Bobby Coy
Encyclopedia
Bobby Coy is a former footballer
who played in The Football League
for three different clubs in the 1980s as a defender
.
, signing professional forms in November 1979. He had to wait until the 1981–82
season for his league debut, which he made on 12 September 1981 in a 0-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur
.
He went on to make 21 top-flight appearances during his first season. Although Wolves were relegated at the end of the season, Coy was involved in them winning promotion in 1982–83
. However, he only played five times the following season (when Wolves were once again relegated) and in March 1984 he joined Division Four’s bottom side Chester City
in a joint loan deal with David Wintersgill. Coy’s loan was quickly made permanent. He played in all of Chester’s final 14 games of the season, including a spell at centre forward.
Coy became an established figure in a defence including future England international Lee Dixon
, Andy Holden
, Martin Lane
and Peter Zelem
and he went on to make 35 league appearances in 1984–85
. This increased to 44 in 1985–86
, when Chester were Division Four runners-up and Coy was named as player of the season.
But Coy was then surprisingly released by manager Harry McNally
and he joined Northampton Town
.
He enjoyed another promotion as the Cobblers won Division Four in 1986–87
, but he made just 17 appearances for them and did not play again after promotion. After a spell on loan with Altrincham
, Coy joined Southern League
side Aylesbury
. Once more there was promotion joy for Coy, and he played in their solitary season in the GM Vauxhall Conference
.
Coy then played lower down the non-league pyramid for Moor Green
, Armitage and Boldmere St Michaels, before he retired at the end of the 1996–97
season. Away from football he has worked in insurance and as a sales rep.
Chester City
Northampton Town
Aylesbury United
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for three different clubs in the 1980s as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Playing career
Coy began his career as an apprentice with Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, signing professional forms in November 1979. He had to wait until the 1981–82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
season for his league debut, which he made on 12 September 1981 in a 0-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
He went on to make 21 top-flight appearances during his first season. Although Wolves were relegated at the end of the season, Coy was involved in them winning promotion in 1982–83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
. However, he only played five times the following season (when Wolves were once again relegated) and in March 1984 he joined Division Four’s bottom side Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in a joint loan deal with David Wintersgill. Coy’s loan was quickly made permanent. He played in all of Chester’s final 14 games of the season, including a spell at centre forward.
Coy became an established figure in a defence including future England international Lee Dixon
Lee Dixon
Lee Michael Dixon is a former English professional footballer born in Manchester.He formed part of the Arsenal defence from the late 1980s, through till 2002. He was capped 22 times for England, scoring once....
, Andy Holden
Andy Holden
Andy Holden is a Welsh former football player. He had playing careers at Chester City, Wigan and Oldham Athletic and is the long-serving reserve team manager at Everton...
, Martin Lane
Martin Lane
Martin Lane is an English former footballer who played mainly as a full-back. Born in Altrincham, he made appearances in The Football League for four clubs, with most of his career being spent with Chester City.-Playing career:...
and Peter Zelem
Peter Zelem
Peter Zelem is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender. He played in The Football League for four clubs during the 1980s.-Playing career:...
and he went on to make 35 league appearances in 1984–85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
. This increased to 44 in 1985–86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
, when Chester were Division Four runners-up and Coy was named as player of the season.
But Coy was then surprisingly released by manager Harry McNally
Harry McNally
Harry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.-The Non-League Background:...
and he joined Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
He enjoyed another promotion as the Cobblers won Division Four in 1986–87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
, but he made just 17 appearances for them and did not play again after promotion. After a spell on loan with Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, Coy joined Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
side Aylesbury
Aylesbury United F.C.
Aylesbury United are a football club based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Spartan South Midlands League, nicknamed the Ducks....
. Once more there was promotion joy for Coy, and he played in their solitary season in the GM Vauxhall Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
Coy then played lower down the non-league pyramid for Moor Green
Moor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
, Armitage and Boldmere St Michaels, before he retired at the end of the 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
season. Away from football he has worked in insurance and as a sales rep.
Honours
Wolverhampton Wanderers- Football League Division Two runners-up: 1982–831982-83 in English footballThe 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
(18 apps, 0 goals)
Chester City
- Football League Division Four runners-up: 1985–861985-86 in English footballThe 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
(44 apps, 1 goal)
- Player of the Season: 1985–861985-86 in English footballThe 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
.
Northampton Town
- Football League Division Four champions: 1986–871986-87 in English footballThe 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
(17 apps, 0 goals)
Aylesbury United
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1987–881987-88 in English footballThe 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
(23 apps, 0 goals)