Billy Boyd (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Billy Boyd


fullname = William Gillespie Boyd
dateofbirth = birth date|1905|11|27|df=y
cityofbirth = Cambuslang, Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1967|12|14|1905|11|27|df=y
cityofdeath = Bristol
countryofdeath = England
height = height|ft=5|in=7
position = Centre-forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = Regent Star Rutherglen
Larkhill Thistle
years = 1930–1933
1933–1935
1935
1935–1936
1936
1936–1937
1937–????
clubs = Clyde
Sheffield United
Manchester United
Workington
Luton Town
Southampton
Weymouth
caps(goals) = 0? 0(?)
42 (30)
06 0(4)
0? 0(?)
13 (11)
19 0(7)
0? 0(?)
nationalyears = 1931
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 02 0(1)

William Gillespie "Billy" Boyd (27 November 1905 – 14 December 1967) was a Scottish professional footballer, whose regular position was at centre-forward. He is most notable for playing at Clyde, where he won his two Scotland caps, and Sheffield United, for whom he scored 30 goals in 42 appearances.

Playing career

In Scotland

Boyd was born in Cambuslang, Glasgow and began his career with Regent Star Rutherglen. Whilst playing for junior side Larkhill Thistle he scored over 200 goals in three seasons. This prodigious goal-scoring form led to a transfer to Clyde. Boyd currently holds Clyde's record for the most goals scored in a season, scoring 32 goals in the 1932–33 season. This feat got him noticed by the English clubs, and in December 1933, he was transferred to Sheffield United.

In England

At Sheffield United, Boyd was a regular starter, making 22 appearances in his first season in the First Division. However, his 15 goals were not enough to save the Blades from relegation, as they finished in last place. Boyd stayed with the club as they went into Division Two, and scored another 15 goals in 20 appearances.

His goalscoring prowess was noticed by Manchester United, and he was signed by the Red Devils in February 1935. However, his tenure at Old Trafford only lasted a few months, and he was sold on to Workington in September of the same year. He moved back into the Football League set-up in December 1935 when he was signed by Luton Town. There, he scored a creditable 11 goals in only 13 appearances, before moving on to Southampton.

By the time he arrived at The Dell he was past his prime. According to Holley & Chalk, "he was renowned for having an erratic temperament (so) it was not surprising that his sojourn at the Dell was short". [cite book | author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk | title=The Alphabet of the Saints| publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing | year=1992|pages=p.41|id=ISBN 0-9514862-3-3] He made his debut on the opening day of the 1936-37 season, playing alongside fellow new signing Jimmy Dunne and Saints' stalwart Arthur Holt, but he failed to live up to expectations and by January had lost his place to Dick Neal. In his brief Saints career he scored seven goals in 19 games, before moving on to Weymouth in August 1937, and then back to Workington, where he retired.

International

Boyd only made two appearances for Scotland, both in 1931. His international debut came on 20 May 1931 in a 3–0 loss to Italy. This was followed by a second, and final, appearance against Switzerland four days later. The match was won 3–2, with Boyd scoring the second of Scotland's three goals.

References

External links

* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/williamgillespieboyd.html International profile] at [http://www.londonhearts.com londonhearts.com]