John Boyle was born in Motherwell, he signed for Chelsea as a 15-year-old. He made his Chelsea debut in a League Cup semi-final against Aston Villa and ultimately picked up a winners’ medal in the competition the same year after playing in Chelsea’s two-legged final against Leicester City.
He played in Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss to Tottenham Hotspur two years later but missed out due to injury when they won their FA Cup final against Leeds United in 1970. He played in both matches of Chelsea’s successful Cup Winners’ Cup final against Real Madrid the following year.
John spent two months on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion before leaving Chelsea in December 1973 to sign for Orient. He then joined the North American Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies in February 1975. 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. John retired in late 1975.