Peter Terence Coffill (born 14 February 1957) is an English footballer. He plays as a midfielder, and made over 250 appearances in the Football League. Now retired from the professional game, he continues to play veterans' football, and has represented his country at over-50 level.

Peter Coffill
Personal information
Full name Peter Terence Coffill
Date of birth (1957-02-14) 14 February 1957 (age 67)
Place of birth Romford, England
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Youth career
1972–1975 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1977 Watford 63 (6)
1977–1981 Torquay United 122 (11)
1981–1983 Northampton Town 69 (3)
1983–1986 Aylesbury United
Kidderminster Harriers
1990–1991 Brantham Athletic
1991 Bury Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Now he is a teacher at Gaynes School Language College, in Upminster, Essex.[citation needed]

Career

edit

Born in Romford, Essex, Coffill started his career in the Watford youth system. Manager Mike Keen gave 18-year-old Coffill his professional debut on 4 October 1975, in a 1–1 Fourth Division draw against Stockport County at Vicarage Road. He played regularly in his first two seasons as a professional, making 30 appearances in all competitions in 1975–76, and a further 31 in the following campaign.[1] Keen was replaced as manager by Graham Taylor in June 1977, and the 1977–78 season was Coffill's last as a Watford player. He made his final appearance on 27 September 1977, scoring the winner in a 2–1 home win over A.F.C. Bournemouth.[1][2] He joined Torquay United two months later, for a fee of £4,000.[2]

Coffill played regularly for Torquay, making 122 league appearances over three and a half years, and scoring 11 goals.[3] He was voted Torquay's Player of the Season in 1980–81,[4] but at the end of the campaign transferred to Northampton Town for a transfer fee of £5,000.[2] After 69 league appearances, he left Northampton at the end of his two-year contract, moving into non-league football with Aylesbury United and Kidderminster Harriers. He later became involved with the coaching side of the game, first as a coach with Chelmsford City in 1988, and after finishing his semi-professional playing career with Brantham Athletic and Bury Town, became assistant manager at Gravesend and Northfleet in 1991.[2]

Coffill continues to play as an amateur. Although he never played for his country at youth or professional levels, he has played and scored for England in veteran's international matches (where there is a minimum age requirement).[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. pp. 160–165. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
  2. ^ a b c d Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 58. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  3. ^ "Peter Coffill". Neil Brown. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Profile of Peter Coffill". Aylesbury United. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  5. ^ "International veterans match". Irish Football Association. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Veterans tournament under the spotlight". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2011.