Tommy Boyle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tommy Boyle (January 19, 1888 - January 5, 1940) was an English footballer, primarily associated with Burnley

Tommy Boyle is the only player to have captained a Burnley team in a winning FA Cup Final. He was a Yorkshireman born in the village of Hoyland near Barnsley, and he started his career at Barnsley In 1912 Boyle crossed the Pennines to sign for Burnley for what was then a club record fee of £1,150.

He was described as a great header of the ball, an excellent passer with great leadership qualities, and as being one of the best players ever to play for Burnley. Having lifted the FA Cup in 1914, he then became the first Burnley captain to lift the League Championship Trophy as Burnley won the 1920/21 title.

By then, he was 33 and his career was coming to an end. That season was to be his last full season in the first team. He made his last appearance for Burnley during the 1921/22 season, and after a further year playing in the reserves he signed for Wrexham, where he ended his playing career.

After his playing career, he had a spell coaching in Germany.

He never received the recognition many felt he deserved and won just the one England cap against Ireland in Belfast in 1913. He also played in three representative matches for the Football League.

Today he can still be seen within a short distance of Turf Moor. He is depicted as the footballer on the pub sign at the Turf Hotel in Yorkshire Street.