Biography
Hull-born right back Lewie Coyle, brother of international boxer Tommy Coyle, joined Hull City in August 2020. A suspension held over from the previous season meant Lewie didn’t make his Tigers debut until mid-September 2020 in a League Cup tie against his former club Leeds United and a subsequent head injury further hampered his first team chances, as did Josh Emmanuel’s superb form as first choice right back. Coyle spent his first half season in a support role and scored his first City goal in the last minute of a January 2021 EFL Trophy win against his former club Fleetwood Town, thumping home a winner from 30 yards. In the second half of the season Coyle was first choice right back and his tenacious tackling, coupled with surging runs on the wing, contributed richly to City’s title win in his first season.
He kept his first team place in the 2021/22 season in the Championship until an injury sustained at Barnsley in November 2021 kept him out of the side for three months and prompted Grant McCann’s move to a defence comprising three central defenders. When Coyle returned in February 2022 McCann was gone and new boss Shota Arveladze used Lewie as a buccaneering right wing back, alternating with Ryan Longman. His form was such that in July 2022, ahead of the 2022/23 season, Coyle was named City’s club captain in place of the departed Richie Smallwood. His game time was restricted when the Tigers signed Cyrus Christie in September 2023 but Coyle provided sterling service in a supporting role, often from the bench and ended the season as Liam Rosenior’s first choice right back as Christie recovered from injury.
Lewie was restored to the first team for the 2023/24 season and as the Tigers competed for a play-off place in the Championship table he became one of Liam Rosenior’s most trusted first team choices, defending stoutly, leading attacks and taking a remarkable number of blows to the face only to play on week after week, sometimes in a protective mask. He continued his right back and captain role at the start of the 2024/25 season under the tutelage of new manager Tim Walter, scoring a rampaging equaliser at Plymouth Argyle in the first League away match of the season.
Lewie Jacob Coyle started his football career as a youngster at Leeds United. After an illegal approach from Chelsea when he was only 10 years old, Coyle remained at Elland Road and made the grade through the academy system. He made his first team debut for Leeds United in a December 2015 Championship match at Nottingham Forest and ended the 2015/16 season with 13 first team appearances under his belt. Coyle added a further 10 first team appearances for Leeds United during the 2016/17 season, taking his tally to 23.
At the start of the 2017/18 season Coyle joined League One side Fleetwood Town. He spent the next two and a half seasons on loan at Fleetwood Town before making the transfer permanent in January 2020, signing a three and a half year deal. At the end of the 2019/20 season Coyle assisted The Fishermen to play-off defeat in the League One play-off semi-final, receiving a red card in a 1-4 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. By that time Lewie had scored one goal in 135 senior appearances for Fleetwood Town and developed a reputation as one of the lower leagues’ finest young full backs. It was therefore a considerable coup for Hull City to sign Lewie on a three year deal in August 2020.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 15 October 1995, Hull
Hull City First Game: 16 September 2020, Leeds United A (League Cup Second Round), 24 years, 337 days old
Hull City Final Game: [current player]
Clubs
Leeds United (2013-2020), Harrogate Town (2014, loan), Fleetwood Town (2017-2018, loan), Fleetwood Town (2018-2019, loan), Fleetwood Town (2019-2020, loan), Fleetwood Town (2020), Hull City (2020-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 152 apps, 4 goals
Lewie CoyleSeason | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020/21 | 26 (2) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | – | – | 3 (0) | 1 |
2021/22 | 21 (2) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2022/23 | 26 (15) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
2023/24 | 35 (5) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
2024/25 | 9 (0) | 1 | – | – | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | – | – |