In recent seasons taking in a Motherwell reserve or U19 fixture has often proven to be difficult due to location and kick-off times. Afternoon kick-offs spread across Scotland make it difficult for even the keenest of fans to attend.
As a result there are less of our number able to relay information to the masses about the “next big thing” making their way through the ‘Well ranks.
Despite all that, many Motherwell fans were only too aware of the talent who emerged from the dugout to make his debut for the first team in the Boxing Day 2005 win over Aberdeen, that of course being Adam Coakley.
Such was Coakley’s burgeoning reputation for his performances in both the ‘Well U19 and reserve side that his debut had been keenly anticipated by the Motherwell faithful for quite some time.
Playing his part in the U19’s second successive Championship challenge, Coakley netted 9 times before the league’s winter break netting no less than 2 hat-tricks in the process.
When given a chance to impress in the reserves as a reward, the 18 year old striker responded by banging in six goals in double quick time prompting Terry Butcher to begin including Adam on the bench for the first team.
Following his introduction to the first team squad in November 2005 against Dundee Utd, Coakley was listed as a sub. on several occasions before finally making his debut as a replacement for Jim Hamilton in the 3-1 victory over the Dons that Boxing Day afternoon.
Debate continues to rage on whether David Clarkson was burnt out by being overused when he broke into the side at a similar age to Adam and it appeared the club went to great lengths to ensure the same thing wouldn't happen to Coakley.
That substitute appearance against the Dons proved to be Adam's one and only appearance in the top team during the 2005'06 campaign.
Before his departure to pastures new, Terry Butcher ensured Coakley and several of his U19 team-mates were contracted to the club and Adam signed on for a further year with the Steelmen.
In 2006'07 Adam continued to find the net regularly for the 'Well reserves and added further top team appearances to his career stats, coming on in the second half at home to Inverness in September and St Mirren in November but never quite pushed on as much as everyone hoped he would.
With the reserve league in shutdown and the arrival of another striker in Paul Keegan, Maurice Malpas allowed Adam to move to Third Division Stenhousemuir on loan in January 2007 to give him first team football and aid his development. Injury however meant Adam made only a limited impact with the Warriors before returning to Fir Park.
In April, as with a number of younger players at the club, Adam was told he was would be given a free-transfer and would have look elsewhere to continue his career in the game.
A curious scenario developed shortly after this where Adam's dad, Tommy Coakley, attempted to take over the running of the club. It would seem though had Coakley Snr's bid been successful, Adam would still have been released as planned.
Ironically Adam's attempts to find a new club in the summer of 2007 brought him up against his old team-mates twice, firstly when he turned out as a trialist for Partick Thistle and later for Morton, against the 'Well U19 side, for whom he would start the new campaign with. |