Ged Coyne, a hugely respected figure in Tameside non-league football, has died suddenly aged 68 at his home in Malta.
The former full back played for five of the borough’s teams – Ashton United, Hyde United, Stalybridge Celtic, Dukinfield Town and Curzon Ashton as well as for New Mills.
Coyne later managed two of the teams he played for – Hyde United and Curzon Ashton – as well as East Manchester, Mossley and Glossop.
Coyne was on the books of Manchester City in the early 1970s and then bought by Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty in 1975.
He spent 12 months at Old Trafford but did not make the first team.
Coyne had a long career in non-league football before moving into semi-pro management.
It began at Manchester League club East Manchester in the mid-1980s.
He was appointed Mossley boss in February 1992, but that October replaced Cliff Roberts at Hyde United where he brought through favourites including Darren Thornton and Ged Kimmins who went on to play for the England semi-pro team.
Hyde sacked him after 13 months and he then spent three years at Glossop North End and the last club he managed was Curzon Ashton.
Journalist Mike Pavasovic said: “As a manager, Ged did much better than the stats would suggest.
“Although he never won a trophy, you have to take into account that he was always involved with struggling clubs.
“Financial problems meant Mossley had been in decline, and they were relegated from the NPL Premier Division in 1992/93.
“Hyde also had problems and although Ged was somewhat harshly sacked after only a year – he made some top-class signings.
“He did very respectably at Glossop, getting them back on an even keel after they almost went out of business and Curzon were in freefall, heading for the Northern Counties East League and the second division of the North West Counties League.”
Coyne was part of a football dynasty as his brother Peter played professionally for Manchester United, Crewe and Swindon as well as for Ashton United, Hyde United, Colne and Glossop.
His son Martyn is currently assistant manager at Hyde United while his nephew Tony was a well-known coach.