COKER: BEING A KEEPER IS NOT FOR ME!
CHRIS Powell once joked that he wanted to develop Ben Coker into the second best left-back in Southend’s history – the man himself just wants to make sure he stays in that position on the field.
Shrimpers manager Powell earned five England caps and made nearly 300 appearances for the club as a left-sided full-back in his playing days and Coker, 29, was due to run out for the 200th time in Southend colours against Shrewsbury yesterday.
But earlier this month, he ended the Shrimpers’ 2-1 loss to Charlton deputising in goal following Mark Oxley’s red card and Coker is keen not to find himself in that position again.
“It was nerve-wracking and I didn’t really enjoy it, so I was just praying the ball didn’t come near me,” said Coker.
“I saw a few pictures and I looked tiny in the net, so hopefully it won’t happen again.
“I’ve battered keepers before but I understand it’s not a nice position now. I’m happy where I am.”
Coker’s new-found standing as a Southend stalwart looked thoroughly unlikely at one point, with the defender having nearly fallen out of the game when he left Colchester in 2013.
Despite a brief spell in Non-League with Histon, he refused to give up on his EFL ambitions and can now reflect on a successful career at Roots Hall, Coker having helped the Shrimpers win the 2014-15 League Two playoff final.
“Before Colchester, I had been working on a building site and that could have been an option again,” he said.
“It was the toughest part of my career but you just have to be mentally strong and keep going because if you do, then you can achieve stuff in the game.”