Giles Coke

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Giles Coke (born 3 June 1986 in London) is an English footballer who currently plays for Mansfield. Coke is regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in League Two. An attacking central midfielder he is a good passer, tackler, and double-footed with an impressive long range shot with either of his feet.

Coke began his football career at Queens Park Rangers' in the youth team set up, where he swiftly moved into the Reserve team. However, he was not offered a professional contract at QPR, consequently when he was released moved to non-league side Kingstonian (where his brother Jon Coke still plays). Whilst playing for Kingstonian, in the spring of 2005, Coke was spotted by Mansfield, and signed his first professional contract within weeks of being at the Nottinghamshire club for an undisclosed transfer fee after impressing Carlton Palmer (Mansfield's manager at the time). He made his debut in league football on March 19th 2005 starting in a high scoring game against Bristol Rovers.

Coke soon became a regular in Mansfield's starting lineup, and has become known for scoring in important games. He scored the only goal of the game when the Stags knocked Southampton out of the League Cup in September 2005, and also scored in the FA Cup match against Rotherham that the Stags eventually won 4-3. More recently he gave a dominant display during the narrow FA Cup defeat at Newcastle.

His name has been linked with several Championship clubs, including Southampton, Reading, Watford and Wolves. A move is likely soon, as the highy talented midfielder seems destined for the upper reaches of the game. His contract at Mansfield expired in June 2006. Coke has, for the moment, turned down a new 2 year deal with the club, and whilst negotiations continue Mansfield have taken up their option to keep him for another year.

Although born and bred in London, England, Giles has both Ghanian and English ancestry that would allow him to represent either nation at international level.

Mansfield Town F.C. - Current Squad
1 White | 2 Mullins | 3 Jelleyman | 4 D'Laryea | 5 Hjelde | 6 Baptiste | 7 Hamshaw | 8 Dawson | 9 Barker | 10 Brown | 11 M. Boulding | 12 Buxton | 14 Beardsley | 15 Coke | 16 Arnold | 19 Muggleton | 21 Charlton | 22 Lloyd | 23 Sleath | 24 Wood | 25 McIntosh | 30 R. Boulding | 31 Reet | Manager: Shirtliff