Coppinger, Jamie

Birth Date

10th January 1981

Birthplace

Middlesbrough

Occupation

Midfielder

Biographical Text

Jamie Coppinger arrived at Exeter City having been released by Newcastle United. After two seasons with the Grecians between 2002 and 2004 he was transferred to Doncaster Rovers for whom he played nearly 700 games.

An England youth international, Jamie started his career at Darlington where he progressed through the youth system. Then in 1998 Newcastle United paid £250,000 to take him to Tyneside but, in his four years at Newcastle, Jamie made only one substitute appearance in the Premier League.

After two loan periods at Hartlepool United, Jamie signed for Exeter City on a free transfer in 2002 making his debut against FC Honka on a pre-season tour of Finland. The midfielder's pace and trickery quickly caused problems for opponents, but despite his obvious ability, he was to be part of the side destined for the Conference in 2003. After one season outside of the Football League such was Jamie's form that, in July 2004, it prompted Doncaster Rovers to part with a fee of £35,000 (plus 15% of any further fee received over £35,000). Speaking to the Times many years later in 2019, and fair with a degree of license, Jamie reflected on his time at Exeter:

“Exeter had Michael Jackson, Uri Geller, David Blaine on the board. Honestly, it was like a circus. We got relegated out of the Football League. I was drinking, gambling, doing everything you shouldn’t be doing as a professional."

Jamie was an instant success at Doncaster and never looked back. A relatively early highlight was scoring a hat trick in the second leg of the 2007-08 play-off semi-final against Southend United. As Jamie stayed season-after season in he became, in 2018/19, the first Doncaster player to reach 500 appearances. Jamie then went on to make his 600th league appearance against Plymouth Argyle in March 2021, Upon his retirement at the end of 2020/21 he had played 695 games for Doncaster in all competitions.

Jamie was appointed Doncaster’s head of football operations in April 2022, a few weeks after being made a Freeman of the town.