Below are the nominations received for Derry City:
Liam Coyle nominated by Tony McBride
A Derry City legend. 390 appearances and over 100 goals - the most of which were breathtakingly brilliant. The best talent I've ever seen play in my 23 years watching LoI football.
Liam Coyle nominated by Mark Owens
Why? Look at the goals he has scored, the victories he has secured for Derry City and the thrill he has given to every youngster growing up in the town.
Liam Coyle nominated by Eamon Robinson
The most natural player in the LOI in many years.
Liam Coyle nominated by Aaron Shongo
My choice for best LOI player has to go to Liam Coyle who played for Derry City for many years. He was a joy to watch and is, and always will be, a legend to many Derry supporters. There are many important and brilliant goals that he scored for us but the one that he scored against Finn Harps in the play-off to keep us in the Premier Division a few years back was one of the most memorable ones. And the last kick of the game (a free-kick), against UCD, I think, to keep us in the FAI cup a few years ago was a bit special too. So, I think he would be a popular choice with Derry supporters. He gets my vote!
Liam Coyle nominated by John O’Sullivan
I'll start by saying that I'm a Cork City fan. There are numerous players I could have picked from my own team, including Patsy Freyne, Declan Daly and Joe Gamble. Equally there are great players who started their careers in the LoI to go on to international recognition (e.g. Paul McGrath, Roy Keane and Kevin Doyle).
Liam Coyle is my pick, one of those players who, even though the opposition, you still loved to watch him play. I've never spoken to a supporter of any LoI club who, having seen Liam Coyle play, could do anything other than praise him.
Paul Hegarty nominated by Deirdre, Letterkenny
Character, determination and sheer professionalism. A great ambassador for football in Ireland.
Liam Coyle nominated by Mark McLaughlin
Legend.
Liam Coyle nominated by John Carr
Probably the most exciting talent to come out of the League of Ireland based on pure ability to turn a game with flashes of brilliance. Surely would have made a name at one of the top European clubs if injury had not cut his career. A player that was worth the entrance fee alone.
Liam Coyle nominated by Kevin McLaughlin
Three words: Liam Coyle LEGEND.
Liam Coyle nominated by Laura Quigley
Liam Coyle nominated by Liabhron Ní Chaomhanaigh
Liam Coyle nominated by Drea Shiels
I would like to nominate Liam Coyle as Derry City's best ever player and League of Ireland legend! He was phenomenal to watch and an all round gentleman on and off the pitch. Liam Coyle was Derry City's equivalent of Steven Gerrard, he brings with him an aura that automatically gets respect from peers and children who didnt have the privilege to see him play for his team.
Stuart Byrne and Liam Coyle nominated by Shane Connolly
I chose Stuey as my team's (Longford Town) greatest player because no matter where he played or who he was playing against he gave 110% and was always able to come up with a bit of magic to help us through. I chose Liam Coyle as I think he is the most gifted and committed player ever to play in the LoI. Absolute gent and a role model for all.
Liam Coyle nominated by Declan Callan
A Legend.
Liam Coyle nominated by Patrick Morrison (33) Derry
Without a question of doubt LIAM COYLE is the Derry City legend and best player to have graced the hallowed turf of the Brandywell. Other legends come to mind like Felix Healy, Paul Doolin and Peter Hutton, but no one can touch COYLE. I would also put him onto the ring for greatest player to have graced the league. Although we are only in the league just over 20 years – he is best I have seen. Derry fans have enjoyed watching him turn defenders inside out and opposing fans looked on with envy at not having him in their team but at the same time appreciating the skill of the man.
Liam Coyle nominated by Roddy Daly
He had eyes in the back of his head!
Liam Coyle nominated by Liam Breslin
I wish to nominate Liam Coyle, who played for Derry City, the most complete footballer who ever graced the Brandywell and the famous - and not so famous - grounds of the League of Ireland. His velvet touch, tactical awareness, football brain and shooting, heading and scoring power, allied to his speed of thought and execution, made him the most naturally gifted striker ever to terrorise defences in the League of Ireland.
Liam Coyle nominated by Sean McLaughlin
Greatest player to play for Derry City and in the eircom League by far, super all round natural ability, scored goals, created goals, won everything in his career, member of the 1989 treble winning Derry City team, would have played at a higher level but for his injury.
Liam Coyle nominated by Anthony Duddy (29), New York (Derry)
Liam Coyle nominated by Seamy
Last game - play-off v Finn Harps - amazing!!!!!
Liam Coyle nominated by Mickey Anderson (31), Derry City
Liam Coyle has to be with a doubt one of the best players that has ever graced the fields of League of Ireland soccer. Be it before he got his career threatening knee injury or when he made his comeback, very few defenders got much sleep before games against Derry City knowing that the great Coyler would be twisting and turning them inside out the next day. Liam Coyle's record speaks for it self - 390 competitive games for Derry City scoring 112 goals. Not bad for a man whose career was nearly ended prematurely. He truly was a League of Ireland LEGEND.
Liam Coyle nominated by John Kehoe (30+), Waterford
For the best in the whole league, and certainly the best I ever saw was Derry City’s Liam Coyle. Supremely talented, you always thought something special was going to happen when he got on the ball. And the ‘what if’ element (due to his ultimately career-ending knee problems) only added to the size of the legend.
Liam Coyle nominated by Kevin McLaughlin, Shantallow, Derry
Derry City legend: Liam Coyle.
Opposition legends: Derek Swan, John Caulfield, Barry Kehoe, Brendan Bradley, Dave Barry.
Liam Coyle nominated by Paul Devine
Entranced the league with the silkiest touches for more than a decade.
Liam Coyle nominated by Chris Wade
The most skilful, intelligent player ever to play football in our league. Scorer of the best goals too!
Liam Coyle nominated by Jarlath Parlour, Derry City
I nominate Liam Coyle because of his all-round ability as a player and his contribution to the success of Derry City over a long period of time. Seldom does one see a player with the skill level of Liam particularly in the LoI and had it not been for an unfortunate injury which he bravely recovered from, then surely he would have had more NI caps and transferred across the water. However, despite his knee injury Liam went on to be recognised by his peers as an outstanding player and that makes his achievements all the more remarkable.
Liam Coyle nominated by Eleanor Doherty
Liam Coyle will always go down in the history books as the best player ever to grace the Brandywell. He has worn the DCFC Top With pride and has scored some of the most important goals of the club's history from his debut goals and the goal that kept Derry City in the Premier Divison. Players from Derry do not get the awards that are due to them for the usual reason and we have to fight to get. Liam Coyle deserves this.
Liam Coyle nominated by Kevin Delaney (26), Derry City
I believe Liam Coyle from Derry City FC deserves this award.
Liam Coyle nominated by Brian McDaid
Skill, timing, ability to read the game – he had it all.
Liam Coyle nominated by Kieran Coyle (34), Derry City
Simply a magician with the ball at his feet.
Liam Coyle nominated by Keith Kyle
It has to be Liam Coyle. A genius, head and shoulders above anyone else playing in the league and only prevented from playing at a much higher level because of a crippling knee injury. But even at walking pace he had far more time and space on the ball than anyone else.
Liam Coyle nominated by Rory Quigley (17), Derry City
Class act.
Liam Coyle nominated by Eamon McKane
Liam is a legend and by far the best player to play in Ireland in recent years!
Liam Coyle nominated by Adrian Connor
Liam could score from anywhere and played so long in the league, scored goals until the end of his career.
Liam Coyle nominated by Marty McIntyre (41), Derry City
Liam was without doubt the best natural ball player to grace the LoI in the last 20 years. He was a match winner! Unfortunately injury robbed him of the opportunity to play at a much higher level. But we did see glimpses of what he could achieve when facing the mighty Barca at the Brandywell, leaving Puyol on his arse a couple of times during that game. He is my nomination as the LoI's greatest player.
Liam Coyle nominated by Michael Hurley
Looking back I would have to go for someone who was a loyal servant to one club, not lots of trophies with different clubs. The O' Connors at the successful Athlone team of the early eighties come to mind, many Rovers players from the 70s, or Dave Barry at Cork. But as a Derry City supporter I have to cast my vote for Liam Coyle. Liam grew up yards from the Brandywell Stadium, hearing stories of how his father had starred for Derry. For many these may have proved boots too big to be filled, but from the hat-trick on his debut, through a treble winning season, to a final Cup final at Tolka, the man was pure class.
Liam Coyle nominated by Barry Roberts
A serious knee injury for a young Coyler meant he never left our shores for the big time in England, this was a great coup for all League of Ireland fans as we were able to take advantage of his gracious touch and ability to send defenders 'to the shop' with his movement. He scored some great goals for his home town club the best of which may have come at Athlone the day we lost the league, His goal in the FAI Cup final against Rovers should also be remembered for its importance. A truly great player.
Liam Coyle nominated by John Harrington (61), Tralee
It's a very difficult choice for the league's greatest ever player. From Jimmy Hasty (Dundalk), Frank O'Neill (Shamrock Rovers), Tommy Dunne (St Pat's.), Liam Coyle (Derry), Freddie Strahan (Shels), Al Finucane (Limerick), Ronnie Whelan Snr (St Pat's), Brendan Bradley (Finn Harps), Paddy Mulligan (Shamrock Rovers), Tommy Taylor (Waterford), my hesitant vote goes to Liam Coyle, the complete forward. The competition is a great idea and jogs the memory a bit. Impossible to recall all the greats since 59!
