The ever-present midfielder became the club’s record appearance holder last season, reaching 469 games, but insisted that there was still more to come. He was right.

The Rovers captain will now make his 500th appearance for the club at the Globe Arena this weekend, and the thought of hanging up his boots has barely crossed his mind.

“It’s a very proud moment for me,” Coppinger told the club’s official website.

“To get to 500 appearances for one club is a huge achievement. It’s not something I envisaged doing. I broke the appearance record last season and I just want to play for as long as I can while I’m enjoying my football.”

In timely fashion, Coppinger’s excellent form this season has also seen him win the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month Award for August.

“I was buzzing to be nominated for Player of the Month, and to win it is brilliant,” he added.

“To win this at the same time as I hopefully make my 500th appearance for this special club is a real honour.”

Read more: James Coppinger named Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month

Currently in his 13th season at Doncaster, Coppinger signed for Rovers in 2004 and has played a huge part in some of the club’s most successful period, winning two promotions and the EFL Trophy. He is also the only player remaining who transitioned from the club’s former home, Belle Vue, to the Keepmoat Stadium.

He will, however, be most remembered for his unforgettable last-minute goal against Brentford that clinched the League One title back in 2013.

In 18 seconds of final-day drama, Rovers went from facing three further matches in the Play-Offs to being League One champions, thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Coppinger at Griffin Park.

Read more: Sky Bet League Two: Matchday 7 preview

The 35-year-old remains hungry for similar success in the future, and continues to enjoy life under manager Darren Ferguson.

“You need to find a balance between winning and getting good performances. It’s important to breed a winning mentality and I think that’s what Darren is trying to do here.

“I’m at a good club that I’ve got a fantastic relationship with and here I am at 35 years old still playing, enjoying my football and offering something to the club, which is exactly how I want it to be.”

Coppinger will become only the 254th player to reach more than 500 games for a single club since league football was established in 1888.

He will join just four other current players who have made over 500 professional first-team appearances for their present clubs – John Terry (Chelsea), Dean Lewington (Milton Keynes Dons), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) and Leon Britton (Swansea City – including his initial loan spell). 

Only one further player – Cardiff City’s Peter Whittingham – has made more than 400 professional appearances for his current club.

Data courtesy of ENFA. 


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