Bert Hoyle
Encyclopedia
Herbert Hoyle was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in The Football League
for Exeter City
and Bristol Rovers
.
Hoyle was born in Baildon, West Yorkshire
, and began his career with local side Bradford Park Avenue
, joining them in 1936 aged sixteen, but left to join the armed forces
without having made his League debut. During the Second World War
he continued to play football in the services while serving in Italy
, Yugoslavia
and Greece
.
On the conclusion of the war he returned to professional football by joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
in May 1946, but as with Bradford he did not play any League games for them and he left after only three months to join Exeter City
, with whom he finally made his League debut at the age of 26. During four years with The Grecians he made 82 appearances in the Football League, sharing the goalkeeping duties with Barney Singleton.
Bristol Rovers
paid Exeter a transfer fee of £350 for his services in 1953 and he became a fans' favourite at Eastville Stadium
thanks to his outgoing personality. He became known for chatting with the fans behind the goal before, during and after matches, and after revealing a fondness for oranges
(he always placed one in the back of the net as a lucky charm) he was inundated with gifts of the fruit at every home game, usually thrown by the spectators behind the goals (not an easy feat at Eastville Stadium where a greyhound track lengthened the distance to the goal line). He played in 105 League games for Rovers in just over two and a half seasons, but his career was brought to a premature end when he was involved in a car crash while driving home to Exeter
following an away game against Bristol City
in February 1953. He later returned to playing however with non-League
side Exmouth Town
.
Hoyle played in an era when many footballers had to take second jobs during the summer, and Hoyle worked on local farms during the close-season throughout his career. After retiring he ran The Ship Inn, a pub in Cockwood
, Devon
. He died in Dawlish
on 6 July 2003, aged 83.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
.
Hoyle was born in Baildon, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and began his career with local side Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, joining them in 1936 aged sixteen, but left to join the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
without having made his League debut. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he continued to play football in the services while serving in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
On the conclusion of the war he returned to professional football by joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in May 1946, but as with Bradford he did not play any League games for them and he left after only three months to join Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, with whom he finally made his League debut at the age of 26. During four years with The Grecians he made 82 appearances in the Football League, sharing the goalkeeping duties with Barney Singleton.
Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
paid Exeter a transfer fee of £350 for his services in 1953 and he became a fans' favourite at Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium, also known as Bristol Stadium and Bristol Stadium – Eastville, was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol....
thanks to his outgoing personality. He became known for chatting with the fans behind the goal before, during and after matches, and after revealing a fondness for oranges
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
(he always placed one in the back of the net as a lucky charm) he was inundated with gifts of the fruit at every home game, usually thrown by the spectators behind the goals (not an easy feat at Eastville Stadium where a greyhound track lengthened the distance to the goal line). He played in 105 League games for Rovers in just over two and a half seasons, but his career was brought to a premature end when he was involved in a car crash while driving home to Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
following an away game against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in February 1953. He later returned to playing however with non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
side Exmouth Town
Exmouth Town F.C.
Exmouth Town F. C. are a football club, from Exmouth, Devon, England who play in the South West Peninsula League. They had started the 2005-06 season in the Western League, but financial problems led to their withdrawal bringing a 33-year association with the league to an end.-History:The club was...
.
Hoyle played in an era when many footballers had to take second jobs during the summer, and Hoyle worked on local farms during the close-season throughout his career. After retiring he ran The Ship Inn, a pub in Cockwood
Cockwood
Cockwood is a small village on the west side of the Exe Estuary in the county of Devon, England. Lying between the villages of Dawlish Warren and Starcross, it is separated from the estuary by the main railway line between Exeter and Torquay, and is set around a small tidal harbour which boats must...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He died in Dawlish
Dawlish
Dawlish is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England, from the county town of Exeter. It has a population of 12,819...
on 6 July 2003, aged 83.