| Fullname | Ronald Paul Coyle[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 4 August 1964 |
| Birth place | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in[2] |
| Death date | 12 April 2011 (aged 46) |
| Death place | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Position | Defender |
| Youthclubs 1 | Celtic |
| Years 1 | 1984–1987 |
| Years 2 | 1986 |
| Years 3 | 1987 |
| Years 4 | 1987–1988 |
| Years 5 | 1988–1996 |
| Years 6 | 1996–1997 |
| Years 7 | 1997–1998 |
| Years 8 | 1998–1999 |
| Years 9 | 1999 |
| Clubs 1 | Celtic |
| Clubs 2 | → Clyde (loan) |
| Clubs 3 | Middlesbrough |
| Clubs 4 | Rochdale |
| Clubs 5 | Raith Rovers |
| Clubs 6 | Ayr United |
| Clubs 7 | Albion Rovers |
| Clubs 8 | East Fife |
| Clubs 9 | Queen's Park |
| Caps 1 | 2 |
| Goals 1 | 0 |
| Caps 2 | 8 |
| Goals 2 | 0 |
| Caps 3 | 3 |
| Goals 3 | 0 |
| Caps 4 | 24 |
| Goals 4 | 1 |
| Caps 5 | 253 |
| Goals 5 | 9 |
| Caps 6 | 34 |
| Goals 6 | 0 |
| Caps 7 | 12 |
| Goals 7 | 0 |
| Caps 8 | 26 |
| Goals 8 | 0 |
| Caps 9 | 0 |
| Goals 9 | 0 |
| Totalcaps | 362 |
| Totalgoals | 10 |
| Nationalyears 1 | 1980 |
| Nationalteam 1 | Scotland schoolboys[3] |
Ronnie Coyle (4 August 1964 – 12 April 2011)[3] was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender.
Early life
Coyle was born in Glasgow and educated at St. Gerard's Secondary School.[3] Coyle played for Celtic Boys Club and the Scotland Under-15 schoolboy honours team, alongside, among others, Paul McStay, John Robertson and Ally Dick, which defeated England 5–4 in 1980.[3]
Career
Coyle began his professional career as a youngster with Celtic.[3] After just two appearances and a loan period with Clyde, Coyle had a brief spell with Middlesbrough before moving to Rochdale.[3]
After a year with Rochdale, Coyle moved to Kirkcaldy club Raith Rovers in 1988.[3] In his eight years with Rovers, Coyle won two First Division titles and a League Cup, also playing in Raith's only season in Europe. After helping Rovers secure a mid-table finish in the Premier Division, Coyle moved on to Ayr United, where he spent a season before similar spells with Albion Rovers and East Fife. Coyle finished his career with Queen's Park.
Coyle – who moved out of football and worked in sales and marketing back in his native Glasgow – was part of a number of former Raith players who lent his weight to the 'Reclaim the Rovers' campaign, taking part in a fundraising walk in the summer of 2005.[4]
In April 2009 Coyle was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia for which he was admitted to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. On 27 March 2011 Raith Rovers hosted a benefit match for him involving their 1994 Coca-Cola Cup winning team and the Celtic runners-up team with Celtic coming out on top 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw.[5] Coyle died just weeks later on 12 April 2011 from the disease he had battled.[6] He was survived by his wife Joan and their three children, Kevin, Briony and Georgia.
Honours
- Raith Rovers
- Ayr United
References
- ^
- ^ Dunk, Peter (ed.) (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ "Ronnie Coyle". The Herald. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ "Let's get the ball rolling". Fifeonlinetoday.co.uk. 30 June 2005.
- ^ "Fans & Friends Honour Ronnie Coyle". Raith Rovers FC. 28 March 2011.
- ^ "Ronnie Coyle". Raith Rovers FC. 13 April 2011.