I’M LOVING LIFE WITH SEADOGS!
Returning home has helped Coulson regain his hunger
Icaught up with Scarborough Athletic striker Michael Coulson about life in Step 4 and what’s round the corner for the Evo-Stik North top goalscorer…
MICHAEL, YOU’RE HAVING A FANTASTIC YEAR AT THE SEAGULLS! HOW IS SCARBADOS TREATING YOU?
It’s been nice to be back home in Scarborough after not living here for a long time, especially as we have now have two children – the extra help from family has been great. Football-wise, it’s gone a lot better than expected. I wasn’t really sure what to expect this season as I’d never played below the National League before, but the club is going in the right direction. They are trying to be very professional and we have had a great year on the pitch as well. Promotion and 42 goals for myself has made it a great season.
YOU’RE BACK TO SCORING PLENTY OF GOALS. WHAT DO YOU PUT THAT DOWN TO?
Yes, I’ve scored a lot of goals this season. I’ve always thought in previous years I could have had more than I got, so it’s nice to get a fair few this year. My confidence is always high when the ball starts hitting the back of the net, so I’d probably put it down to that. Playing every league game this season has also helped and, truthfully, my body is feeling the best it has in a number of years, which is a surprise as we play on 4G.
HAVING PLAYED THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CAREER IN THE LEAGUE, WHAT WAS THE REASON YOU DROPPED DOWN TO STEP FOUR?
I’d had enough of Scotland. In my opinion, I never got a fair crack of it at St Johnstone. Admittedly, I didn’t do enough when I got a chance, but my chance never lasted more than two games so I never got the opportunity to get going. The year before that I had scored seven goals from midfield in a relegated League Two team (York) so I thought I would comfortably get a good club back in England. However, I soon realised this wasn’t going to be the case and it was getting to a stage where I was worrying and thought ‘Do you know what, Scarborough have got a new ground, and playing back in the town again, I’d quite like to be a part of it’. To be honest, looking back I think I made the right decision as I have really enjoyed my football again.
BARNSLEY, GRIMSBY, YORK & ST JOHNSTONE ARE SOME OF YOUR PREVIOUS CLUBS. WHERE WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT?
My most memorable moment was coming on at Wembley for Barnsley in the FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff. It doesn’t really get much better than that! My best spell was probably the play-off run with York in 2013-14. We had a great group of lads and we never looked like losing games. It was a strange feeling because we were near the bottom of the table in January, but we went on an unbeaten run of 17 games to finish seventh in League Two. Managerwise, I really liked Neil Redfearn. I thought he was excellent and learnt a lot from him. Then there was Nigel Worthington! We had a fair bit of history but we put it behind us and I liked the way he went about his business.
YOU’VE COME BACK FROM SOME SERIOUS INJURIES IN YOUR CAREER, INCLUDING THREE KNEE CRUCIATES. MENTALLY, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU AS A PERSON AND A PLAYER?
There’s nothing worse for any player than to be missing games, but when you’re facing six to nine months on the sidelines it can really make-orbreak you. There’s a lot of dark days where you are stuck in the gym while everyone else is training, but you have to stay positive. Sat on the rower or bike, I always visualised the time I’d be back on the pitch and scoring goals – it did help!
YOU’RE CLEARLY STILL GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY AT A HIGHER LEVEL. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR CAREER GOING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
Not sure on that one. When I came back to Scarborough, I thought that was it for me, but scoring the goals this season has really given me my hunger back.
Football is strange, you never know what is going to happen. I bought a house in Pontefract to live and three months later I’m on my way to Scotland! Madness.
BEST MATE IN FOOTBALL?
It would have to be Luke Summerfield (Grimsby). I never knew Luke before he came to York, but we became good friends straightaway even though he wanted to kill me in training once! We both like our golf and spend a lot of time golfing abroad. Anyone else that knows Luke would probably say the same – that he’s one of the nicest blokes in football. Top player, too.
BIGGEST REGRET IN THE GAME?
It would probably be going up to Scotland, though I had to go up there to give it a go. I’m just gutted they didn’t see the best of me and I believe it really affected me confidence-wise. The poor spell up north definitely had an influence on any potential moves back in England.
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL?
At the moment, I’m a protection adviser, so if anybody wants me to come and see them about life and critical illness, accident or income protection (plug) get in touch! I want to stay in football as long as I can. I believe I have a good few years in me yet.
BEST FOOTBALL TALE?
It was probably when I signed for Chester from Barnsley on loan back in 2009. I turned up and Jim Harvey, the manger at the time, didn’t even know my name. I walked in the changing room and the players said, ‘You picked a good day to come in, lad – we are on strike. All the best!’