1973–1974 Brighton 1964–1973 Chelsea | Years Team Playing position Name John Boyle | |
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Date of birth (1946-12-25) 25 December 1946 (age 68) | ||
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland | ||
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 joining the North American Soccer League expansion side Tampa Bay Rowdies in February 1975 just ahead of their indoor campaign. He captained Tampa Bay to a runner-up finish in the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament in March, and in August to victory in Soccer Bowl '75. Boyle retired in late 1975 and later had a brief spell coaching the Rowdies in 1977 after Eddie Firmani abruptly resigned from the post. In 1980–81 he appeared in five additional matches for Phoenix Inferno of the MISL.
He currently lives in Kent with his wife and his granddaughter named Madeline.