Boyle: Wesley Samuel (Wes)

1995-2002 (Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Portadown, Ireland: 30-03-1979

Debut v Newcastle United (h) (substitute): 21-09-1996

5’10” 11st (2000)

He joined Leeds in August 1996 from Portadown and was making a name for himself in the Junior ranks, but, like other Juniors of that time, failed to make the grade. He represented Northern Ireland three times at Under-Fifteen, once at Under-Sixteen, once at Under-Seventeen, once at Under-Eighteen (schools), scored once in five Under-Eighteen Internationals and once in seven Under-Twenty-one Internationals. In his first spell with Portadown he was an Irish League Cup Winner in 1995-96. He was a member of the successful Leeds United Youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1997 and produced several future internationals. He did make one appearance for the first team, as substitute for Ian Rush against Newcastle United in 1996, and was twice unused on the bench soon afterwards. He suffered several injury setbacks and was released in February 2002, after receiving another injury while representing the Northern Ireland Under-Twenty-One side. He returned to his native Portadown and figured regularly for them in the Irish League, scoring important goals. He had a trial with Doncaster Rovers in December 2002 and went on loan to Loughgall in March 2003, but returned to Portadown. He was a member of the Portadown team that won the Irish Cup by defeating Larne 5-1 at Windsor Park in the 2005 Final and was also the man of the match against Newry City when Portadown won the Irish League Cup in 2008-09. Unfortunately, Often in his three spells with Portadown, Boyle failed to show the undoubted talent which earned him a transfer to Leeds United. However, in 2004-05, when called upon he took his opportunity superbly. That form continued in the 2005-06 season and local lad became one of the first names on the team sheet each week. He scored twice in fifteen League starts and one substitute appearance in the 2009-10 season. In 2010-11 he played four games in European Competition, scored eight goals in thirty league starts and two games from the bench, while in the play-offs he started four games and came from the bench twice. Portadown lost the Play-off final 0-1 to Linfield on 20th April 2011.