Coppinger set to break Donny record in Emirates FA Cup

James Coppinger admits he is “all of nothing” –  so it makes perfect sense that he should twice give up on football before reaching Doncaster Rovers’s all-time appearance record.

When the 34-year-old midfielder steps out in Donny colours in the Emirates FA Cup against Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday, he will do so for the 469th time, and he has no plans to stop there.

But shortly before Coppinger agreed to move to Doncaster in 2004, he had come to the conclusion that, aged 23 and with an England youth cap to his name, he might be better off seeking an alternative career

He said: “I never thought I’d get to where I am now. I made my debut for Newcastle when I was 19 and I thought I’d cracked it. Two years later I was at Exeter and we’d been relegated out of the league. 

“I was living away from home for the first time and I had had enough. I spoke to my girlfriend, now my wife, and said ‘I think I’m going to knock it on the head – I’m not enjoying it any more’. 

“But John Ryan and Dave Penney took me to Doncaster and things changed completely.”

It was not just Coppinger’s fortunes that changed at Doncaster, but his whole outlook on the game.  

“When I joined from Exeter the club had had back-to-back promotions and there was a feel-good factor about Doncaster. 

“I knew I was expected to perform consistently to stay in the team, and I’ve never forgotten that. Since then I’ve averaged 40-plus games for the last 12 years. 

“I was one of the fittest in pre-season and I have played every game this year.

“My body is used to it and I think my desire and hunger for playing football is massive. As soon as I get out on the training pitch or on a Saturday it makes me happy - without sounding too corny.”

Coppinger always loved the game but admits that as a youngster he lacked the mentality of an elite player.

Coppinger celebrates a goal against Fulham in 2014

“I never really wanted to be a professional player. I had the opportunity to play for Middlesbrough’s centre of excellence but I went training with them and turned it down,” he said 

“It was too boring and methodical – too much standing around and practising turns and whatever.

“I just wanted to play games and get involved. I got told a few times that I was too small and I just thought ‘if they don’t want me then I’ll play somewhere else’. 

“My dad will probably say that I was an absolute nightmare as a kid because he wanted his kid to be a footballer but it wasn’t something that I ever pushed for.”

He added: “After leaving Middlesbrough I always tried to play football for fun. At 16 I was playing for a Sunday League team and got picked up by Darlington as a schoolboy.

“Within six months I was playing for England U16s with a lot of top players – Joe Cole, Gareth Barry, Peter Crouch.

“Then Newcastle came in – one day I was training with the YTS’s at Darlington and then the next I was with the first team at Newcastle. 

“That was probably my biggest eye opener and the time I realised that it was something I wanted to do.”

Coppinger made only one appearance for Newcastle but has plenty of good memories.

“Bobby Robson gave me my debut. His man-management skills were unbelievable. You don’t really appreciate it at that age but looking back I should have probably listened a bit more,” he said.

“We got to The FA Cup Final in 1999, and although I didn’t play and we got beat 2-0 by Manchester United, it was just a fantastic occasion. I’ve always loved playing in The FA Cup.”

Coppinger during his days at Exeter

He joined Exeter in 2002, but they were two years he would happily forget, and the Doncaster move offered him salvation in more ways than one.

“When I joined Doncaster Dave Penney put me in touch with Terry Gormley. He is someone who has changed everything for me,” he said.

“Terry formed a company called Pro Mindset which helps people change their mentality to improve what they do. 

“He has helped me understand that making mistakes is a massive thing in football and a massive thing in life. You’ll always have disappointments but it's about what you do next.

“That’s why in the future I might want to help footballers and people in general to learn without making those mistakes, giving people a chance to have a stronger mentality and a more positive outlook on what they are doing.

"That’s a tool I never had.” 

Coppinger in action for Doncaster in 2006

Coppinger’s wife and two sons will be among the crowd at Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, when he is expected to surpass Colin Douglas’s 22-year appearance record, but he has no intention of hogging the limelight.

“I’m not one for big occasions or to put myself in front of the team,” he said. 

“The whole family are very proud of the achievement. You never envisage playing that many games, especially in this day and age, but I hope to play many more. 

“When I do decide to give up playing I will probably have a lot of time to think about what I do next. I’m an all-or-nothing guy and I don’t like to dip my toe in. I want to make sure I’m happy. 

“For 19-20 years I have been doing something I have enjoyed and that I have been very proud of. I want to do the same for the next 20 years.

“I had highs and lows at Doncaster but I’ve had a fantastic time and I still feel I can add something to the team. Long may it continue.”