There are long-serving footballers, and then there is James Coppinger

Doncaster Rovers couldn’t reach the play-offs. Peterborough United were already promoted. So when the Posh came to South Yorkshire on Sunday for their final League One contest, it looked a nothing game. In many ways it was, but the main talking point should be Doncaster Rovers’ club legend James Coppinger waving farewell to football.

The 40-year-old captained Rovers for what was his final appearance in the famous red and white shirt – just the 675th game for Donny.

Being welcomed to the pitch with a standing ovation will highlight to any football fan who doesn’t know the name James Coppinger how special his service to Doncaster Rovers has been; an immense level of respect from both camps was directed towards the Englishman.

A 4-1 defeat certainly wouldn’t have been the way in which the right midfielder would’ve wanted to bow out of the game, however, there should be (and I’m certain there will be) immense pride for Coppinger amongst the Doncaster faithful this evening.

In terms of his performance, it somewhat mirrored that of the entire Doncaster team. Lacklustre in the first-half, much improved in the second.

Within 16 minutes it was 3-0 to Peterborough. Mohamed Eisa, Niall Mason and Idris Kanu the players to find the back of the net for what was a much-changed Posh side with an average age of 22.27 – just five years more than the length of Coppinger’s tenure at Doncaster.

18-year-old Ricky Jade-Jones added a fourth before half-time, with Arsenal loanee Tyreece John-Jules going the closest for the hosts in the first-half. However, interim player/manager Andy Butler’s side were significantly more impressive after the break.

Of course, the game was well beyond Rovers’ reach, but there was still an opportunity for Coppinger to sign off with a strong performance; scoring a farewell goal would’ve been the dream.

And it almost came true. The winger saw a decent free-kick effort agonisingly crash against the crossbar as well as a header loop over the goal – it wasn’t to be.

The 40-year-old was deservedly clapped off of the pitch towards the end of the game before John-Jules’s consolation goal, with Ed Williams taking his place. 17 years at one football club shouldn’t be overlooked.

Let’s break down those 17 seasons. The first four were in League One. Coppinger joined ahead of the 2004/05 season as the club prepared for a season in the third-tier after back-to-back promotions.

That’s where they remained until the South Yorkshire club were promoted to the Championship having won the 2008 play-offs, beating Leeds United 1-0. A game in which the then 27-year-old started.

The club had four seasons in the second-tier before being relegated back to League One; they won the league the following season to spring back up.

Another relegation followed as the club started to yo-yo, but in 2015/16 Doncaster were relegated to League Two, the first time Coppinger had played for Donny in the fourth tier.

However, the 2016/17 season in League Two was arguably Coppinger’s best. At least it was in terms of his goal tally as it was the only season in which the former-Newcastle player scored double-digits in the league, scoring ten. They sprung straight back up to League One after finishing third, and they’ve been in the third-tier ever since.

To think that when the Guisborough-born player was signed by Doncaster at 23 years of age for a reported £30,000 he would go on to become the servant he has been seems quite ridiculous. But it’s true. He has been more than loyal, more than reliable, more than vital. He’s been the heartbeat of Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

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