Father's pride behind Boyle's Caltex Socceroos call

Martin Boyle has opened up on his motivation to represent the Caltex Socceroos following his first call-up to Graham Arnold’s squad.

The 25-year-old winger recently received the necessary clearance to play for the nation of his father’s birth and was included in the squad to face Korea Republic at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

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He is joined by two Hibernian teammates, Mark Milligan and Jamie Maclaren, but revealed that making his father proud was his primary motivation to represent the Caltex Socceroos.

“My father was a big part of it, obviously making him proud with him being born here,” he said.

“It’s come around quite quick but yeah he’s proud of me and that’s all the matters. 

“He was shedding a tear. Obviously he can’t take time off work to get across but I’m making him proud and that’s all that matters.

“I got invited to the Kuwait camp, which was I very honoured by, and I showed what I can do and now I’m back here after my performances for Hibs.”

Martin Boyle


Boyle has spent his entire career in Scotland, working his way up from lower-league outfit Montrose to the Scottish Premiership, but insists he has always kept a close eye on the Caltex Socceroos’ fortunes.

He added: “I knew quite a lot, watching all the tournaments back home with my father.

“Whilst I was playing lower league football, never in a million years had I though I’d get the opportunity.

“It has been a long run to get here and it’s happened so quick and I’m very honoured.”

Going a step further, Boyle claims that he’s ready to sing the national anthem if handed his first start again Korea Republic, but admits there have been a few language issues in the camp.

“I’ve mastered it,” he insisted. “I think I’ve got to sing to the boys tonight at dinner and I’ll see how they take it.

“They keep saying they need a translator so I’m trying to slow things down with my speaking but they’ve been brilliant.”

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