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(c) 2007 Clarets Museum Copyright
The only Burnley captain to hold aloft the FA Cup, Tommy
Boyle was one of the best defenders in Burnley's history.
Tommy Boyle was the lynch pin of the great Watson, Boyle and
Halley back line, probably Burnley's greatest ever defence. A leader
and passionate man, who played football with his heart on his sleeve.
Boyle started his career at Barnsley,
and played in their FA Cup final
defeat against Newcastle United
in 1910, before he made a big
money move across the Pennines
to Burnley in 1911. Burnley were at
the time a second division side,
but had higher aspirations, within
weeks of his arrival, Boyle was
named captain and in 1913 he
led Burnley back to the top tier of
English football.
The season after Boyle collected
the FA Cup from King George V
at Crystal Palace, to write his name
in history. Sadly with the outbreak of the First World War, he was
drafted to the Army and served in France before being seriously
injured, and nearly dying.
After recovering from his injures and the end of the War, Boyle
continued to captain Burnley and led the Clarets to their first
Championship in 1920/21, but this sadly was his last full season
playing for Burnley, when in 1923 he left to be a coach/player with
Wrexham.
Tommy Boyle continued his association with football, coaching in
Germany. On his return to England, he settled in Blackpool, but fell
into financial difficulties and illness and died just short of his 52
birthday in 1949. He only made one England appearance
Diminutive for his position, 5ft 7in tall Boyle commanded respect in
the air, and was one of the best headers of the ball during this era.
He was also a leader in every sense of the word, Tommy Boyle was
Burnley's Bobby Moore.
Boyle was one of the best defenders in Burnley's history.
Tommy Boyle was the lynch pin of the great Watson, Boyle and
Halley back line, probably Burnley's greatest ever defence. A leader
and passionate man, who played football with his heart on his sleeve.
Boyle started his career at Barnsley,
and played in their FA Cup final
defeat against Newcastle United
in 1910, before he made a big
money move across the Pennines
to Burnley in 1911. Burnley were at
the time a second division side,
but had higher aspirations, within
weeks of his arrival, Boyle was
named captain and in 1913 he
led Burnley back to the top tier of
English football.
The season after Boyle collected
the FA Cup from King George V
at Crystal Palace, to write his name
in history. Sadly with the outbreak of the First World War, he was
drafted to the Army and served in France before being seriously
injured, and nearly dying.
After recovering from his injures and the end of the War, Boyle
continued to captain Burnley and led the Clarets to their first
Championship in 1920/21, but this sadly was his last full season
playing for Burnley, when in 1923 he left to be a coach/player with
Wrexham.
Tommy Boyle continued his association with football, coaching in
Germany. On his return to England, he settled in Blackpool, but fell
into financial difficulties and illness and died just short of his 52
birthday in 1949. He only made one England appearance
Diminutive for his position, 5ft 7in tall Boyle commanded respect in
the air, and was one of the best headers of the ball during this era.
He was also a leader in every sense of the word, Tommy Boyle was
Burnley's Bobby Moore.
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