Season 1990/91 was the year that Coyle really sparkled. In the first seven games that season Coyle hit a phenomonal seventeen goals. That's right, 17 in 7, or if you want, 27 goals in his first 17 game for us!!! That first seven games he hit two doubles, three hat-tricks and a four (against Clyde at Firhill). He actually drew a blank in that run against Brechin though his strike partner Graham Harvey bagged a hat-trick for himself that day. Injury struck in a legendary training ground encounter shortly thereafter halting his incredible run, but he returned later in the season to help clinch promotion. He was an integral part of the Diamonds team that reached the League Cup Semifinal (we won't mention you know who), survived the season in the Premier League, reached the Scottish Cup Final and qualified for Europe for the first, and so far only, time.

Though he didn't score in the Sparta ties (Kenny Black remains our only goalscorer in Europe), Owen stood out like a sore thumb against a team that yeilded SIX players who appeared in the Euro96 final at Wembley only four years later. Bolton signed him for £200,000 at the end of that season, and it was no surprise to see Owen scoring the winning goals against no less that Arsenal and Everton in the following season's FA Cup. He returned to Scotland with Dundee Utd, M*th*rw*ll and Dunfermline before Airdrie again benefitted from his brilliance in 2001, albeit with the backdrop of the "Evil Empire" that elimanated the 'onians' from Airdrie. Even in that team he single handedly kept Airdrie up before leading the scoring charts again. At the end of 2002 season, with Airdrieonians finally dead at the hands the 'KPM Grim Reapers', Owenie signed for Falkirk and subsequently won the D1 player of the year award at the grand old age of 36, scoring an impressive 24 goals in the process.

After joining Dundee Utd as player / u21 coach, we've snared him on loan again. At time of writing (Xmas 2003) he's scored four goals in four games, and no sign of letting up. What makes this guy so special? For one, he's reputedly Tee-Total. It certainly helps the longevity of a player, but that alone doesn't come near explaining the Coyle phenomonon. Quite simply Owen knows where the goal is and gets his thrills by scoring, LOTS. He has a hunger and desire to score goals that's clear to see. Against Inverurie it was obvious. Five - nil up and still moaning at his team mates to keep feeding him the ball. Owen isn't the quickest runner, best jumper, strongest shot, etc, by a long shot. He quite simply is a superb worker with a great attitude to the game. Hopefully his magical persona will rub off on some of his younger team mates like McKeown, Gow and McLaren so we can benefit from his excellence for years to come.