James Coton | 2025/26 Q+A #21 | 18.05.2026 |

 

Academy forward James Coton discusses the 2025/26 season, including breaking into the First Team.

DK: How did you find the season from a personal perspective (Res/U18s) - arguably a successful one?

JC: Yeah I think it was a successful season from a personal perspective as played lots of minutes and went injury free. I really enjoyed the season and the group of players that I played with week in week out.

DK: Can you pick 3 standout games from this season, if so which ones and why?

JC: The cup final for the first team is definitely one as I come on and got about 25 minutes and I really enjoyed it as we dominated the game and won. I would also have to say the 2nd round of the FA youth cup although we lost it was a really good opportunity for the boys to play in a big game against good opposition. The 3ed game would probably be the semi final of the county cup as I scored 2 goals and got an assist. 

DK: How do you think this season ranks within your previous seasons at the club?

JC: It is probably one of my favourite seasons I have ever had as I got opportunities to be with the first team for a lot of the season and I feel being around that environment has helped me to learn and become a better player.

DK: Similarly, how'd you summarise your time at the club?

JC: I have loved being at the club and happy to be staying as I have been here since I first started playing football. I have also really enjoyed being at the academy for the last 2 years as it has been a really good environment help me develop as a person and as a player. 

DK: What'd you make of the season for the Reserves? 

JC: I think the Reserves season has been though especially towards the end of the season as we have been struggling for results but there is always positives to take from the season. 

DK: A very historic season for the U18s - how proud are you overall? 

JC: Yeah it has been a good season for the U18s it is always nice to win a league and I think it is a real positive for the academy that everyone had a big part to play in winning the league such as the U16s 1st years and the coaches. 

DK: How special was it being part of that impressive FA Youth Cup run, the best the club's ever had? 

JC: Yeah I loved the FA Youth cup run the build up to each game in training was really good and playing in big game after big game was really enjoyable.

DK: Unfortunate to not quite retain the Suffolk Midweek Cup, but you must be otherwise proud of that run? 

JC: Yeah we was obviously disappointed not to retain the County Cup as it would have been a good way to end youth football with all the boys but it was a good run and I really enjoyed it. 

DK: An unbeaten U18 League Champion campaign though, how does that feel? 

JC: Yeah like I said before it was a good run not to lose a game and all age groups and coaches should take full credit for being unbeaten as everyone had a big part to play in it. 

DK: A largely unchanged team over the previous seasons, how much has that consistency and togetherness played a part in the success?

JC: Yeah consistency with the team is good and we were all really close together as a team as we see and train with each other everyday so I think that allowed us to know each other strengths and play to them. 

DK: Another great personal achievement was that you broke into the First Team this season, how did you find it being in and around the squad on training and matchdays as a whole?

JC: Yeah I am really grateful for the opportunity’s I have been given in the first teams being in and around that environment for a good amount of time during the season has been really good for me as it has allowed me to be around good players and learn from them which has helped me improve as a player.

DK: Adding to that you made a fair few appearances, even starting for the First Team, how was that for you - and how much did that motivate you for more?

JC: I think it has been good for me getting lots of appearances for the first team as it has allowed me to prove to myself that I can play at that level and it has made me hungry to play more regularly at that level. 

DK: One of those first team appearances saw you feature in 2 county cup finals in as many days, overall how was that experience - rather abnormal?

JC: Yeah it was a really good opportunity for me to play for the first team in the final getting experiences like that at a young age don’t come round often so I was really grateful that I was given the opportunity

DK: Focusing on the First Team Final, how special was that to play in and win the Suffolk Premier Cup Final?

JC: Yeah like I said I loved it and it was a really good experience for me to be on the winning team in a final is always good. 

DK: Can you pick a few goals you've scored this season that stand out?

JC: The brace in the country cup semi final are the two goals the stand out to me the most because they was important goals to help us get through to the final.

Needham Market Reserves v Coplestonians | 07.07.2026 | Pre-Season Friendly | Ruby Homes Bloomfields 3G Arena |

Needham Market Reserves struck 6 past SIL Senior Division Champions Coplestonians to kick off pre-season in fine fashion.

Dawson Coldwell (11') smartly gave Needham a worthy lead, ahead of Henry Vieira (22') doubling their advantage.

Both goalscorers linked up well in the 32nd minute as Coldwell added his second, with Alfie Mark (66') netting an outrageous fourth.

Cops (79') pulled a goal back, ahead of a Mark's second in a well taken fifth Needham goal on 81 minutes.

Harry Hopkins then rounded off the scoring with the final action of the night, as Needham recorded a 6-1 victory.

Needham started well, Kyle Roper (3') rasped a fierce low strike at goal from 20-yards out, which was well held by the goalkeeper.

Needham continued their bright start (9'), Dawson Coldwell was slipped free onto the right-hand side whose low squared ball was cleared out to Henry Vieira on the edge of the box whose ferocious strike was blocked.

The young Marketmen (11') broke the deadlock with a great goal, an excellent left wing cross from Tyler Wright picked out Dawson Coldwell at close range to expertly slam home into the roof of the net.

Hart (18') raced through on the left-hand side to square for Coldwell whose close range strike was well blocked by the legs of the keeper.

Zane Baker, at the other end however, stepped in at the perfect time to intercept a forward breaking onto the loose ball with keeper Freddie Foreman off his line having initially got to the ball.

Needham doubled their lead superbly on 22 minutes, smart play released Hart on the right-hand side whose fierce strike was denied by the keeper falling to Vieira to fire home low at point blank range.

Kyle Roper (25') fired wide from the edge of the area, while Foreman (31') advanced out off his area to thwart a forward breaking through down the right, with Tyler Wright on hand to hold up the attacker and win back possession.

Coldwell (32') netted a brace for Needham's well earned third, latching onto a brilliant dissecting through-ball by Vieira onto the right-hand side the forward cooly slid home into the bottom far corner.

Needham maintained their intent (37'), Coldwell was released clear one on one whose powerful quality strike was matched by a strong save across to his right by the visiting shot-stopper - as Needham's stunning first half performance saw Colin Grogan's team lead 3-0 at the break.

 

After the break, Aden Chandler (48') had a good low shot well held by the keeper, as Josh Tennial's (56') low tame shot across goal was comfortably gathered.

Cops (57') broke through onto the left-hand side and forced Tom Pringle into a key reaction stop, instinctively diving to block the shot with his foot.

The visitors (59') carved a man through one-on-one but dragged their low shot wide of the bottom left-hand corner, though Fenton Grimmer (61') headed narrowly over from a great right wing corner.

Danylo Konik (64') stepped in at the right moment to intercept a darting run through on goal, before Alfie Mark (66') curled home a spectacular fourth, that nestled perfectly into the top right-hand corner.

Tennial (78') blazed over, as Mark fired low and straight at the keeper.

Cops (79') threaded a man through on goal to convert one-on-one into the bottom corner, prior to Alex Breeden (81') firing just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Needham made it 5-1 moments later, a swift reply saw Mark through on goal to slide home expertly into the bottom left-hand corner from 10-yards out.

Hopkins thumped over at point blank range (84'), as Jack Nunn fired over a minute later.

Hopkins (91') smashed home a fantastic sixth into the bottom right-hand corner with the last touch.

Needham Reserves return to action at Bloomfields on Saturday against East Bergholt United (3pm).

Needham Reserves 1st Half:- 1 Freddie Foreman, 2 RB Danylo Konik, CB 4 Zane Baker, 5 Riley Coote, LB 3 Tyler Wright, CDM 20 Riley Parker, 17 LM Kyle Roper, 8 RM Harry Hopkins (c), CAM 10 Henry Vieira, 19 LST Dawson Coldwell, RST 14 Will Hart.

Needham Reserves 2nd Half:- 1 Tom Pringle, 16 Danylo Konik (77' Hopkins), 4 Fenton Grimmer, 5 Riley Coote, 2 Tyler Wright (C) (75' Baker), 6 Jack Nunn, 8 Josh Tennial, 12 Harvey Green, 7 Aden Chandler, 15 lst Alfie Mark, 9 Alex Breeden.

Goals: Dawson Coldwell (11', 32'), Henry Vieira (22'), Alfie Mark (66', 81'), Harry Hopkins (90'+1'); (79').