Will Boyle

Will Boyle

Personal information
Full name	William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle
Date of birth	(1995-09-01) 1 September 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Garforth, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [1]
Position(s)	Centre back [2]
Team information
Current team	Wrexham
Number	25
Youth career
0000–2010	Garforth Villa
2010–2015	Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Huddersfield Town	2	(0)
2015	→ Kidderminster Harriers (loan)	2	(0)
2015	→ Macclesfield Town (loan)	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ York City (loan)	6	(0)
2016	→ York City (loan)	6	(0)
2016–2017	→ Kilmarnock (loan)	11	(0)
2017–2022	Cheltenham Town	166	(23)
2022–2023	Huddersfield Town	16	(0)
2023–	Wrexham	24	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:51, 15 April 2024 (UTC)

William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle (born 1 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL League One club Wrexham.

Early life and club career

Huddersfield Town

William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle ^[3] was born on 1 September 1995 ^[4] in Garforth, West Yorkshire. ^[5] He attended Garforth Community College (now Garforth Academy) before joining Huddersfield Town's academy at under-15 level from his local club Garforth Villa in October 2010. ^[6] He was nearly ever-present for the under-18 team in the 2012–13 season. ^[6] He made his first-team debut for Huddersfield as a late substitute in the 3–0 win against Reading on 24 February 2015. ^[7]

On 26 March 2015, he joined Conference Premier (now National League) club Kidderminster Harriers on loan for the rest of the 2014–15 season, and made two appearances for the club. ^{[7] [8]} On 5 August, he joined National League club Macclesfield Town on loan for two months. ^[7]

On 18 November 2015, Boyle joined League Two club York City on a youth loan until 3 January 2016. ^[9] He made his debut on 21 November 2015 when starting York's 3–2 away to Leyton Orient, in which he struggled to cope with the physicality of opponent striker Ollie Palmer. ^{[10] [11]} He struck up a partnership at centre-back with Dave Winfield, ^[12] and despite York wanting to extend his loan ^[13] Boyle returned to Huddersfield in January 2016. ^[14] Having made only one appearance as a late substitute after returning to Huddersfield, ^[15] he rejoined York on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season on 26 February 2016. ^[16]

In June 2016, Boyle joined Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on a six-month loan. ^[17] He scored on his debut, as Kilmarnock beat Clyde 2–1 in the Scottish League Cup on 16 July 2016. The goal came after he had earlier conceded a penalty, which was saved by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald. ^[18] Boyle returned to Huddersfield in January 2017, ^[19] having made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal for Kilmarnock. ^[20]

Cheltenham Town

Boyle signed for League Two club Cheltenham Town on 9 January 2017 on a one-and-a-half-year contract. ^[21] He made his debut in a 3–0 home victory over Accrington Stanley on 14 January 2017. ^[22] In April 2018, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2020. ^[23]

Boyle signed a new two-year contract at Cheltenham in May 2020. ^[24] Following an impressive 2020–21 season, Boyle was named in the League Two Team of the Season ^[25] and the PFA Team of the Year for League Two. ^[26]

Huddersfield Town return and Wrexham

On 6 June 2022, Boyle agreed to return to Championship club Huddersfield Town on a free transfer. ^[27] He signed a two-year contract, effective from 1 July upon the expiration of his contract with Cheltenham. ^[27]

Boyle signed for newly promoted League Two club Wrexham on 13 July 2023 on a three-year contract. ^[28] He made his debut on 12 August when starting Wrexham's 1–1 draw away to AFC Wimbledon before scoring his first goal three days with a header in a 4–2 home win over Walsall. ^{[29] [30]}

International career

Boyle's father is Scottish, and he attended a training camp for the Scotland national under-18 team in October 2012. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [a]		League Cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Huddersfield Town	2014–15 [32]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2015–16 [33]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2016–17 [20]	Championship	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
Kidderminster Harriers (loan)	2014–15 [34]	Conference Premier	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
Macclesfield Town (loan)	2015–16 [34]	National League	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
York City (loan)	2015–16 [33]	League Two	12	0	—		—		—		12	0
Kilmarnock (loan)	2016–17 [20]	Scottish Premiership	11	0	—		3	1	—		14	1
Cheltenham Town	2016–17 [20]	League Two	21	2	—		—		2 [c]	0	23	2
	2017–18 [35]	League Two	34	5	1	0	2	0	3 [c]	0	40	5
	2018–19 [36]	League Two	38	4	1	0	2	0	4 [c]	2	45	6
	2019–20 [37]	League Two	13	2	2	0	0	0	4 [d]	0	19	2
	2020–21 [38]	League Two	29	6	4	1	2	0	1 [c]	0	36	7
	2021–22 [39]	League One	31	4	0	0	2	0	0	0	33	4
	Total		166	23	8	1	8	0	14	2	196	26
Huddersfield Town	2022–23 [40]	Championship	16	0	1	0	1	0	—		18	0
Wrexham	2023–24 [29]	League Two	24	3	0	0	1	1	3 [c]	0	28	4
	2024–25	League One	0	0	0	0	1	1	3 [c]	1	4	2
	Total		24	3	0	0	2	2	6	1	32	6
Career total			233	26	9	1	14	3	20	3	276	33

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
4. Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League Two play-offs

Honours

Cheltenham Town

• EFL League Two: 2020–21 ^[41]

Wrexham

• EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24 ^[42]

Individual

• EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2020–21 ^[25]
• PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 League Two ^[26]

References

1. "Will Boyle". Wrexham A.F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
2. "William Boyle". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
3. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
4. "William Boyle: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
5. "Will Boyle". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
6. "Huddersfield Town AFC player profiles: William Boyle". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015.
7. Thomson, Doug (5 August 2015). "Huddersfield Town defender William Boyle is loaned to Macclesfield who play Torquay in their National League opener". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
8. Thomson, Doug (26 March 2015). "Huddersfield Town loan teenage defender William Boyle to Kidderminster Harriers". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
9. Martini, Peter (18 November 2015). "York City sign Huddersfield youth captain – and 'leader' – William Boyle on loan". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
10. Flett, Dave (23 November 2015). "Marvin McCoy back on York City's transfer list". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
11. Flett, Dave (22 November 2015). "Leyton Orient mete out capital punishment against York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
12. Flett, Dave (16 December 2015). "Dave Winfield declares William Boyle partnership can solve York City's defensive woes". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
13. Flett, Dave (2 January 2016). "York City hoping to make Tottenham winger Kenny McEvoy's loan move permanent". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
14. Thomson, Doug (5 January 2016). "Former Huddersfield Town duo in talks with Glasgow Rangers". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
15. Flett, Dave (25 February 2016). "Huddersfield's Will Boyle in the bag for loan return to York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
16. Flett, Dave (26 February 2016). "Young guns Bradley Fewster and Lubo Satka could be next for a York City rest". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
17. Thomson, Doug (24 June 2016). "Huddersfield Town loan duo to Kilmarnock". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
18. "Kilmarnock beat Clyde as Albion Rovers and Morton draw". BBC Sport. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
19. "Kilmarnock: Luke Hendrie extends loan spell, but Adams, Bojaj, Boyle, Burn leave". BBC Sport. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
20. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
21. "Cheltenham Town sign goalkeeper Scott Brown and defender Will Boyle". BBC Sport. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
22. "Cheltenham Town 3–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
23. "Will Boyle: Cheltenham Town defender signs new deal running to 2020". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
24. Palmer, Jon (29 May 2020). "Former Huddersfield Town defender Will Boyle on new contract at Cheltenham Town, 'Tour de Yorkshire' and yoga during lockdown and the play-off challenge ahead". Gloucestershire Live. Local World. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
25. "2021 EFL Awards winners announced". English Football League. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
26. "Norwich City dominate with six players in PFA Championship team of the year". BBC Sport. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
27. "Will Boyle agrees return to Town!". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
28. "Defender Will Boyle signs from Huddersfield Town". Wrexham A.F.C. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
29. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
30. Pritchard, Dafydd (15 August 2023). "Wrexham 4–2 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
31. Thomson, Doug (15 October 2012). "Huddersfield Town youngster William Boyle set for Scotland under 18 training camp". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
32. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
33. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
34. "W. Boyle: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
35. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
36. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
37. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
38. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
39. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
40. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
41. Palmer, Jon (22 May 2022). "Huddersfield Town closing in on Cheltenham Town captain Will Boyle". Gloucestershire Live. Local World. Retrieved 15 July 2023. In his five-and-a-half seasons with the Robins, Boyle helped the club progress from League Two relegation battlers to title winners in 2020/21, having missed out in the play-off semi-finals the previous season.
42. https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/end-of-season-gallery--relive-the-red-dragons-memorable-season/ ^{[ bare URL ]}

External links

• Profile at the Wrexham A.F.C. website