ANDRE COKER: “IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER”

The 27-year-old Crystal Palace youth product has hit the ground running since joining Casuals this summer. We sat down with the versatile forward to find out more about him…

How are you settling in at Corinthian-Casuals?
 
I’ve just come in with an open mind, and everyone’s just been warm and welcoming. Trey’s like my best friend from outside of football, Gabriel as well – the assistant coach – they’re pretty much family, plus I know Hakeem and a few others.

I spoke to them before coming to the club and I trusted them. Then coming and meeting the gaffer and everyone else, it was just such a family vibe. It’s just such a cool place where obviously everyone wants to do well, but there’s not the pressure of it being like a first day at a new school where you’ve got to make new friends! It’s been very smooth.

The fans – I didn’t know the attendances that we’d get, but even after the game, people are just introducing themselves and they already know me! I’m starting to pick up faces and it’s just been natural – it’s only been a few home games, and I feel like I know a good bunch of people here. So it’s a very warm and welcoming place, a very family-orientated vibe.

Tell us a bit about your background in football…
 
How long have you got?! I’ll give you a quick version.

I came up through Crystal Palace academy, from when I was about 13 until I got released when I was about 20 or 21. But just before I got released, I went on loan to Maidstone, who were in the National League. I had a good time, so I just signed there after I was released and spent a year there. It didn’t quite work out, we nearly got relegated, so I ended up at Dartford, and then I found my feet at Cray Wanderers, where I had a very good time. I think between December and January I was on about 12 goals and a good amount of assists, so I got back to the National League, with Bromley. But I had played one game, got one goal, when Covid hit and when the next season came around, I was sent on my way again. I did very well again at Enfield, but it was a bit too far for me – I’m a South London guy – so after my second season there, I was looking for somewhere a bit closer to home.

I was at Cray Valley last season, spent the whole season there and started well, but towards the end of things… formation changes and just preferences went the other way. I just said to myself, “You know what, this season I just want to have a full year of football, with no interruptions, just focusing on winning and improving.” That’s how we ended up here.

You’re part of a strong forward line here. How do you feel you’re connecting with all of them?
 
Very well. The footballing IQ of a lot of our players is high. I haven’t played with them for long, but we all understand what we want to do or what we’re trying to do. There’s obviously still bits that need to improve and tighten up, but there’s a lot of cohesion already. Bondy plays left back behind me, we’ve only played like three games together and I feel like we’ve got a very good connection. I’ve played millions of games with Trey, so we know each other like the back of our hands. Then we’ve got Diogo and Rafa up there and it’s the same thing – we’re picking up little interplays and changes, figuring out what we like. I’m optimistic. I reckon as time goes on, it’s only going to get better and better.

Are you starting to sense this a unique club?
 
Yeah, definitely. Even just the culture and everything. I’m thinking why not learn a bit of Brazilian Portuguese, man!
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It’s just the stature of the club. I think it’s bigger than the league that it’s in, so our expectations on what we want to achieve are high. But we need to consistently just keep doing it. You have to get the results. You have to win. You have to keep proving it. It’s not going to be given to us, but it just feels like there’s way more to come than where we’re at. That’s the best way I can put it.