Van won't start

[Harrytheboy]

parked up out my back yard for winter,after starting it up and running engine for 10 mins,a couple of times a week, all was OK. I left it over a week and although fully charged the battery it would not start, turns over great. So I have sent off for a electronic coil in the hope that it will cure my problem, it's hard to check out with the engine in the back. Do you think I am on the right track.My bus is a 1984 transporter t25 1.9 petrol engine.

[cobblers]

I'm not sure where the advice originally came from, but I often see people doing this:
However starting the van for 10 minutes a few times a week is significantly worse than not starting it at all - that first 10 minutes of running when cold (with the choke on) will fill the oil with petrol and condensation and you'll soon foul the spark plugs up. Those first ten minutes are by far the most harmful part of the engines life.

If you can't take it for 20-30 minute drive, just leave it alone - it'll be absolutely fine for a few months and starting the engine and letting it idle (even for an hour) does it no favours at all.

I would personally be much more suspicious of wet/fouled spark plugs than a failed ignition coil.