Tommy Boyle (footballer, born 1901)

Thomas Boyle (21 February 1901 – 9 January 1972) was an English footballer who played as an inside right or right half. He played for Sheffield United, Manchester United and Northampton Town, winning the FA Cup with Sheffield United in 1925. He later spent a season as player-manager of Scarborough.

Tommy Boyle
Personal information
Full name Thomas Boyle
Date of birth (1901-02-27)27 February 1901[1]
Place of birth Sheffield, England[2][1]
Date of death 9 January 1972(1972-01-09) (aged 70)[3]
Height 5 ft 9+12 in (1.77 m)
Position(s) Inside forward, wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Bullcroft Main Colliery
1921–1929 Sheffield United 127 (38)
1929–1930 Manchester United 16 (6)
1930 Macclesfield Town 0 (0)
1930–1935 Northampton Town 142 (33)
1935–1936 Scarborough
Total 285 (77)
Managerial career
1935–1936 Scarborough (player-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Born in Sheffield, Boyle was spotted playing for the Bullcroft Colliery team and signed for Sheffield United in 1921.[4] He initially found it difficult to establish himself in the first team, but over time his form improved, particularly his heading, which was a factor in him being selected for the 1925 FA Cup Final ahead of the more experienced Tommy Sampy.[4] He left the Blades in 1929 after making over 140 appearances and scoring 40 goals.

Boyle signed for Manchester United for £2,000, but failed to settle and spent only one relatively unproductive season at Old Trafford in which he made just 17 starts.[4][3] He was registered as a player by Macclesfield Town in May 1930 but by July of the same year had left for Northampton Town where he spent a successful five seasons, starting over 140 games for the Cobblers.[4]

In 1935, Boyle was appointed player-manager of non-league Scarborough where he spent a reasonably successful season before retiring.[4]

Personal life

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Boyle was the son of Irish international Peter Boyle who had also lifted the FA Cup trophy with Sheffield United in both 1899 and 1902.[4] After leaving Scarborough, Boyle became the licensee of the Plough Inn in nearby Scalby, North Yorkshire.[4]

Honours

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Sheffield United

References

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  1. ^ a b 1901 Census England and Wales - Ecclesall Bierlow
  2. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  3. ^ a b "Thomas Boyle". mufcinfo.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
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