Derry legend Coyle hails former Omagh manager

DERRY City legend Liam Coyle said there is no doubt that Roy McCreadie and Omagh Town resurrected his senior career.

 

Speaking in last week’s UH Bootroom podcast, Coyle said that signing for the Town ahead of the1992-93 season was the best thing he’d ever done.

 

After helping the Candystripes win the treble under Jim McLaughlin, Coyle picked up a serious knee injury in a game against Dundalk in 1989 and after going to England to get scan was given the news that every footballer fears – that he would have to give up the game.

 

Coyle was diagnosed with a rare knee condition and, at 21, was told that if he played again there was likely to be serious consequences.

 

The gifted striker, who had attracted interest from a number of cross-channel clubs that season, called it a day but two years later began playing locally again with junior side Brandywell Harps to improve his fitness as much as anything else.

 

Roy McCreadie watched him playing for Harps against a Celtic Swifts side laced with senior players in the Buncrana Cup and the rest as they say is history.

 

“I went back to playing junior football despite the potential consequences,” recalled Coyle..

 

“I was enjoying it and scoring more goals and people were again beginning to take notice.

 

“In the back of my mind senior football was a million miles away. We won the game against Swifts 3-0 and afterwards Roy asked me if I fancied making a comeback.

 

“I hmmmd and haaad about it but Roy was very persuasive. I eventually gave in and looking back it was the best thing I have ever done.

 

“Roy gave me the platform to get back into senior football, I’ll be forever grateful to Roy McCreadie and Omagh Town for doing that.”

 

FULL STORY IN LAST THURSDAY’S STRABANE CHRONICLE