Fay Coyle
Encyclopedia
Francis Coyle more commonly known as Fay Coyle, was a former Northern Ireland
international footballer from Derry
, Northern Ireland
.
before starring with Coleraine for a number of years.
At the age of 18, he joined Derry City Reserves, and after some excellent displays, he made his senior debut in the 1952/53 season against Ards. His best was perhaps the 1954-55 season when he top-scored in the Irish League with 20 goals and won a City Cup winner’s medal.
Finally, after years of trying, Nottingham Forest
prised Coyle away from Coleraine in March 1958. He played just three times for Forest, but interestingly never at the City Ground
, before returning homesick to Coleraine in the summer of 1958.
Back in the Irish League, Coyle added to his collection of North-West Senior Cup medals as Coleraine defeated his old and first club, Derry City, in the 1959 and 1960 finals. In 1963 he returned to his hometown club in Derry and captained them to the most successful period in their Irish League history. In 1964 he led them to an Irish Cup
final victory over Glentoran, and consequently into Europe for the first time in their history. The next season Derry claimed their only Irish League title, adding the Gold Cup for good measure.
and the Northern Ireland national football team international selectors seeking a solution to their perennial search for a reliable goalscorer. He made his debut in a 2-1 home nations victory over Scotland
, and retained his place for the following month's defeat by England
.
Doherty awarded Coyle a place in the squad for the 1958 World Cup
in Sweden
. Northern Ireland’s on-going centre-forward problem continued due to an injury to Billy Simpson
in the run-up to tournament, and Coyle was given a chance against Argentina. The game ended in a 3-1 defeat, in what turned out to be Coyle’s last cap.
, emerge as a leading light in the club’s resurgence in the League of Ireland
. Fay Coyle died two days before his 74th birthday in 2007.
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international footballer from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Club career
A centre-forward, Fay Coyle began his career at Derry City in the Irish LeagueIFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
before starring with Coleraine for a number of years.
At the age of 18, he joined Derry City Reserves, and after some excellent displays, he made his senior debut in the 1952/53 season against Ards. His best was perhaps the 1954-55 season when he top-scored in the Irish League with 20 goals and won a City Cup winner’s medal.
Finally, after years of trying, Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
prised Coyle away from Coleraine in March 1958. He played just three times for Forest, but interestingly never at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
, before returning homesick to Coleraine in the summer of 1958.
Back in the Irish League, Coyle added to his collection of North-West Senior Cup medals as Coleraine defeated his old and first club, Derry City, in the 1959 and 1960 finals. In 1963 he returned to his hometown club in Derry and captained them to the most successful period in their Irish League history. In 1964 he led them to an Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
final victory over Glentoran, and consequently into Europe for the first time in their history. The next season Derry claimed their only Irish League title, adding the Gold Cup for good measure.
International career
Coyle's performances in the Irish League during the 1954-55 season brought him to the attentions of Peter DohertyPeter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
and the Northern Ireland national football team international selectors seeking a solution to their perennial search for a reliable goalscorer. He made his debut in a 2-1 home nations victory over Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, and retained his place for the following month's defeat by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Doherty awarded Coyle a place in the squad for the 1958 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...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Northern Ireland’s on-going centre-forward problem continued due to an injury to Billy Simpson
Billy Simpson
William "Billy" J. Simpson is a former Northern Ireland international footballer.Simpson signed for Rangers from Linfield for a sum of £11,500 in 1950. He spent nine years at Rangers making 239 appearances and scoring 163 goals...
in the run-up to tournament, and Coyle was given a chance against Argentina. The game ended in a 3-1 defeat, in what turned out to be Coyle’s last cap.
Retirement
Coyle also had the honour of seeing his son, LiamLiam Coyle
Liam Coyle is a former Northern Irish footballer who plied his trade with Derry City F.C. from 1988 until 2003. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is remembered for scoring a hat-trick on his Derry City debut against Cobh Ramblers on 6 November, 1988.-Club career:After playing for Finn Harps F.C...
, emerge as a leading light in the club’s resurgence in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. Fay Coyle died two days before his 74th birthday in 2007.