The striker “loves” Middlesbrough and only has positive things to say about everyone associated with the club he joined as a 16-year-old, but when he sat down with Boro’s head of football Kieran Scott at the end of last season, his mind was made up.
Millwall had made clear their desire to turn Coburn’s loan deal permanent and after an enjoyable year in the capital, the striker felt it was the right time to “make the jump”.
“I just think it was more for my development really,” says the 22-year-old in conversation with the Northern Echo a few days on from the completion of his £5m-plus move to the Lions.
“I’ve been in and out of the team at Middlesbrough, I haven’t really had that run.
“I had that 10-game spell the year before last, but I think that’s the longest run and I just felt like for my career I needed to make that jump and risk it a bit and go out of my comfort zone and try something new.
“The loan went well. I played a lot of games at the back end of the season and really enjoyed my time here. I know the club, I know what it’s like so I’m hoping I can kick on now.”
Scott understood.
“It was sort of already done before the new manager came in,” explained Coburn.
“I spoke to Kieran at the end of the season and he said I’d done well this season and it was up to me what I wanted to do.
“He said Boro would like to keep me but they have a competitive squad and at that stage we didn’t know the manager situation.
“But it felt like the right time for me. I’d already made my mind up to go out and play games.
“No matter who the manager was going to be, I’d spoken to Kieran and made it clear and he thought it was for the best in the end.”
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Coburn leaves with friends, fond memories and pride. And although he won’t be wearing the Boro red on the pitch this season, he plans to take any opportunity he gets to watch the club he says he’ll always support – and is desperate to experience an away end with a few thousand Teessiders.
“I loved my time at the club,” he said.
“I can’t talk highly enough of the club and all the staff, from those in the training ground to all the managers. All the managers I’ve worked under have been brilliant for me.
“I absolutely loved my time there. The academy coaches were great and my time at Boro really developed me into a man, really. I can’t speak highly enough of the club.
“I’ll always keep an eye on the scores and always support them.
“I’ll try and go to games when they don’t clash. I’d love to go to away games if I can get in the away end and get in amongst the fans. I love the club and wish them nothing but success.”
Coburn is settled and happy in the capital now, but when he returns to his Bedale family home, there’ll always be a reminder of his greatest Middlesbrough memory. For up, framed on a wall, is a shirt signed by the Boro players who featured in the 1-0 FA Cup fifth round victory over Tottenham three years ago.
The extra-time winner was lashed home by Coburn, a moment that will stay with the young striker forever.
“When I look back at my stand-out memories, I think you know which one I’m going to say,” he laughs.
“The Tottenham goal, that whole game was such an unbelievable occasion. The lads had done so well to get to extra-time and to score the winner in that game was something I’ll cherish forever.
“To get the winner, it was amazing. That cup run, the game before at Old Trafford just felt surreal. That was one of the first times when I was like ‘wow, this is something else’. Then the next game I came on and scored.
“So that’s the main memory for me, but every goal I’ve scored for Middlesbrough, they’ve all felt unbelievable. You can’t knock that feeling.
“You just love to hit the back of the net and every goal I scored for Middlesbrough meant so much.
“Darks (Peter Darke, Boro’s kit man), got all the lads to sign a shirt from the Tottenham game and I put it up in my house, so I’ve always got the reminder of that moment.”
Coburn often gets a reminder – not that one is needed – of the man who handed him his debut four years ago. Neil Warnock took a liking to the young striker, pushed him into the first team and a teenage Coburn repaid his boss with his first goal in just his second appearance, against Sheffield Wednesday in 2021.
“He still gets in touch,” says Coburn of his former boss.
“He sends a text every now and again when I’ve scored. It’s nice to keep in touch and always lovely to hear from him.
“He was amazing for me. I loved working under him.”
And he’s thoroughly enjoyed working under Alex Neil, a major factor when he pondered his next step at the end of last season.
Coburn was injured when Neil was appointed in December but the Scot instantly made it known that the young striker would be a pivotal player for him when he was back fit.
“That was a massive part of me coming here,” admits Coburn.
“He’s been great with me. He could have had his doubts when I was injured but he trusted me, knew what my body needed and has been brilliant.
“I was unlucky with the injury last season but if I have a full season I know how well I can do.
“It’s exciting for me, but Boro will always mean so much to me and I’ll always look back on my time at the club with such fondness and pride.
“Even in London, I see Boro fans all the time and I love having a chat with them about stuff, because I’m a fan myself and always will be.”
His feelings for his former club will be parked on the second weekend of the season, however, when Boro visit the Den for what, for Coburn, will be a swift and strange reunion.
“I was saying this the day, how weird it’s going to be,” he said.
“I don’t really know how I’ll feel about it, playing against your mates, I know all the lads really well and they know me.
“It’s going to be a difficult game, Middlesbrough are obviously really strong but I know I’ll enjoy it. Hopefully Millwall get the win and both clubs have a really good season.”
