Former Lincoln City defender Ben Coker has joined Chatham Town following his departure from Ebbsfleet United, as the Chats add experience to a squad looking to build on last season’s play-off push.
The 37-year-old has been announced alongside midfielder Eitel Goueth, who arrives after a strong personal campaign with Sheppey United.
Coker’s Lincoln City career was a brief one. City signed him in August 2019 while he was recovering from a serious knee injury, but the move became public only after Harry Anderson accidentally revealed it on social media. By the time Coker returned to fitness, Danny and Nicky Cowley had departed, Michael Appleton was in charge, and his senior Imps involvement amounted to one EFL Trophy appearance against Rotherham United.
That makes him one of those unusual former Imps whose time at Sincil Bank is remembered more for circumstance than contribution. He did not make a league appearance for the club, and loan spells with Cambridge United and Stevenage followed before he left permanently in 2020. He later played for Stevenage, Solihull Moors, Barnet and Ebbsfleet, and also recently appeared in the Baller League with N5 FC.
Before Lincoln, Coker had carved out a solid Football League career. After youth football with Cambridge United and Northampton Town, he spent time in Sweden before returning to England with Histon and Barton Rovers. A productive spell at Bury Town earned him a move to Colchester United, where he became a regular and won the club’s Young Player of the Year award.
His best spell came at Southend United, where he spent almost six years and was part of the side that won promotion from League Two in 2015. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year that season, with his left-sided delivery and set-piece quality making him a notable figure in Phil Brown’s squad.
Chatham, meanwhile, are preparing for another season in the Isthmian League Premier Division after finishing fourth in 2025/26. The Chats ended the regular campaign strongly, beating Wingate & Finchley 4-0, Potters Bar Town 6-0 and Lewes 2-1, before losing 3-2 at Billericay Town in the play-off semi-final.
The club, founded in 1882, play at The Bauvill Stadium and are managed by Kevin Hake, who is also chairman. Their summer business suggests they are looking to remain among the division’s stronger sides, with Coker adding experience and Goueth bringing recent Isthmian League minutes after two busy seasons with Sheppey.
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