Giles Coke

Giles Christopher Coke (born 3 June 1986) is an English former professional footballer and coach.

As a player, he was a midfielder who most notably featured at EFL Championship level for Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town and in the Scottish Premier League for Motherwell.

He has also appeared professionally for Mansfield Town, Northampton Town, Bury, Swindon Town, Chesterfield, Oldham Athletic and Grimsby Town, as well as non-league sides Kingstonian and Hereford.

Following retirement in 2022 he became a youth team development coach at Grimsby Town, before leaving at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Jan-May 2024 Sheffield Wednesday under 18s coach

Coke began his career as a youth player at Queens Park Rangers in 2003, before teaming up with his older brother Jon at non-league side Kingstonian a year later.

Coke was soon snapped up by Mansfield Town and signed his first professional contract on 31 March 2005.

He scored his first goal for the club in the second round of the League Cup in the 1–0 win against Southampton, which still heralds fond memories for Coke.

He then went on to score two goals in two appearances against Leyton Orient and Shrewsbury Town respectively, before being linked with several Championship League clubs, including: Southampton, Reading, Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In April 2006, Coke turned down a new two-year contract with The Stags, but was persuaded by manager Peter Shirtliff to sign a one-year contract to remain at Field Mill for another year.

However, during the 2006/7 season, Coke suffered an injury that sidelined him for most of the season.

His misfortune continued the following season, which resulted in limited appearances for the club.

Despite this, Coke had still impressed enough to entice other clubs; most notably Wycombe Wanderers, to want to sign him.

He signed for Northampton Town on 2 July 2007 on a two-year contract after rejecting a new contract from Mansfield Town.

A Football League tribunal on 24 September 2007 ruled that Northampton must pay Mansfield a maximum fee of £70,000 (depending on appearances) for the transfer, as well as a sell on clause of 20%.

Coke remained on the sideline at the start of the season after having a further operation.

In early October, Coke was showing signs of recovery and of being fully fit to make a return to training.

To gain match fitness, Coke played his first for Northampton Town in reserve for 56 minutes, as they beat Southend United, which met the delight of the club's reserve coach Ian Sampson, who believed "his confidence will be sky high at the moment." Despite potential debut after playing in the reserves, his league debut was delayed once again when he sustained a groin injury and would be out for three weeks following an operation.

Coke scored four more goals later in the 2007–08 season against Gillingham, Hartlepool United, Cheltenham Town and Oldham Athletic.

After being on the sideline, Coke made his debut for the club, coming on for Andy Kirk in the 58th minute and was booked, as Northampton Town lost 3–2 to Leeds United on 5 January 2008.

Since his debut, Coke quickly made an impact and insists he was not a "next Bradley Johnson."

Coke scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–0 win over Leyton Orient on 25 January 2008.

Coke kick-started the 2008-09 scoring in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town on 21 October 2008.

After doubling his goalscoring tally in a 4–4 draw against Scunthorpe United on 13 December 2008, Coke sustained a calf injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Due to Coke's good performance for Northampton, he was offered a new contract by the club and signed a contract with the club on 16 June 2009.

However, Coke reportedly turned down a new contract for 'The Cobblers', announcing he would leave the club on a free transfer.

Coke's contract with Northampton expired in the summer of 2009.

On 21 July, he signed a one-year contract with Scottish Premier League club Motherwell, becoming new manager Jim Gannon's third signing.

Coke made his European debut for the club against Steaua București but they proved to be too strong for The Steelmen after their lost 5–1 on aggregate.

Coke made his league debut for the club in the opening game of the season, where he set up one of Ross Forbes's goals in a 2–2 draw against St Johnstone on 15 August 2009.

He opened his scoring account for Motherwell, after netting twice a thrilling 6–6 draw against Hibernian on 5 May 2010.

Coke was a regular fixture for The Steelmen, and enjoyed his time at Fir Park.

He was offered a new contract with the club, but moved back to England to sign for Sheffield Wednesday in July 2010.

Coke signed for Sheffield Wednesday under freedom of contract in July 2010.

Coke made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday in a 2–0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on 7 August 2010.

Three days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Bury in the first round of League Cup.

Coke went to make 27 appearances for the club and scoring 4 including against Brighton & Hove Albion, Hartlepool United, Rochdale and Plymouth Argyle.

His performances in the second half of the 2012–13 season earned Coke a new contract, signing a two-year contract extension with the Owls in June 2013.

Following loan spells at Bury and Swindon Town, Coke returned to the Wednesday first team in January 2013, marking his first league appearance for the Owls since April 2011 with a 3–1 win over Hull City.

Coke scored the first goal of the 2014–15 season, after The Owls beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0.