Graham Coughlin

Date and Place of Birth 18th November 1974 - DUBLIN   Transfers to and from Burnley from SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - 22nd March 2007 (loan) returned - 7th May 2007   First and Last Burnley Games LUTON TOWN (h) - 31st March 2007   BIRMINGHAM CITY (a) - 7th April 2007 sub: replaced Steve Jones   Other Clubs BRAY WANDERERS, BLACKBURN ROVERS, SWINDON TOWN (loan), LIVINGSTON, PLYMOUTH ARGYLE, SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY ---------------------------------------- ROTHERHAM UNITED, SHREWSBURY TOWN, SOUTHEND UNITED

Burnley Career Stats

Profile by Tony Scholes

Things probably didn't quite work out as Graham Coughlan expected when he joined Burnley on loan in March 2007, brought in as we continued to struggle in a dreadfully poor run of form and with an injury crisis as far as defenders were concerned.

Coughlan had lost his place in the Sheffield Wednesday side; firstly through a facial injury and then following the tragic death of his younger brother in Dublin. His manager Brian Laws said coming to Burnley would get him some games.

Coughlan started his English career just down the road from Burnley with our local rivals Blackburn Rovers after manager Ray Harford paid £100,000 to sign him from Bray Wanderers in October 1995. He was at Ewood Park for almost four years without reaching the first team, but during that time he had loan spells with both Swindon and Livingston.

That second loan led to a permanent move to Scotland and he spent two years with Livingston before moving back to England and Plymouth. Having been signed by Paul Sturrock he was player of the year twice at Home Park during a four year stay, and when he left it was Sturrock again who signed him, taking him this time to Sheffield Wednesday.

Again he lifted a player of the year trophy in his first season at Hillsborough but the 2006/07 proved to be a difficult one. There was a change of manager and following that came the injury and then the dreadful loss of his brother just a few weeks before he came to Burnley.

It was the loan transfer deadline and, with John McGreal and Stephen Foster ruled out and Wayne Thomas just returning from knee surgery, Steve Cotterill took Coughlan on loan for the rest of the season. He made his debut in the 0-0 home draw against Luton, partnering Steven Caldwell in the centre of defence, and he played well.

Thomas was at right back that day, but three days later Michael Duff returned to the side against Coughlan's old club Plymouth with Thomas moving into the centre and that meant Coughlan had to settle for a place on the bench. Our form improved, we kept a number of clean sheets, and he spent the rest of the season as a substitute, coming on just once late in the win at Birmingham.

He returned to Hillsborough at the end of the season only to find out he was surplus to requirements. He'd still got one year left on his contract but Laws told him he was no longer a part of the plans and made him available for transfer. As the players returned for pre-season training the club and player came to an agreement and Coughlan's contract was terminated leaving him free to find another club.

Graham joined League One Leeds on trial and played in their first pre-season friendly back in his native Ireland against Shelbourne. He didn't pursue that and instead agreed a two year deal with Rotherham United on Friday 13^th July to play his football in League Two.

It was a difficult year for Rotherham. They were again hit with a points deduction after going into administration and after what looked set to be a promotion chase they ended the season in ninth place.

With the possibility of further points deductions this season Coughlan opted to move on and on the last day in July 2008 he signed a two year deal with Shrewsbury who were making considerable changes to their squad under Paul Simpson.

He stayed with Shrewsbury for two years but he followed Simpson out of the club when he was released at the end of the 2009/10 season. He signed a pre-contract with Southend United but due to a winding up order against the club he wasn't able to sign his contract until that was cleared. When it was, he signed for them on 6^th August 2010, just in time for the new season.