The 48-year-old, dubbed England’s No.1 by supporters, clocked up an incredible 689 appearances across two spells at Moss Lane, a club record that will surely never be surpassed. Eight years after injury forced him to hang up his gloves, Coburn will be back at his spiritual home, joined by Alty legends from the promotion winning sides of 2005 and 2014.
To mark the occasion, we asked Coburn to look back on a career that began all the way back in 1994, starting with a canny chairman at lowly Irlam Town and ending 22 years later on a heartbreaking summer’s day in Dover...
FIRST CLUB
Irlam Town, in about 1994-95. It was North West Counties Division 2, so it would probably be about Step 5 now.
I played on a Sunday and one of the managers of my team took over at Irlam. He invited a few of us down and basically filled the team full of young lads. We finished bottom of the league – I think we won two or three games out of 42.
You got a tenner if you won, and nobody got paid otherwise. But the chairman used to shake my hand and put £30 in it. He knew I’d had trials at Rochdale and he wanted to keep me sweet, hoping someone would come in for me.
BEST MANAGER
It’s got to be Graham Heathcote. He was my manager for the majority of my time at Altrincham and I always got on really well with him. He’s managing one of the teams today.
Just a top, top guy. Miserable as sin when we got beat but very funny as well. I remember when we played Luton on the first day of the season and 20 minutes before kick-off he’s in the changing room doing this shopping trolley dance he learned on holiday.
We came in 1-0 down at half-time and he was like ‘What, do you think you’re still on holiday or something? You’re not taking this seriously’.
Denne historien er fra July 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
