George Boyd

George Ian Boyd (born 2 October 1985) is an English-born Scottish footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a left winger.

Club career

Stevenage Borough

Born in Chatham, Kent, Boyd started his football career at Charlton Athletic at the age of 15.^[4] However, a year later he was released by Charlton, and opted to join Conference National side Stevenage Borough in 2001, combining a course at North Hertfordshire College with playing football at the Hertfordshire club.^[5] Boyd was handed his Stevenage debut at just 17 during the 2002–03 season, featuring in a 3–1 defeat against Margate at Broadhall Way, although he was substituted at half-time.^[6] Despite appearing on the bench frequently, Boyd did not feature again in the first team the same season.^[7]

The following season, Boyd featured 11 times during the second half of the season under new manager Graham Westley,^[8] after impressing him during Boyd's involvement in the FA Youth Cup.^[9] Boyd made a big impact despite appearing as a substitute in the majority of games, setting-up all three of Stevenage's goals in a 3–1 victory over Tamworth,^[10] and scoring his first Stevenage goal in a 2–1 win against Northwich Victoria in April 2004.^[11]

As a result of his fine form towards the latter stages of the 2003–04, Boyd was a regular in the first-team the following season, playing a total of 37 games and scoring three times as Stevenage made the play-offs.^[12][13] During the side's 2005–06 campaign, Boyd found his goalscoring feet, starting the season with three goals in five games, scoring a brace against Woking in a 3–2 defeat,^[14] and once against Tamworth.^[10] He also impressed in Stevenage's FA Cup run the same season, scoring a 30-yard effort away at Kettering Town in Paul Gascoigne's first game in-charge of Northamptonshire outfit,^[15] and netted in the following round in a 2–2 draw against Northampton Town.^[16] He also signed a new three-year contract at the club in November 2005.^[17] Throughout the season, Boyd scored a total of 12 times in 47 games from midfield in all competitions.^[18]

Under the new management of Mark Stimson, Boyd was played as a striker for the first time in a 2–1 defeat away at Tamworth, a game in which he scored Borough's solitary goal.^[19] The following game, he scored his first competitive hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Stafford Rangers.^[20] His fine form continued, scoring four goals in a 7-0 victory over Merthyr Tydfil in the FA Trophy.^[21] In December 2006, Stevenage turned down an initial offer from Peterborough United for Boyd,^[22] but on 31 December both parties agreed a deal for the player and it was announced that Boyd would officially sign for Peterborough on 8 January 2007 for a record Football Conference transfer fee of £260,000.^[23] Subsequently, he played his last game for Stevenage a day later in a 3–2 win over Aldershot Town, scoring twice.^[24]

Peterborough United

Boyd made his debut for the Cambridgeshire side in a 3–1 defeat away at Darlington in January 2007,^[25] and scored his first goal for the club a month later in a 3–0 win against Wrexham.^[26] He scored a further five times for the club that season, playing a total of 20 games.^[27] The following year, Boyd was instrumental in helping Peterborough to promotion to League One, scoring 15 times in 53 games.^[28] As a result, he was named in the League Two 2008 PFA Team of the Year.^[29] During the 2008–09 season, Boyd netted 10 times in 53 games for Posh, ensuring the club earned back-to-back promotions.^[30][31] Due to his impressive form, Boyd was named in the League One 2009 PFA Team of the Year for the second successive year.^[32] On 17 October 2009, Boyd made a club record-equalling 124th consecutive appearance, scoring a last minute equaliser against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.^[33][34] He subsequently broke the record three days later in a match against Doncaster Rovers,^[35] before scoring twice in the following match against Scunthorpe United.^[36][37] He continued his fine form throughout October with a goal at Ewood Park, scoring his third goal in Peterborough's League Cup campaign in a 5–2 defeat against Premier League team Blackburn Rovers.^[38] The following week, Boyd scored in a 2–1 defeat at home to Barnsley,^[39] as well as netting from the penalty spot in a 2–2 draw against Middlesbrough shortly after.^[40]

International career

Boyd was named in the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in February 2006, for a friendly against Italy.^[41] He scored his first goal for England in a 4–1 win against a Holland XI in November 2006.^[42] Boyd made a further four appearances for Paul Fairclough's side at the end of the 2006–07 campaign,^[43] before his subsequent move to Peterborough made him ineligible to appear in England C colours.

In April 2009, Boyd was called up for the Scotland B side, after obtaining proof his maternal grandfather was born in Glasgow.^[44] Although this caused a degree of controversy,^[45] Boyd started and scored in a 3–0 victory against a Northern Ireland B side.^[46]

Honours

Peterborough United

• Runners-up
  • League Two: 2007–08
  • League One: 2008–09

Career statistics

As of 2 January 2010.

Footnotes

References

External links

• George Boyd profile at the Peterborough United website
• George Boyd career stats at Soccerbase