Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Will Boyle

William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL League Two club Shrewsbury Town.

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Will Boyle
Personal information
Full name William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle
Date of birth (1995-09-01) 1 September 1995
Place of birth Garforth, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)1
Position Centre back2
Team information
Current team
 Shrewsbury Town
Number 5
Youth career
–2010 Garforth Villa
2010–2015 Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Huddersfield Town 2 (0)
2015 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2 (0)
2015 → Macclesfield Town (loan) 0 (0)
2015–2016 → York City (loan) 6 (0)
2016 → York City (loan) 6 (0)
2016–2017 → Kilmarnock (loan) 11 (0)
2017–2022 Cheltenham Town 166 (23)
2022–2023 Huddersfield Town 16 (0)
2023–2025 Wrexham 24 (3)
2025– Shrewsbury Town 33 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:40, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle (born 1 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL League Two club Shrewsbury Town.

Early life and club career

Huddersfield Town

William Sam Douglas Harry Boyle3 was born on 1 September 19954 in Garforth, West Yorkshire.5 He attended Garforth Community College (now Garforth Academy) before joining Huddersfield Town's academy at under-15 level from his local club Garforth Villa in October 2010. With a youth stint at Sheffield Wednesdays Academy.6 He was nearly ever-present for the under-18 team in the 2012–13 season.6 He made his first-team debut for Huddersfield as a late substitute in the 3–0 win against Reading on 24 February 2015.7

On 26 March 2015, he joined Conference Premier (now National League) club Kidderminster Harriers on loan for the rest of the 2014–15 season, and made two appearances for the club.78 On 5 August, he joined National League club Macclesfield Town on loan for two months.7

On 18 November 2015, Boyle joined League Two club York City on a youth loan until 3 January 2016.9 He made his debut on 21 November 2015 when starting York's 3–2 away to Leyton Orient, in which he struggled to cope with the physicality of opponent striker Ollie Palmer.1011 He struck up a partnership at centre-back with Dave Winfield,12 and despite York wanting to extend his loan13 Boyle returned to Huddersfield in January 2016.14 Having made only one appearance as a late substitute after returning to Huddersfield,15 he rejoined York on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season on 26 February 2016.16

In June 2016, Boyle joined Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on a six-month loan.17 He scored on his debut, as Kilmarnock beat Clyde 2–1 in the Scottish League Cup on 16 July 2016. The goal came after he had earlier conceded a penalty, which was saved by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.18 Boyle returned to Huddersfield in January 2017,19 having made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal for Kilmarnock.20

Cheltenham Town

Boyle signed for League Two club Cheltenham Town on 9 January 2017 on a one-and-a-half-year contract.21 He made his debut in a 3–0 home victory over Accrington Stanley on 14 January 2017.22 In April 2018, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2020.23

Boyle signed a new two-year contract at Cheltenham in May 2020.24 Following an impressive 2020–21 season, Boyle was named in the League Two Team of the Season25 and the PFA Team of the Year for League Two.26

Huddersfield Town return and Wrexham

On 6 June 2022, Boyle agreed to return to Championship club Huddersfield Town on a free transfer.27 He signed a two-year contract, effective from 1 July upon the expiration of his contract with Cheltenham.27

Boyle signed for newly promoted League Two club Wrexham on 13 July 2023 on a three-year contract.28 He made his debut on 12 August when starting Wrexham's 1–1 draw away to AFC Wimbledon before scoring his first goal three days with a header in a 4–2 home win over Walsall.2930

Shrewsbury

On 26 June 2025, Shrewsbury announced they had signed Boyle on a two-year deal.31

International career

Boyle's father is Scottish, and he attended a training camp for the Scotland national under-18 team in October 2012.32

Career statistics

As of match played 24 February 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cupa League Cupb Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Huddersfield Town 2014–1533 Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2015–1634 Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2016–1720 Championship 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2014–1535 Conference Premier 2 0 — — — 2 0
Macclesfield Town (loan) 2015–1635 National League 0 0 — — — 0 0
York City (loan) 2015–1634 League Two 12 0 — — — 12 0
Kilmarnock (loan) 2016–1720 Scottish Premiership 11 0 — 3 1 — 14 1
Cheltenham Town 2016–1720 League Two 21 2 — — 2c 0 23 2
2017–1836 League Two 34 5 1 0 2 0 3c 0 40 5
2018–1937 League Two 38 4 1 0 2 0 4c 2 45 6
2019–2038 League Two 13 2 2 0 0 0 4d 0 19 2
2020–2139 League Two 29 6 4 1 2 0 1c 0 36 7
2021–2240 League One 31 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 33 4
Total 166 23 8 1 8 0 14 2 196 26
Huddersfield Town 2022–2341 Championship 16 0 1 0 1 0 — 18 0
Wrexham 2023–2429 League Two 24 3 0 0 1 1 3c 0 28 4
2024–2542 League One 0 0 0 0 1 1 3c 1 4 2
Total 24 3 0 0 2 2 6 1 32 6
Shrewsbury Town 2025–2643 League Two 33 3 3 0 0 0 2c 1 38 4
Career total 266 29 12 1 14 3 22 4 314 37
  1. Includes FA Cup
  2. Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League Two play-offs

Honours

Cheltenham Town

Wrexham

Individual

References

References

  1. Wrexham A.F.C. "Will Boyle". Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  2. "William Boyle". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. "William Boyle: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. "Will Boyle". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  6. "Huddersfield Town AFC player profiles: William Boyle". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015.
  7. Thomson, Doug (5 August 2015). "Huddersfield Town defender William Boyle is loaned to Macclesfield who play Torquay in their National League opener". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  8. Thomson, Doug (26 March 2015). "Huddersfield Town loan teenage defender William Boyle to Kidderminster Harriers". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  9. Martini, Peter (18 November 2015). "York City sign Huddersfield youth captain – and 'leader' – William Boyle on loan". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  10. Flett, Dave (23 November 2015). "Marvin McCoy back on York City's transfer list". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. Flett, Dave (22 November 2015). "Leyton Orient mete out capital punishment against York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. Flett, Dave (16 December 2015). "Dave Winfield declares William Boyle partnership can solve York City's defensive woes". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  13. Flett, Dave (2 January 2016). "York City hoping to make Tottenham winger Kenny McEvoy's loan move permanent". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  14. Thomson, Doug (5 January 2016). "Former Huddersfield Town duo in talks with Glasgow Rangers". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. Flett, Dave (25 February 2016). "Huddersfield's Will Boyle in the bag for loan return to York City". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  16. Flett, Dave (26 February 2016). "Young guns Bradley Fewster and Lubo Satka could be next for a York City rest". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  17. Thomson, Doug (24 June 2016). "Huddersfield Town loan duo to Kilmarnock". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. "Kilmarnock beat Clyde as Albion Rovers and Morton draw". BBC Sport. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  19. "Kilmarnock: Luke Hendrie extends loan spell, but Adams, Bojaj, Boyle, Burn leave". BBC Sport. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  20. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  21. "Cheltenham Town sign goalkeeper Scott Brown and defender Will Boyle". BBC Sport. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  22. "Cheltenham Town 3–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  23. "Will Boyle: Cheltenham Town defender signs new deal running to 2020". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  24. Palmer, Jon (29 May 2020). "Former Huddersfield Town defender Will Boyle on new contract at Cheltenham Town, 'Tour de Yorkshire' and yoga during lockdown and the play-off challenge ahead". Gloucestershire Live. Local World. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  25. "2021 EFL Awards winners announced". English Football League. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  26. "Norwich City dominate with six players in PFA Championship team of the year". BBC Sport. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  27. "Will Boyle agrees return to Town!". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  28. Henrys, Colin (13 July 2023). "Signed | Defender Will Boyle signs from Huddersfield Town". Wrexham A.F.C. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  29. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  30. Pritchard, Dafydd (15 August 2023). "Wrexham 4–2 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  31. "Will Boyle: Wrexham's double-promotion winning defender joins Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  32. Thomson, Doug (15 October 2012). "Huddersfield Town youngster William Boyle set for Scotland under 18 training camp". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  33. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  34. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  35. "W. Boyle: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  36. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  37. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  38. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  39. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  40. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  41. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  42. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  43. "Games played by Will Boyle in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  44. Palmer, Jon (22 May 2022). "Huddersfield Town closing in on Cheltenham Town captain Will Boyle". Gloucestershire Live. Local World. Retrieved 15 July 2023. In his five-and-a-half seasons with the Robins, Boyle helped the club progress from League Two relegation battlers to title winners in 2020/21, having missed out in the play-off semi-finals the previous season.
  45. "End-of-Season Gallery | Relive the Red Dragons' memorable season". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
External links