For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former player who became a fans favourite.
Following on from those already covered – John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read, Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton, Lars Elstrup, Peter Anderson, Graham French, Alan West, David Moss, Terry Branston, John Aston, Paul Futcher and John Ryan, Syd Owen, Marvin Johnson, Malcolm MacDonald, Bob Hatton and Steve Buckley
The latest subject of our ongoing series is Chris Coyne, as suggested by Dave Howard.
Chris, who was to go on and make in excess of 220 league appearances for the Hatters, signed for Luton Town in 2001, for a bargain transfer fee of £50,000 by Joe Kinnear.
Before becoming a Luton player, the Australian, born in Brisbane, had played for West Ham United and Dundee, upon signing Chris, Joe Kinnear is attributed as remarking about his acquisition:
“Big and strong and uncompromising. He can pass with both feet. He reads it well, and he’s young enough to improve.”
At 22-years of age and six foot two inches tall, Coyne was the perfect acquisition when it came to developing as a centre back.
Indeed, he was to go on and become a mainstay at the heart of the Luton Town defence and was to be part of sides that won promotion on two occasions, the seasons 2001/2002 and 2004/2005.
But his Luton career didn’t start that well with the new acquisition scoring an own goal on his debut, against Lincoln City, but he sure did go on to make an impact.
In the promotion winning season of 2004/2005 the popular centre-back contribution was recognised by being awarded a Player-of-the-Month award and also a place in the PFA League One team of the season.
Sadly, knee injuries were to play a part in his career, with Chris missing games in the 2001/2002 season and the 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons.
The departure of Kevin Nicholls saw Chris awarded the captains arm band, but these were troubled times for Luton Town and in the 2007/2008 season, Coyne was sold to Colchester United for a fee of £350,000 as the Hatters battled administration.
Chris only netted 14 league goals for the club, but we’ve found one of them, courtesy of LUTON VIDS, in a classic encounter with Stockport County from 2005:
Chris Coyne – Mini Fact File
Name – Christopher John Coyne
Date of Birth – 20-December-1978
Place of Birth – Brisbane, Australia
Position – Defender
Height – 6 feet 1 inch
Career – Perth SC, West Ham United, Brentford (loan), Southend United (loan), Dundee, Luton Town, Colchester United, Perth Glory, Liaoning Whowin (loan)
International Career – Australia U17, Australia U23, Australia
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Chris Coyne, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.
If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.
My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.
Next up in the series will be – Ron Baynham suggested by Big Al
COYH’s
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Luton Urged To Stick To The Tried And Trusted Ways By The Support
