George O'Boyle
Encyclopedia
George O'Boyle is a Northern Irish
former professional football
er.
O'Boyle, a striker, began his career with Linfield
. He left Northern Ireland in 1988 to join French
club Bordeaux
. The following year, he joined Dunfermline Athletic
for £250,000. In 1994, he was signed by St. Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock
for a £200,000. He reached both the high and low points of his career during his seven years at McDiarmid Park
. He played in the 1998 Scottish League Cup Final
defeat by Rangers
.
On 5 January 2001, O'Boyle and St. Johnstone teammate Kevin Thomas
were sacked following drug-taking allegations. The two players, it was alleged, were found using an unidentified white powder (allegedly cocaine
) at the club's Christmas 2000 party in Perth's That Bar. The Scottish Premier League
attempted to overturn the sacking but it was overruled by the Scottish FA
.
After leaving the Perth
club, O'Boyle joined Raith Rovers
for a short spell, before moving on to Brechin City
and Queen of the South
, with whom he finished his professional career.
He returned to Northern Ireland to play for Glenavon
and Ards
, only to return to Scotland
in 2004 to play for junior clubs Bo'ness
and Kelty Hearts. O'Boyle is now player/assistant manager at junior side Carnoustie Panmure
.
goal in a 1-1 draw with Germany
in his hometown of Belfast.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
O'Boyle, a striker, began his career with Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. He left Northern Ireland in 1988 to join French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
club Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
. The following year, he joined Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
for £250,000. In 1994, he was signed by St. Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
for a £200,000. He reached both the high and low points of his career during his seven years at McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
. He played in the 1998 Scottish League Cup Final
1998 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1998 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 29 November 1998 at Celtic Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 52nd Scottish League Cup. The final was contested by Rangers and St. Johnstone. Rangers won the match 2–1, thanks to goals from Stéphane Guivarc'h and Jörg Albertz.-Match...
defeat by Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
On 5 January 2001, O'Boyle and St. Johnstone teammate Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas (footballer)
Kevin Thomas is a Scottish former professional association football player.Thomas was sacked by St. Johnstone in January 2001 for gross misconduct after allegedly taking cocaine at the club's Christmas party....
were sacked following drug-taking allegations. The two players, it was alleged, were found using an unidentified white powder (allegedly cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
) at the club's Christmas 2000 party in Perth's That Bar. The Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
attempted to overturn the sacking but it was overruled by the Scottish FA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
.
After leaving the Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
club, O'Boyle joined Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
for a short spell, before moving on to Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
and Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
, with whom he finished his professional career.
He returned to Northern Ireland to play for Glenavon
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
and Ards
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
, only to return to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 2004 to play for junior clubs Bo'ness
Bo'ness United F.C.
Bo'ness United F.C. are a Scottish junior football club, based in the town of Bo'ness. They are currently members of the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League....
and Kelty Hearts. O'Boyle is now player/assistant manager at junior side Carnoustie Panmure
Carnoustie Panmure F.C.
Carnoustie Panmure F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club from the town of Carnoustie, Angus. Formed in 1936, they are nicknamed the Gowfers due to the town's well-established links to the sport of golf...
.
International career
O'Boyle's international career spanned four years. In 1996, he scored his only Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
goal in a 1-1 draw with Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in his hometown of Belfast.