Doyle, Francis

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Fullname: Francis Doyle
aka: Frank Doyle, Snally
Born: 20 November 1901
Died: 19 May 1965
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 23 March 1926 (free)
Left: 1928 (left club); Aug 1933 (retired)
Position: Left-Half
Debut: Celtic 6-1 Queen’s Park, League, 28 Aug 1926
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A

Biog

Francis Doyle was signed by Celtic in March 1926 having been released earlier that year by Fulham following injury problems. Celtic were league title winners for season 1925-26, and the aim was to build on this triumph.

He was previously a “tip-top inside-forward with Airdrie” and so this was possibly valuable for Celtic if he could regain that form. Cartilage problems had been the trouble for Frank at Fulham and it was hoped he had it cured/sorted whilst at Celtic (with assistance of Eddie McGarvie).

The Glasgow-born left-half made his Hoops debut on August 28th in a 6-1 league victory at Queen’s Park. He was to have a great start, and scored a goal in his second and third match (3-0 v Morton, 2-2 v Clyde both in the league), although he was to only score a single goal thereafter.

He at one point was actually about to go to Dundee, but his father offered him a share in the family outfitter’s business as an inducement to stay in Glasgow.

On one occasion, he was said to have walked out on the players at Seamill (training ground) during the week’s training after being unable to take a practical joke. As this is a joke by lads in their 20s, then being fair to Frank it was possibly not as innocent as some jokes should be, and we should not hold any judgement against him on this without knowing the full details & circumstances.

He was to be a reserve through most of his time, however he was unfortunate in that despite having a long run of games during Feb-Mar 1928, he lost his place in the first team just a few games before the Scottish Cup final to Tommy McInally. This was despite scoring a goal in a 2-0 win over Motherwell that helped the side make the final.

Actually, after he was dropped, Celtic went on to lose the next three games which culminated in the loss in the Scottish Cup final by 4-0 to Rangers in front of 118,000, the Ibrox club’s first Scottish Cup victory in 25 years.

In the run to the 1927 Scottish Cup title win, he’d only got to play in an early round so he never got to play in a major final with Celtic.

He left the club in 1928 after a dispute over wages.

Used mostly by the reserves during his time at Celtic, Francis made a total of 21 league & Scottish Cup appearances for the Celtic first-team and scored three goals.

Celtic never actually lost a game he played in, so a very good record, and both he and Celtic likely lost out from his departure. The club had already begun a slow period of decline.

He was idle throughout season 1928-29, and took up the family shop business in 1933 after retiring from football.

He sadly died in May 1965, just as Celtic were turning the corner and heralding a new golden era in the club’s history.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Pictures

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