Ade Coker

Ade Coker (born 19 May 1954) is a retired Nigerian-American football player who played as a striker. 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.

Ade Coker
Personal information
Full name Adewunmi Olarewaju Coker
Date of birth (1954-05-19) 19 May 1954
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1975 West Ham United 10 (3)
1974 → Boston Minutemen (loan) 19 (7)
1974–1975 → Lincoln City (loan) 6 (1)
1975–1976 Boston Minutemen 29 (14)
1976–1978 Minnesota Kicks 28 (11)
1978–1979 San Diego Sockers 13 (7)
1979–1980 New York Arrows (indoor) 15 (7)
1980 Rochester Lancers 6 (0)
1980–1981 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 35 (14)
1982–1984 San Diego Sockers 62 (33)
1984–1987 San Diego Sockers (MISL) 74 (48)
1987–1988 St. Louis Steamers (indoor) 68 (21)
National team
1984 United States 5 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[1] He spent the 1974 off-season with the Boston Minutemen of the North American Soccer League (NASL), earning Second Team All Star honors.[2] 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.[3] He earned his first cap in a September 9, 1984, scoreless draw with the Netherlands Antilles. A month later, he scored twice as in a 4–0 victory over the Netherlands Antilles after coming on for Chance Fry. He scored again two matches later, a 1–0 victory over Colombia.[4] He played his fifth and last match for the U.S. in a 2–1 loss to Mexico on October 17, 1984.[5]

Post-Career

In 2008, Coker alongside his West Ham teammates, Clive Charles and Clyde Best, were the subjects of the book 'East End Heroes, Stateside Kings'.[6]

References
  1. Belton, Brian (2006). The Black Hammers p.23-24 Pennant Books. ISBN 0-9550394-5-2
  2. "NASL All-League Teams". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  3. "U.S. Men's National Team Player Registry". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  4. "U.S. Captures Title in Soccer". The New York Times. 13 October 1984. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. "Men's National Team International Results and Lineups:1980-1989". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  6. Brian Belton (7 January 2008). "East End Heroes, Stateside Kings". John Blake Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
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