April 28, 1990, remains one of the finest days in Exeter City's history as, on the back of an incredible home record, we secured our first title in our club's history. During this month we will be taking a look back - in alphabetical order - of the main players in that title winning side. This time we look at a reliable and versatile player who made 20 appearances during the title winning campaign.
TONY COYLE
WINGER
1989/90 LEAGUE APPEARANCES: ONE
Tony Coyle's time at the Park was certainly a brieg one, and a reminder of the days before the modern resitrictions on the transfer window.
Moving from Albion Rovers to Stockport County in December 1979, Tony went on to feature in 219 Football League matches for the Edgeley Park side, scoring 28 goals.
He was transferred to Chesterfield in June 1986 and stayed at Saltergate for two seasons, during which time he added a further 76 league outings and five goals.
Tony then returned to Stockport for a second spell at the club in August 1988, playing a further 23 league matches and scoring three goals, before signing for Northwich Victoria in the summer of 1989.
Terry Cooper signed Coyle on non-contract forms as an experinced back-up option in November 1989, and he went straight into the side to make his one and only appearance in a 1-1 draw at home to Wrexham, a match in which he was substituted for Steve Harrower.
In what goes down in the history books as one of the shortest spells at St James Park, Tony left after just one month with the club, returning to Northwich.
He later spent two seasons with Hyde United, joining them in the summer of 1991, where he scored once in 26 matches before finally hanging up his boots.
This article has been created using material from the Grecian Archive and ECFC Museum as part of the 'Celebrating our Heritage' programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the University of Exeter.