04/10/2025
THE FORGOTTEN NIGERIAN WHO PLAYED ALONG WITH BOBBY MOORE FOR WESTHAM IN 60S.
ADE COKER: The 17 year old Nigerian who played with England World Cup Winning Heroes - Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst - at West Ham United.
Ade Coker: From Lagos to the Boleyn Ground – A Footballing Journey
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ade Coker’s journey to professional football began with a life-changing move to England in 1965. At just eleven years old, he arrived to stay with his father, settling in Battersea, a stone’s throw from Stamford Bridge. While Chelsea’s style of play didn’t suit him, Coker explored spells with Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, and Tottenham Hotspur, where he encountered the legendary Bill Nicholson.
Yet it wasn’t until he walked through the gates at West Ham United that Coker knew he had found his footballing home. “Everything was so much better than I’d experienced anywhere else,” he recalls. The technical skill and professionalism of coaches like Ron Greenwood, John Lyall, and Bill Lansdowne immediately set West Ham apart. “I’m up for this,” he thought, inspired by the talent surrounding him at Chadwell Heath.
Unlike today’s academy system, young players in the 1960s and 70s quickly transitioned from youth leagues into the reserves, facing older and more experienced opponents. For Coker, this accelerated development was crucial, and it wasn’t long before he found himself stepping onto the first-team stage.
Debut to Remember
Saturday, October 30, 1971, remains etched in Coker’s memory. At just 17, he was called up to make his West Ham debut against Crystal Palace, filling in for an injured Geoff Hurst. With ITV cameras rolling for The Big Match, the teenager scored within seven minutes, volleying home after a scramble in the Palace box. “Unless you’ve lived that moment, you can’t even begin to feel what it’s like to be a teenager scoring on your debut,” he remembers fondly.
Billy Bonds, a central figure in West Ham’s ethos of winning, and Clyde Best, rounded out a 3-0 victory, making it an unforgettable introduction to first-team football for the young man.
Glory at the Boleyn
Coker’s connection with West Ham deepened at the iconic Boleyn Ground. In a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, he scored a last-minute goal, helping the Hammers secure a 2-0 victory. Alongside teammates such as Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Clyde Best, and Clive Charles, Coker was part of the first English top-flight team to field three black players in the same match - a landmark moment in football history.
The following season brought another memorable performance against Leicester City, where Coker’s header contributed to a thrilling 5-2 win. “Every time I got a goal for West Ham, I always asked myself: ‘Who scored that? Me? Or the crowd?’” he recalls. The support of the Hammers faithful was a defining part of his experience.
Learning from the Greats
Playing alongside England World Cup heroes like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters shaped Coker’s understanding of the game. After scoring on his debut, Moore himself jogged over to congratulate him - a moment Coker treasures to this day. “I was so fortunate to be training with those World Cup winners every day,” he reflects. From Lagos to Upton Park, the trajectory of his early career is a testament to talent, opportunity, and the right mentorship at the right time.
Across the Atlantic
By the mid-1970s, competition at West Ham intensified with new signings such as Ted MacDougall and Bobby Gould. With opportunities limited, Coker seized the chance to move to the United States, embarking on a 15-year career in the NASL and MISL with teams including the Boston Minutemen, Minnesota Kicks, San Diego Sockers, New York Arrows, Baltimore Blast, and St. Louis Steamers in the era that the great Pele also graced American football (soccer as they call it over there) with his sublime skills.
Despite decades in America, Coker’s heart remains firmly in England. He fondly recalls returning to the Boleyn Ground in 2016, witnessing the club he loves in its final match against Manchester United. “Oh God, it’s unbelievable that I ever got the chance to play for that Football Club,” he says.
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Research and story by Jazzey Bay for Moor Sportz
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Pictures Credit: West Ham United archives.