Star under the lights and you can Coyne it in
Club’s Mr Goals tells Rose kids this is chance to win glory move
HE’S the Harrods in their ranks and Tommy Coyne has urged Linlithgow’s livewires to make the most of their Scottish Cup shop window under the lights.
Son of former Celtic and Republic of Ireland striker Tommy Snr, the 32-year-old’s goal haul is enough to make eyes water.
Rose’s longest-serving statesmen raced through the 300-goal mark last season as he toppled David Blaikie as the club’s top scorer.
Which is all the more impressive given the fact then Rose boss Brian Fairley dubbed him “not an out-andout scorer” when he joined in 2009.
He’s been a part of almost every club venture in the senior Scottish, helping make history as the first junior team to reach the last 16 when downing Forfar in 2016.
And with League One Falkirk making the seven-mile amble east to Prestonfield tonight, Coyne believes it is the new boys’ chance to charm.
Plying their trade in the East of Scotland League, the joiner said: “It’s not every other week you get to play in the Scottish Cup. It’s not just for me, the young boys in the team as well – I’m buzzing for them.
“We’ve a lot of young boys who have never played in the Scottish Cup before and they might never get the chance again.
“My advice to them is just enjoy it. There’s no point in feeling uptight.
“You will feel nervous but just enjoy it and show people at a higher level you possibly might be able to go and play there one day.
“It’s all about just showing off what you can do. It’s a good platform for boys who are younger and want to maybe test themselves at a higher level.
“And who’s to say if somebody was to shine against Falkirk they wouldn’t take a look at them? That’s all it takes these days – for somebody to take a wee shine to you then you never know.
“But those days are gone for me, I’m too old now!”
Coyne had flirted with the idea of being a keeper as a kid only for his old man to kill that notion stone dead by telling him you need to be daft to do so. And Tommy Snr would still chip in with post-match analysis irrespective of whether his boy has been wonderful or woeful
He said: “Aye, I don’t think that will ever change. But he knows now that
I’m getting old I don’t really listen to him as much as I used to!
“I don’t think I’m going to change now. The legs are all right, getting older and a wee bit slower, but the mind is still as quick as ever.
“My dad played for Falkirk, believe it or not – he went on loan when he was at Dundee. He was only there for a month, I think he scored the quickest goal of the season that year for Falkirk after about 20 seconds.
“He enjoyed his time there but there will be no split loyalties – he will be supporting Linlithgow. He goes to all my games, tries to get home and away, so he’s looking forward to it as well.
“I got him a couple of tickets and my brother is coming up from Cheshire to watch it.
“It will be right up there. Winning the Scottish Junior Cup was probably the highlight of my career at Linlithgow. And becoming the highest goalscorer, I’m quite proud of that.
“But Falkirk being local, it’s going to be a sellout and on the telly. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.”