John Boyle (footballer, born 1946)

John Boyle

Personal information
Date of birth	(1946-12-25) 25 December 1946
Place of birth	Motherwell, Scotland
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1964–1973	Chelsea	198	(10)
1973–1974	Brighton	10	(0)
1974–1975	Orient	18	(0)
1975	Tampa Bay Rowdies	21	(3)
Managerial career
1977	Tampa Bay Rowdies
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Boyle (born 25 December 1946) is a retired Scottish footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in Motherwell, he signed for London side Chelsea as a 15-year-old whilst on holiday in the city. Boyle was one of the lesser-known, but nevertheless important, members of the successful Chelsea side of the period, usually playing in the midfield ball-winner role. He made his Chelsea debut in a League Cup semi-final against Aston Villa and ultimately picked up a winners medal in that competition the same year after also playing in Chelsea's two-legged final victory over Leicester City.

He played in Chelsea's FA Cup final loss to Tottenham Hotspur two years later but missed out when they won their FA Cup final against Leeds United in 1970 due to an injury. He made amends the following season, playing in both matches of Chelsea's successful UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final against Real Madrid in Athens.

He left Chelsea in September 1973 and briefly played for both Brighton & Hove Albion and Orient before retiring in 1975. He later had a spell coaching North American Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1977.

He currently lives in Kent with his wife and his granddaughter named Madeline.

References

• JOHN BOYLE, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database