Peter Boyle
Everyone connected with Clyde FC was saddened to learn of the death of former player Peter Boyle earlier this week, aged 61.
Peter signed for The Bully Wee in 1972, from Larkhill Thistle. He first wore the white jersey in a pre-season friendly against Barrow at Shawfield, scoring two goals in a 4-1 victory over the English side.
Generally playing at number 11, his striking partnership with Sam Millar helped ensure that Archie Robertson’s team brought the Second Division Championship to Shawfield in the 1972-73 campaign. He ended that season as the club’s top scorer with 16 goals.
The following season, with Clyde back in the top league, Peter showed he could score goals at the highest level with a healthy return of 15 goals from 41 games.
Although Clyde struggled in the three years that followed, when Peter decided to move on in 1977 he had still reached a very good overall record of 48 goals from 132 matches.
At that time, he travelled to Australia and signed for West Adelaide FC. He never looked back and continued the rest of his life ‘down under’ – even earning an International cap for the Socceroos, against Czechoslovakia in 1980. Andy Haralampopoulos, current vice-chairman of West Adelaide, thoughtfully contacted the club this week with news of Peter’s death.
The club’s condolences are with Peter’s family and friends at this time.
A personal tribute to Peter, by club historian Gordon Sydney, will be published in The Clyde View.