Full name Ronald Coyle Name Ronnie Coyle Years Team Height 1.80 m | Died April 12, 2011 Role Footballer | |
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Date of birth (1964-08-04)4 August 1964 Date of death 12 April 2011(2011-04-12) (aged 46) | ||
Jim foy s tribute to ronnie coyle
Ronnie Coyle (4 August 1964 – 12 April 2011) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender.
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Early life
Coyle was born in Glasgow and educated at St. Gerard's Secondary School. 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.
Career
Coyle began his professional career as a youngster with Celtic. After just two appearances and a loan period with Clyde, Coyle had a brief spell with Middlesbrough before moving to Rochdale.
After a year with Rochdale, Coyle moved to Kirkcaldy club Raith Rovers in 1988. 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.
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 1 May 2010 at half time during the match Ross County, Raith Rovers fans were glad to hear that he was alright. 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. Coyle died just weeks later on 12 April 2011 from the disease he had battled. He was survived by his wife Joan and their three children, Kevin, Briony and Georgia.