Former Lincoln City defender Ben Coker has been drafted into the Baller League, making his debut last night for N5 FC.
Firstly, for those not in the know, the Baller League is a six-a-side indoor football competition that blends traditional football with entertainment, social media culture and celebrity involvement (most football fans’ worst nightmare). Matches are played with modified rules designed to encourage high-scoring, fast-paced games, while live Twitch and YouTube broadcasts have helped attract younger audiences who engage with football differently than the traditional matchday experience.
Basically, it’s like football but aimed at kids and people with zero attention span.
N5 FC are managed by Jens Lehmann, staying true to the Baller League’s original German roots, they’re just outside the bottom four, and last night lost 3-2 against Deportrio, managed by Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge. One of their subs was Ben Coker, who was recently released by Ebbsfleet. Now 35, he’s been knocking around the non-league scene for a while, but has followed other former Imps, such as James Caton and Bruno Andrade, into the Baller League.
He’s now a teammate of Mustapha Carayol, who started last night’s game for N5 FC. They were the only two ex-Imps on display for last night’s games, but Max Melbourne also featured for a while, turning out for MVPS United, before heading back to the pro game with Gateshead.
Bruno Andrade was once the MVP in the league, but is now back in the 11-a-side game. He was famously sacked for clashing with teammate Tyler Winters while playing for Rushden, and Winters is also a Baller League player. Other big names involved at the moment include former Chelsea striker Scott Sinclair, one-time Arsenal prodigy Jay Emmanuel Thomas, and Josh Harrop, who played Championship football for Preston North End.
Prior to arriving at Lincoln City, Coker had carved out a solid reputation across the Football League, most notably during a six-year spell with Southend United. A dependable left-back with quality delivery from dead-ball situations, he played a major role in the Shrimpers’ promotion from League Two in 2015 and was rewarded with a place in the PFA Team of the Year. Earlier spells with Colchester United and in non-league football showcased his versatility, with Coker often deployed further forward when needed.
City signed Coker in August 2019 while he was recovering from a serious knee injury, although the move only became public after Harry Anderson accidentally revealed it on social media. By the time he returned to fitness, Danny and Nicky Cowley had left the club, and under Michael Appleton he made just a single senior appearance, against Rotherham United in the EFL Trophy, before loan spells with Cambridge United and Stevenage. Since leaving Sincil Bank in 2020, he has continued his career with Stevenage, Solihull Moors, Barnet and Ebbsfleet United, bringing experience and leadership wherever he has played.