Ade Coker

Coker was born in Nigeria, but moved to England at the age of 11. He was playing schoolboy football when he was spotted by West Ham scout Wally St Pier. In 1971, he signed with the English First Division club West Ham United when he was 17. His first start with the Hammers came on 30 October 1971, against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park following a late injury to Geoff Hurst. He scored on his debut, a 3–0 victory, but despite this auspicious first game, he made only eleven first team appearances over three seasons. He spent the 1974 off-season with the Boston Minutemen of the North American Soccer League (NASL), earning Second Team All Star honors. Returning to England, in December 1974 he joined Lincoln City on loan, making his debut in the 2–0 home victory over Stockport County on 20 December 1974. He remained with the Imps for a month before returning to West Ham. Coker then moved permanently to America, rejoining the Boston Minutemen. Halfway through the 1976 season, Minutemen owner John Sterge began selling his players in order to forestall bankruptcy. Coker was sent to the Minnesota Kicks. After the Kick's playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Coker's shoes were stolen off his feet by a jubilant fan. Three games into the 1978 season, Minnesota traded Coker to the San Diego Sockers. At the end of the 1979 season, the Sockers sent Coker to the Rochester Lancers for the 1980 season. Coker spent the 1980–1981 Major Indoor Soccer League club Baltimore Blast.…

In 2008, Coker alongside his West Ham teammates, Clive Charles and Clyde Best, were the subjects of the book 'East End Heroes, Stateside Kings'. Coker is also set to star in a 2026 documentary film about Best's career, titled Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story