TOMMY Boyle was one of the greatest players ever to represent Barnsley FC.
He was a great header of the ball, an excellent passer and had great leadership qualitiies. Thomas Wilkinson Boyle was born on January 29 1888 at Hoyland. His greatest achievement while playing for Barnsley was to captain the Reds in the 1910 English Cup Final against Newcastle United. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Barnsley were defeated 2-0 in the replay.
Two years later, Tommy crossed the Pennines to sign for Burnley for what was then a club record fee of £1,150.
In 1913, at 25, he was capped for England against Northern Ireland at Belfast. Four of the England squad that day played, or had played, for Barnsley. They included Tommy, George Utley who was playing for Barnsley at the time, Jackie Mordue who had transferred to Sunderland, and George Wall, then at Manchester United.
Tommy started his footballing career at Barnsley. After his transfer he lifted the FA Cup for Burnley in 1913 and then he became the first Burnley captain to lift the Division One League Championship trophy in the 1920-21 season.
Tommy's career was by this time nearing its end and he made his last appearance for Burnley's first team during the 1921-22 season. He played in the reserves before signing for Wrexham. A year later he went to Germany coaching youngsters.
Tommy, who also played in three representative matches for the Football League, died on January 5 1940. He is buried in St Helen's churchyard, Hoyland.
Many felt that Tommy never received the recognition he deserved. Now, Barnsley and Burnley football clubs are joining together to play tribute to him by jointly providing funding for a headstone on his grave.
Tommy had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married George Cotterill. It's believed a distant relative of Tommy's or the Cotterill family may still live in the Hoyland area.
Representatives of Barnsley and Burnley football clubs are trying to ascertain if this is the case as they would like to speak to him or her about the proposed headstone and for a member of the family to be present when it's erected at the grave.
If anyone can provide any information, they are asked to contact Kath Parkin, Editorial Department, Barnsley Chronicle, 47, Church Street, Barnsley.
