Stephen Hoyle
Birth date6 November 1992 (age 33)
Birth placeBarnsley, England
PositionForward
CurrentclubCooks Hill United
Newcastle Jets (women) (head coach)
Youthclubs 1Barnsley
Youthyears 22009–2011
Youthclubs 2Doncaster Rovers
Years 12012
Clubs 1Napier City Rovers
Caps 120
Goals 111
Years 22012–2013
Clubs 2Hawke's Bay United
Caps 216
Goals 24
Years 32013
Clubs 3Toronto Lynx
Caps 35
Goals 30
Years 42014
Clubs 4South Adelaide Panthers
Caps 425
Goals 43
Years 52015
Clubs 5Napier City Rovers
Caps 520
Goals 516
Years 62015–2016
Clubs 6WaiBOP United
Caps 614
Goals 610
Years 72016–2018
Clubs 7Canterbury United
Caps 752
Goals 726
Years 82019
Clubs 8Valour FC
Caps 86
Goals 81
Years 92019–2023
Clubs 9Eastern Suburbs
Caps 961
Goals 910
Years 102024–2025
Clubs 10Napier City Rovers
Caps 1032
Goals 109
Years 112026–
Clubs 11Cooks Hill United
Caps 115
Goals 111
Manageryears 12025–
Managerclubs 1Newcastle Jets (women)

Stephen Hoyle (born 6 November 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Cooks Hill United. He is also head coach of A-League Women club Newcastle Jets.

Hoyle has played in four different confederations, at clubs in England and Scotland in Europe, New Zealand in Oceania, Australia in Asia, and Canada in North America.

Club career

Early career

As a youngster, Hoyle trained at England's FA Academy and with his hometown club Barnsley. He also spent time with the Doncaster Rovers youth side and at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He was converted from a defender to a midfielder during his earlier career.[1]

Hoyle's first stint abroad was in New Zealand with Napier City Rovers and Hawke's Bay United, where he scored a goal in the New Zealand Football Championship playoffs. He then joined Canadian side Toronto Lynx in the Premier Development League, effectively an American fourth division, in 2013. He appeared in five matches for the club, tallying two assists without scoring,[2] and underwent a trial with Toronto FC under then-manager Ryan Nelsen, a New Zealander.[1]

Return to New Zealand

Hoyle returned to New Zealand and became a striker at the start of the 2015-16 season with WaiBOP United. He ranked among the top 10 goalscorers in the Premiership for four straight seasons from 2015 to 2019, and was Canterbury United's top scorer in the 2017–18 and 2018-19 season.[3]

Valour FC

Hoyle signed for Winnipeg side Valour FC in the newly launched Canadian Premier League ahead of the 2019 season.[4] He was the second signing in club history and the first international signing for head coach Rob Gale.[5] He scored the first ever goal for the club in its first competitive game, a 2–1 win away to Pacific FC at Westhills Stadium in Langford, BC on 1 May 2019, before being substituted in the second half.[6] He left Valour by mutual consent on 9 July 2019.[7][8]

Eastern Suburbs

Hoyle returned to New Zealand ahead of the 2019–20 NZ Premiership season and signed with defending champions Eastern Suburbs.[9]

Cooks Hill United

In February 2026, Hoyle returned to Australia, joining National Premier Leagues Northern NSW club Cooks Hill United.[10]

Coaching career

In June 2025, Hoyle was appointed head coach of A-League Women club Newcastle Jets on a two-season deal.[11]

Personal life

His younger brother James plays as a defender for New Zealand side Hamilton Wanderers.[4] The brothers were teammates at Napier City Rovers[12] and WaiBOP United.

Honours

Club

Napier City Rovers

Individual

WaiBOP United

Nomads United

References

  1. ^ Neil Davidson (11 December 2018). "Winnipeg's Valour FC makes English striker Stephen Hoyle its 1st international signing". Canadian Press. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Soccerstats.us Profile". Soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Success Celebrated with a Heavy Heart". We Are Canterbury. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  4. ^ Ed Tait (11 December 2018). "From Christchurch to Canada: 'History'-seeking Stephen Hoyle joins Valour FC". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  5. ^ Taylor Allen (16 April 2019). "Footballer excited to be in Canada". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  6. ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Hoyle, Carreiro efforts lift Valour to monumental first win". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Valour FC Release Forward Stephen Hoyle". July 9, 2019.
  8. ^ "S. Hoyle". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ Jeff Cheshire (2 November 2019). "Auckland City starts favourite". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Cooks Hill United FC is delighted to welcome Nick Curran from Edgeworth and Stephen Hoyle from New Zealand to the club for the upcoming season! 🖌 @tpvisuals #FireInTheHole". 9 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  11. ^ Comito, Matt (3 June 2025). "Newcastle Jets appoint new head coach with ‘impressive vision’ on multi-year deal". aleagues.com.au. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  12. ^ Brendon Egan (3 August 2016). "English striker Stephen Hoyle hoping to make impact for Canterbury United". Stuff. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  13. ^ Anendra Singh (2 May 2015). "Football: Brothers build on Barnsley connection". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  14. ^ DarelNix (18 March 2016). "Hilliar double win leads player awards". waibopunited.co.nz. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  15. ^ "ANNUAL REPORT 2018". Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  16. ^ Kelly Moore (11 December 2018). "Valour FC goes down under to add British striker Stephen Hoyle". Global News. Retrieved 2 May 2019.