Tommy Coyne
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Coyne (born 14 November 1962 in Govan
) is a former international footballer
who played for the Republic of Ireland team
due to his Irish
ancestry.
, where he made his debut in the 1981-82 season, in which he scored 9 goals in 31 matches. After scoring 19 in 38 matches in his second season, he began the 1983-84 season with 10 goals in 11 games before being sold to Dundee United
, then a rising force in Scottish football as part of the New Firm
, for £60,000.
However, Coyne failed to reproduce his form at Tannadice and scored only 9 goals in 62 games, though he did score a few goals in the UEFA Cup
. Halfway through the 1986-7 season he was transferred to city rivals Dundee
, where he found his scoring boots again, notching up 9 goals in 20 games in the second half of the season. In the 1987-88 season Coyne was top scorer in the Premier Division as he scored 33 goals in 43 matches. After scoring 9 goals in 20 matches at the start of the 1988-89 season he was sold on to Celtic
.
Coyne again failed to reproduce his form at the start of his Celtic career and did not score for the remainder of the season. The following season was also hardly a success, with 7 goals in 23 games. The next season, 1990-91 saw Coyne revert to his previous form with 18 goals in 26 games, as he finished the season as top scorer. Despite scoring 15 goals in the following season and 3 in 10 games at the start of the 1992-93 season, Coyne was transferred to Tranmere Rovers
in March 1993.
After a short spell in England, Coyne returned to Scotland to join Motherwell
in November 1993 for £125,000. In 1994-95 he was again the Scottish Premier Division's top scorer, and scored 59 goals in 132 games for Motherwell.
Coyne is the only player to be Scottish Premier Division top scorer with three different clubs.
Coyne left for Dundee in 1998, where he was loaned out to Falkirk
. He then returned to his first club, Clydebank, as player/manager in August 2000 and picked up the Scottish Second Division Manager of the Month award a month later. However, he was sacked after six months after the club had entered administration despite the club being near the top of Division Two
. Coyne's wife had died while he was in England, and while he was playing for Motherwell against Rangers
he was reportedly taunted by a section of Rangers fans with: "Tommy, Tommy, where's your wife?" and "home alone."
Soon after leaving Clydebank he joined Albion Rovers, where he ended his playing career.
in a friendly played at Lansdowne Road
, Dublin. This game was the international debut for Eddie McGoldrick
and was Paul McGrath's
fiftieth cap.Coyne waited just 27 minutes before scoring his first international goal. He was replaced by John Aldridge
in the eightieth minute, who converted from the penalty spot to make it a 2–1 victory for the Republic. Coyne started three of Ireland
's four matches in the 1994 World Cup
but he failed to score in the tournament.
His best game for Ireland was the 4–0 victory over Liechtenstein
on 12 October 1994, played at Lansdowne Road. Coyne scored two goals in the opening four minutes of the game but failed to achieve his hat trick. He played his last game for the Republic, coming on as a substitute for David Connolly
, in the 1-1 draw with Belgium on 29 October 1997. The game was the first leg of a playoff for qualification for the 1998
World Cup
, Belgium won the second leg 2–1 and qualified for the 1998 World Cup.
club Bellshill Athletic
. The club won the West Division One
in 2003-04, but Coyne was sacked in July 2005.
Coyne's other son, Bradley Coyne plays for East Stirlingshire
in the Scottish Third Division, on loan from SPL side, St Mirren.
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
) is a former international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for the Republic of Ireland team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
due to his Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
ancestry.
Club career
Tommy Coyne played for Hillwood Boys Club before starting his professional career at ClydebankClydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
, where he made his debut in the 1981-82 season, in which he scored 9 goals in 31 matches. After scoring 19 in 38 matches in his second season, he began the 1983-84 season with 10 goals in 11 games before being sold to Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, then a rising force in Scottish football as part of the New Firm
New Firm (Scotland)
The New Firm was the short-lived term used, during the 1980s, to describe the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United...
, for £60,000.
However, Coyne failed to reproduce his form at Tannadice and scored only 9 goals in 62 games, though he did score a few goals in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Halfway through the 1986-7 season he was transferred to city rivals Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, where he found his scoring boots again, notching up 9 goals in 20 games in the second half of the season. In the 1987-88 season Coyne was top scorer in the Premier Division as he scored 33 goals in 43 matches. After scoring 9 goals in 20 matches at the start of the 1988-89 season he was sold on to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
Coyne again failed to reproduce his form at the start of his Celtic career and did not score for the remainder of the season. The following season was also hardly a success, with 7 goals in 23 games. The next season, 1990-91 saw Coyne revert to his previous form with 18 goals in 26 games, as he finished the season as top scorer. Despite scoring 15 goals in the following season and 3 in 10 games at the start of the 1992-93 season, Coyne was transferred to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
in March 1993.
After a short spell in England, Coyne returned to Scotland to join Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in November 1993 for £125,000. In 1994-95 he was again the Scottish Premier Division's top scorer, and scored 59 goals in 132 games for Motherwell.
Coyne is the only player to be Scottish Premier Division top scorer with three different clubs.
Coyne left for Dundee in 1998, where he was loaned out to Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. He then returned to his first club, Clydebank, as player/manager in August 2000 and picked up the Scottish Second Division Manager of the Month award a month later. However, he was sacked after six months after the club had entered administration despite the club being near the top of Division Two
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
. Coyne's wife had died while he was in England, and while he was playing for Motherwell against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
he was reportedly taunted by a section of Rangers fans with: "Tommy, Tommy, where's your wife?" and "home alone."
Soon after leaving Clydebank he joined Albion Rovers, where he ended his playing career.
International career
In his international career, Coyne won 22 caps and scored 6 goals. He made his international debut on 25 March 1992 against SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in a friendly played at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, Dublin. This game was the international debut for Eddie McGoldrick
Eddie McGoldrick
Edward John Paul "Eddie" McGoldrick is a former Irish footballer whose clubs included most notably Northampton Town, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Manchester City...
and was Paul McGrath's
Paul McGrath (footballer)
Paul McGrath is a retired Irish footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland....
fiftieth cap.Coyne waited just 27 minutes before scoring his first international goal. He was replaced by John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
in the eightieth minute, who converted from the penalty spot to make it a 2–1 victory for the Republic. Coyne started three of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
's four matches in the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
but he failed to score in the tournament.
His best game for Ireland was the 4–0 victory over Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
on 12 October 1994, played at Lansdowne Road. Coyne scored two goals in the opening four minutes of the game but failed to achieve his hat trick. He played his last game for the Republic, coming on as a substitute for David Connolly
David Connolly
David James Connolly is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. He has previously played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League.Although born in England, Connolly has...
, in the 1-1 draw with Belgium on 29 October 1997. The game was the first leg of a playoff for qualification for the 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, Belgium won the second leg 2–1 and qualified for the 1998 World Cup.
Managerial career
After finishing his playing career, Coyne coached JuniorScottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
club Bellshill Athletic
Bellshill Athletic F.C.
Bellshill Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club, historically based in the town of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, though currently groundsharing with fellow Junior club Vale of Clyde in Glasgow...
. The club won the West Division One
Scottish Junior Football Association, Western Region
The Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region is one of three regions of the SJFA which organise their own distinct league and cup competitions...
in 2003-04, but Coyne was sacked in July 2005.
Family
Coyne's son, also named Tommy is also a striker and currently plays for Linlithgow Rose where he has gained a player of the year award and scored 38 goals in the 2009/10 season..Coyne's other son, Bradley Coyne plays for East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
in the Scottish Third Division, on loan from SPL side, St Mirren.
External links
- Tommy Coyne profile Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Players Database