Cowdenbeath striker Lewis Coult is hoping to fire the goals that take Colin Cameron’s side to a win over Arbroath at the weekend and another step closer to the Second Division title. It is not just a winners’ medal that Coult wants to get his hands on as the 23-year-old is desperate to get his feet into his Ginger Boots.
The striker picked up the bright orange and blue footwear for his six goal salvo in February and said he would wear them as soon as the destination of the Second Division title was known and it would be fair to say that he now has itchy feet.
Coult said: “I have not worn my new boots yet but I will wear them once we know where the title is going. I don’t mind doing things that are a bit different and wearing ginger boots is certainly different.”
The six foot four striker is in love with football again after a spell where he questioned his future in the game only for the heat of Miami and the grit required to play for Arniston Rangers combined to get him back to the senior ranks.
He said: “I started playing with Hearts Boys Club from the age of 10 under the guidance of Gary Mackay before going into their Pro-Youth set up at Under-12 age group. I was there for three years but I left as I was not enjoying it.
“I was a midfielder then and I went on to join Edina Hibs Boys Club. When I was there, I sprouted up to six foot four and got moved to playing up front and I have been there ever since.”
Coult’s progress took a knock as he said: “I made it into the Scotland side which had the best players from boys clubs in Scotland however, I broke my leg and that slowed things down.”
That broken leg eventually helped Coult get going again as he said: “I knew Andy Brown who worked with Motherwell's Under-17 team and he helped me with my re-hab programme. That work eventually led me to joining Hamilton Accies.
“Billy Reid was the Manager that signed me and he gave me my senior debut in a New Year fixture in 2006 just six months after I joined. It was a Lanarkshire debut against Airdrie United and it turned into a nightmare for me.”
Coult explained what happened by recalling: “I was too nervous and in my first 30 seconds, I committed an awful foul and should have been sent off. I then went up for a header and landed on the artificial surface that was in place at New Douglas Park at the time directly on my shoulder. It turned out I had broken my shoulder and I never played again that season.”
Former Accies' Manager, Allan Maitland, took Coult to Alloa Athletic for a loan spell the following season and he said: “I went there and played a few games before the end of the season. It was my first experience of the Second Division and we managed to stay out of the relegation Play-Offs so it was quite successful.”
Coult was released by The Wasps and played briefly for Leith Athletic before going back to the Second Division for Berwick Rangers however, it was a disappointing spell.
The striker said: “Michael Renwick took me to Berwick but they were already on a disappointing run of results by then and Michael lost his job before the end of the season. I did not enjoy it and to be honest, I was frustrated with football by this time and wanted a break.”
That break came several thousands of miles away with Coult saying: “My Dad was working and staying in Miami by this time and I went over to see him. It turned into a working holiday as I ended up playing with a side called Miami All-Stars. It was in the PDL League, which is a couple of levels below the MLS, but I enjoyed it.
“I played with guys from Mexico, Columbia and Haiti and the standard was pretty good. It was a really athletic, physical league and played outdoors in a lot of heat. I scored a few goals and got my appetite back for football which was great.
On his return from America, Coult got back to playing again with Arniston Juniors as he explained: “I had a couple of pals that played there so I went and signed for them. I carried on enjoying it which was the main thing to me at that time.”
Coult’s form with Arniston was picked up by the senior ranks and after a game against Broxburn in November, 2010, he was asked about his plans as he explained: “I was walking off after that game when I was approached and asked if I would be interested in spending some time at Cowdenbeath.
“I said 'yes' but I did not think too much about it as you hear things all the time but I got a call confirming all the details. I went in and trained from the November to the January when Jimmy Nicholl decided to sign me.”
Coult continued: “They were in the First Division at that time and it was the biggest jump up in terms of standard in my life. As a team, we did well and held our own for most of the season and it was between us and Ross County regarding who would be in the relegation Play-Offs.
“Look how they have kicked on and not many people would have predicted that both of us would be fighting for titles a year later.”
Cowdenbeath finished ninth and dropped out of the First Division at the Play-Off Semi-Final stage with Coult saying: “We were two ahead against Brechin City in the first leg of the Play-Off but let them back into things. They put us out in the second leg and that was hard to take although they deserved to go through.”
This season Cowdenbeath are looking to progress without the need for a promotion Play-Off success with their top goalscorer saying: “This season has flown in and it does not seem that long ago Colin Cameron and Lee Makel were appointed when Jimmy left for Kilmarnock.
“They have got us superbly well organised very quickly and my enjoyment has just grown and grown. I would play left back, up front or in goals as I love my football again.”
Coult’s attitude will impress fans as he said: “We all work hard at Cowdenbeath and so we should. People make a choice to come and spend their money watching football. There is not a lot of money around so you have to pull your weight for them.
“I have heard people saying that it is a hard shift playing up front on your own but I don’t see it that way. You should work hard.”
That hard work has paid dividends with Coult saying: “I have scored 14 goals so far this season. I am happy with that as it is my best ever return but I am not finished and I want a few more before things are settled.”
As well as doing well in the League, Coult and Cowdenbeath entertained SPL Hibernian in the Scottish Cup back in January with the striker saying: “I have also been a massive Hearts fan so it was a great game to play in. Our fans backed us well and I reckon that we were unlucky not to get a draw before losing 3-2.”
Coult showed his sense of humour in the build-up to the game where he posed with the famous old trophy protecting his modesty and he said: “I am a down to earth guy who is up for a laugh and I enjoyed the days leading up to the cup tie. It was all good fun and helped promote the club and the game.
“It was a great experience as was the game and you cannot fail to learn from the good strikers that they have.”
The Blue Brazil face another huge game this weekend as second placed Arbroath visit Central Park with Coult saying: “This is a massive weekend for both clubs. There have been three draws between us but I reckon this one will be different. They will come here and come out looking for a win as a draw does us more favours than them.
“If we win, we go 10 points clear and that will make things very difficult in terms of Arbroath catching us.”
Nothing is getting taken for granted with Coult saying: “We lost to Albion Rovers last week and that has kept our feet on the ground but they have never left the ground in the first place. You never get an easy game in the Second Division as every team has something to play for whether it is the title, the promotion or relegation Play-Offs or avoiding automatic relegation.
“We have worked hard in training this week to put the Albion Rovers' result behind us."
Coult recently signed a deal that will keep him at Cowdenbeath until the end of next season and he hopes that will be a First Division season as he explained: “It would be great to win the Second Division title and I would be able to look back at how far I have travelled in 18 months. I don’t take life too seriously but I would enjoy that and I will enjoy getting those Ginger Boots dirty.”
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