Russell Coughlin, Welsh footballer, Died at 56

Russell Coughlin was born on February 15, 1960, and died on August 3, 2016.

He was a Welsh professional footballer.

Russell played as a midfielder.

He started his professional career with Manchester City in 1977, but after failing to break into the first team at Maine Road, he joined Blackburn Rovers the following year.

Whiilst he joined Ewood Park, he made 24 league appearances in two years.

During 1980, he relocated north to join Carlisle United. He went on to make 130 league appearances for the Cumbrians, scoring thirteen goals.

During 1984, four years later, Russell moved to England’s south coast to sign for Plymouth Argyle. There, he broke the 130-league-game mark again, scoring eighteen goals in the process.

During 1987, he went back to the north-west to join Sam Ellis’s Blackpool.

Russell made his debut for the Seasiders on 12 December, in a 1–1 draw at Chesterfield in the league.

Coughlin scored his first goal for the club three games later, in another 1–1 draw, this time at Notts County.

The player went on to make 24 appearances and score two goals in total during the 1987–88 league campaign.

In the next season, 1988–89, Coughlin spent the majority of his games as strike partner to new signing Andy Garner.

Making 42 league appearances, he scored five goals, three of which were from the penalty spot.

He eventually scored in Blackpool’s League Cup campaign, in a 2–0 second round, first leg victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Bloomfield Road on 27 September 1988.

During 1989–90, under new manager Jimmy Mullen, he returned to his favoured midfield role. He made 34 league appearances and scored one goal as Blackpool finished second-bottom and were relegated to Division Four.

He left the seaside early the following season after a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town.

Russell Coughlin joined his hometown club, Swansea City, for the 1990–91 season, and went on to make 101 league appearances for the Welshmen, before leaving for Exeter City in 1993, in part-exchange for John Hodge.

After the foloowing two-year spell with Exeter, Coughlin brought his career to a close with Torquay United in 1996.

Russell Coughlin made almost 600 appearances and scored 41 goals in his 19-year Football League career.

Russell Coughlin passed away at 56 years old.