Cambridge United have swooped to complete the Football Club’s second deadline day signing, with left back Ben Coker joining the U’s on loan for the remainder of the season
Capable of playing at full back or further up the pitch, the experienced 30-year old switches to the Abbey Stadium to bring quality cover at left back.
Coker actually began his footballing career with the U’s, having developed through the Club’s youth system in the early 2000s before joining Northampton Town’s Academy in 2005. He was picked up by Colchester United early in his career after impressing with Bury Town, and made over 40 appearances with the Essex side.
However, the vast majority of his Football League experience came elsewhere in the county at Southend United, where he was a mainstay in the Phil Brown side that achieved back to back League Two play-off finishes in consecutive seasons in 2013/14 and 2014/15 - successfully winning promotion during the latter campaign.
In total he made 208 appearances for the Shrimpers, 109 in League One, during a six year period at the Club before a knee injury called time on his stay at Roots Hall. He joined Lincoln City ahead of the current campaign, but with game time limited at Sincil Bank he now joins the U’s hungry to build up his competitive match minutes once more.
Coker is the second player to arrive at the Abbey on Deadline Day, with United earlier completing the loan move of forward Paul Mullin from Tranmere Rovers – click here for full story.
Both players will be unavailable for tomorrow’s fixture against Colchester United, but will be available to make their debuts in amber and black for next weekend’s trip to Newport County.