mv?cat=players&drop=playerdetsdrop&play=coke01 Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive Profile]
* [http://www.eteamz.com/crossfireselect/files/crossfireselect93coker.html Crossfire Coaching Profile]