Norman was born in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, in 1940. His father Thomas and mother Agnes. He had three brothers : Alf, Reg and Des and three sisters : Kath, Dot and Mo. During the second world war, Norman's father was stationed in Crewe and when the war was finished the Coyles family sailed on the first ferry which was allowed to carry civilians in 1945. Norman was five at the time. He had a mass of black curly hair and was soon nicknamed "Curly".