Hull City v Middlesbrough FC: Lewie Coyle on the families inspiring him and instructing him at Wembley

Coyle is not just a boyhood fan of his local club, he is a fan of the whole city. Not just a fan of football, he and his family are mad about sport full stop.

When Coyle talks about what it will mean to lead the Tigers out in Saturday’s Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough, he speaks from the heart, thoughts of his family never far away.

The 30-year-old’s main inspiration will not be running out at world football's most famous stadium or reaching the Premier League, and certainly not the pay rise that comes with it. It will be his late father, Chris, the greengrocer whose four sons played sport for a living, and his city.

"It's hard, I want to share this with him wherever he is," says Coyle visibly fighting his emotions. "If he is looking down, I'm sure he is, that's what I sort of cling on to.

"You can probably see how uncomfortable I get thinking about it, but it's my way of honouring him. I have absolutely everything to thank him for and I owe him absolutely everything.

"This will probably be the closest chance to finally say thank you."

Chris has left a legacy – not only fine four sportsmen in Lewie, his 19-year-old brother Rocco, making his way in black and amber, former boxer Tommy and PGA professional golfer Joe – but good people too, who are proud of their city.

It means Lewie has had plenty of people to help him ahead of the game, not just from the Coyle family, but the Hull sporting family.

If ever there was a day for experience, it is Saturday, after all both teams have been put through by Southampton’s sinning Saints.

Hull reached the final on May 4 but had to wait nine days to find out who they would be playing and when after Southampton were caught spying on Middlesbrough training before their semi-final.

Boro thought their season might have finished on May 5, when Saints beat them 2-1 after extra-time, but have had to keep ticking over on the off-chance if might not.

Those are the excuses. Coyle is having none of them.

"More than," he replies when asked if Hull are ready.

"I'm very fortunate I'm in a team that's had no uncertainty in terms of we definitely know we're playing the final. It might sound cliched, but the focus has always been us.

"I'd be lying if I said there's not a couple of conversations, but nothing out of the ordinary.

"Mentally, you're going to have to be on top of your game. It's an incredibly huge occasion. Do all the things we've done to get to this position and we'll be more than fine."

Most sportspeople have good family support, but few can dip into the Coyles’ pool of sporting experiences.

"The proudest thing for me is I get to share it with them," says Lewie, proudly. "My brother Joe is on a golfing trip, a bucket list trip. If I wasn't at Wembley, I'd be there.

"Everyone else will be there. That's the really nice thing for me – to share it with those ones that are there for you, no matter what.

"I'm very lucky I've got a family which not just support me in the way they do, but have experienced some incredible highs and lows.

"You lean on all their life experiences in moments like this."

He has even been able to draw from rugby league, which will be in his thoughts in seven days when Hull Kingston Rovers are at Wembley for the Challenge Cup final.

"I'm from the east side of the city, so I was sort of Rovers growing up," explains Lewie. "I do like my rugby league.

"I'm good friends with Neil Hudgell (the club's owner). I only saw Neil in Nibble (a Hull cafe) the other day. I said how amazing is it for the city to have two teams representing Hull in back-to-back weeks at Wembley. I think that shows how far the city's come.

"Rovers have been at Wembley many times. I'm sick of saying well done to Neil! It was nice for Neil to say well done to me.

"He said make sure you bring it home for the city, yourself and the lads. Make sure you soak it in. It's not often these moments come around, so make sure you enjoy it.

"But he said make sure when you leave, you're leaving with everything that you intend on getting.

"Some people have had fantastic careers and never had the chance (to play at Wembley).

"At 30 years of age to be playing there for the first time is a really cool moment for me. Being captain will be incredible as well.

"But I want to go that one step further and make sure at the end of the game, I'm leading the lads up the steps (to collect the trophy)."

Because every top sportsperson, even a team man to the core like Coyle, is driven by a relentless greed for more. Chris Coyle did a heck of a job.