Tommy Coakley

Thomas Coakley (born 21 May 1947) is a Scottish former football player and coach. Coakley, who played as a right winger, made 95 league appearances in a professional career which saw him play in Scotland, England, and the United States. After retiring as a player, Coakley became a football coach.

Tommy Coakley
Personal information
Full name Thomas Coakley[1]
Date of birth (1947-05-21) 21 May 1947
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Position(s) Right winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1963 Bellshill Athletic
1963–1966 Motherwell 22 (1)
1966–1967 Arsenal 9 (1)
1968 Detroit Cougars 20 (0)
1968–1970 Greenock Morton 44 (8)
Chelmsford City
Teams managed
Maldon Town
Bishop's Stortford
1986–1988 Walsall
Blakenall
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Born in Bellshill, Coakley began his career with local side Bellshill Athletic, before making his debut in the Scottish Football League with Motherwell. Coakley later played in the Football League for Arsenal,[2] and in the North American Soccer League for the Detroit Cougars,[3] before returning to Scotland to play with Greenock Morton. In total, Coakley made 95 league appearances, scoring 10 goals.[4] He then played for the Chelmsford City team that won the Southern League title in 1972.[5]

Following the departure of Alan Skirton, Coakley became a mainstay of the Arsenal first team for the start of the 1966/67 season when he made 13 consecutive starts under new manager Bertie Mee. On Saturday 8 October 1966 Coakley made his final appearance in an Arsenal shirt in a 2–0 victory over Newcastle United at Highbury.[6]

Coaching career

Coakley's management career began in the English non-league system, managing clubs including Maldon Town and Bishop's Stortford.[7] When Alan Buckley was dismissed within 90 minutes of Third Division club Walsall being taken over by Terry Ramsden in the 1986 close season, Coakley was a surprise replacement.[7][8] He led the club to an eighth-place finish in his first season, and promotion via the playoffs in 1988, but was dismissed in December 1988 after a ten-game losing streak.[5]

After football

After an unsuccessful investment in betting shops, Coakley started a golf business with David Kelly, who had played for him at Walsall.[5]

References
  1. "Tommy Coakley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. "Tommy Coakley". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. "NASL career stats". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  4. "Tommy Coakley". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  5. Scott, Ged (16 May 1998). "Coakley driven to distraction with little help from his friend" (reprint hosted at The Free Library (Farlex)). Birmingham Post. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. http://www.11v11.com/matches/arsenal-v-newcastle-united-08-october-1966-78968/
  7. "Past Managers". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  8. "My Century: Big shake up at Saddlers". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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