Coen Joe Image 1 Luton Town 1935

Description

Glasgow born goalkeeper Joe Coen played junior football for Mosspark Amateurs in 1926, Parkview United in 1927, and Clydeholm Juniors in 1929 before he was signed by Celtic from Clydebank in March 1931 as cover for the great John Thomson. He had loan spells with Nithsdale Wanderers and Stenhousemuir in 1930 and 1931.
Following the tragic death of Thomson it was Johnny Falconer who initially took over in goals but Coen eventually made his Celtic debut in place of the injured Falconer in a 1-1 Scottish League draw at home to Clyde on October 10th. He played a total of three first team games in a short stretch in October 1931, which included a 2-0 defeat by Dundee and a 4-2 defeat to Ayr. So in three games (all in the league) he conceded five goals, which didn’t help his case, but in fairness Celtic did concede a large number of goals that season regardless who was in goals.Joe Kennaway took over from Coen and Johnny Falconer was preferred as his deputy. Joe Coen was freed in May 1932. He joined Guildford City in August 1932 before joining Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic making his Football League debut against Bristol City in January 1933 making 11 appearances over the rest of the 1932-33 season and 28 appearances in 1933-34. He joined Luton Town in the close season of 1934 and established himself as first choice keeper, making 159 appearances for The Hatters, helping them win the Third Division (South) Championship in 1936-37, playing until peacetime football was suspended due to the outbreak of World War Two, when he joined the RAF. He was tragically killed while training to be a pilot on 15th October 1941 aged just 29. He is on the Footballers’ Roll of Honour and buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Biscot, Luton.