Boyle moved from his home in Scotland to join Sunderland in 1896, making his Football League debut against Blackburn Rovers in December of that year.

[5] Having told United that he wished to return to Scotland, Boyle spent only one season at Motherwell before he moved to Clapton Orient who had recently been admitted to the Football League.

[5] He then drifted back into the amateur game with brief spells at Wigan Town, Chorley and Eccles Borough where his playing career looked to have come to an end.

[5] After several years out of the game, however, Boyle was appointed as player-manager of newly admitted Midland League team York City in 1912, before being replaced by Tommy Collier later the same season.

[5] Although born in Ireland, Boyle's family had moved to Scotland when he was a child and it was here he began playing football regularly.