Tommy giving shirt shrift to Rose tributes
Coyne learns from his ton of trouble
TommyTommy Coyne has been thereCoyne has been there and got the T-shirt when it comes to the juniors – just don’t expect him to wear it.
With 262 goals as he embarks upon his ninth season at Prestonfield, the striker is fast approaching legendary status with Linlithgow Rose.
Only David Blaikie, who racked up 276 in his 14 seasons with the club from 1979, stands between the 30-year- old and the mantle of all-time top talisman.
Having signed a deal that will take him up to 2019 at the East Superleague club, it’s only a matter of time before Coyne enters the history books.
But there will no repeat of five years ago when he pre-empted his 100th strike in maroon by having a tribute made up.
He said: “I stupidly got a T- shirt made up. It said something like, ‘100 goals, more to come.’ We were playing Kelty away and I got sent off!
“I stupidly said something to the linesman and got a straight red card.
“The T- shirt got binned after that. When I scored my 100th goal I didn’t use it. There will definitely be no more. If somebody tries to give me one I will be handing it straight back.
“And I won’t be saying anything to any linesmen or refs. I don’t think I can repeat what I said to the linesman!
“I’ve got another two years to get it and I take the penalties. It would be something I would be very proud of.
“But the record is not something I’m focused on.”
It’s not a bad haul for a striker who, when signed by Rose in 2009, was described by then boss Brian Fairley as “not an out and out scorer”.
“He got that one wrong, didn’t he?” joked Coyne.
However, had it not been for a few choice words from Tommy Snr, the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland striker, he have could been lining up at the other end of the pitch.
Tommy said: “I did want to be a goalie when I was growing up so dad kicked that out of me pretty quickly. It was one of these stupid phases and he said, ‘No, you’re not going to be a goalie – you need to be daft to be a goalkeeper.’”
Coyne has never been tempted to look elsewhere – even though Pollok No. 2 Murdo MacKinnon makes a habit of trying to lure him to Newlandsfield.
He said: “It was tough because I am used to Linlithgow winning things. The last couple of years it just didn’t happen. But I always knew we would come good.
“Rose were the ones who showed faith in me to sign me so I wouldn’t say I was ever tempted to go anywhere else. I see Murdo’s name coming up on my phone now and I answer just to be kind. He knows I’m going to say no.”
This week promises to be a big one for Coyne on and off the pitch with the striker starting an HND in law at New Lanarkshire College on Wednesday.
A Scottish Cup second preliminary round clash at Banks o’Dee looms three days later and Coyne is eyeing a return after sitting out yesterday’s 1- 0 win over Forfar West End with a knee injury.
He said: “As juniors we probably just see it as a bonus to be in the competition.
“But give it a couple of rounds then you start to think maybe there is a wee chance of us going a bit further.”