The miracle of Griffin Park and the mother of all comebacks.
Today sees the ninth instalment of our series reviewing each of James Coppinger’s season’s in a Doncaster Rovers shirt.For previous seasons, please CLICK HERE.
2012/13
As Doncaster Rovers ventured down to Somerset to face Yeovil Town at Huish Park at the start of September 2012, rumours circulated that talismanic midfielder James Coppinger was on his way out of the club.
The cultured midfielder had been restricted cameo appearances in League 1 under Dean Saunders but did make an impact in a stunning 3-2 League Cup win over Hull City with the hosts coming from two down.
The rumours didn’t last long as Coppinger made a swift about turn off the team coach and headed north to Nottingham Forest…on loan.
While at the City Ground, Coppinger would link up with former boss Sean O’Driscoll and teammates Simon Gillett and Billy Sharp but would still only feature 6 times for the Reds.
Coppinger returned to South Yorkshire in January and within a week of his comeback, Saunders had moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers and was replaced by Director of Football, Brian Flynn.
Rovers had developed a certain steel about them under the Welsh pairing and Coppinger – similar to a new signing – was set to flourish.
While the Keepmoat side were always in the reckoning for the top six, a patchy February dented their title credentials before a spirited win against Shrewsbury provided the catalyst for the run in, with Doncaster winning seven of their last 12 games to snatch it…and how!
The words ‘Griffin Park’, ‘Brentford’, ‘handball’, ‘penalty’, ‘missed’, ‘Paynter’, ‘squared’, ‘Coppinger’, ‘Doncaster’, ‘Champions’ are indelibly carved in to Doncaster Rovers folklore as Coppinger’s tap in capped off a frantic 18 seconds in West London that epitomised a season.
Rob Jones
Chris Brown
Dean Furman
Kyle Bennett
Paul Keegan
Iain Hume
James Husband
Are just some of the players on show this Sunday when Coppingers’ XI takes on Tomlinson’s XI.
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