Stars that died in 2023: Ronnie Coyle, Scottish footballer (Celtic, Raith Rovers), died from leukemia he was , 46.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Ronnie Coyle, Scottish footballer (Celtic, Raith Rovers), died from leukemia he was , 46.

Ronnie Coyle was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender died from leukemia he was , 46..

(4 August 1964 – 12 April 2011)

Early life

Coyle was born in Glasgow and educated at St. Gerard's Secondary School.^[1] 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.^[1]

Career

Coyle began his professional career as a youngster with Celtic.^[1] After just two appearances and a loan period with Clyde, Coyle had a brief spell with Middlesbrough before moving to Rochdale.^[1]
After a year with Rochdale, Coyle moved to Kirkcaldy club Raith Rovers in 1988.^[1] 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.^[2]
In April 2009 Coyle was diagnosed with a form of leukemia 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.^[3] Coyle died just weeks later on 12 April 2011 from the disease he had battled.^[4] He was survived by his wife Joan and their three children, Kevin, Briony and Georgia.