Adam Boyd

Adam Mark Boyd (born on 25 May, 1982 in Hartlepool in the North East England) is an English people football (soccer), currently playing for Leyton Orient F.C. in the English Football League One. Boyd Football (soccer) positions as a striker and started off playing in school while attending Grange Primary School.

During his studies at Hartlepool Manor School of Technology he played for Hartlepool United F.C. (1999). He moved to Luton Town F.C. in 2006 for a fee of Pound sterling500,000 and then joined Leyton Orient F.C. a year later in 2007 on a free transfer. He also had a short Loan (football) spell at Boston United F.C. in 2004.

Childhood and early career

Boyd attended Grange Primary School, Hartlepool and was first spotted by the school’s headmaster and PE coach, Mr. Cross, who selected him to play for the under-11 football team, despite only being 7 years old. While at Grange Primary School, Boyd rarely missed a game for his school. He then attended the Hartlepool Manor School of Technology and he was once again recognized as a football player by the school’s headmaster, Alan White, a teacher who had previously taught Steve Harper (footballer) and Paul Kitson. Boyd also played for 5 years with a Sunday league football team called Hartlepool St. Francis, where he started off by playing in Defender (football) Centre Back and helped the team win several trophies in the Teesside Junior Alliance league. Boyd caught the eye of Middlesbrough F.C. who sent Scout (sport) to watch him and gave him a trial. He had regularly watched Hartlepool United F.C. as a young lad with his Dad. However, Boyd’s early promise quickly faded as the team relinquished him to the Reserve team and he struggled to make an impact. Boyd returned 9 pounds overweight and looked set to leave Hartlepool United after angering Cooper. When asked about his weight gain, Boyd claimed that he had been eating more to build up his strength but when asked about gym work he said he had not started it yet. Boston looked set to make permanent deal for Boyd and made an offer for the striker. Boyd was also rewarded for his end of season form by being named the Powerade Football League One Player of the Month and also received the Goalscorer of the Month award. A The Football League spokesman described Boyd as “finally delivering on his undoubted promise”.
The following season Boyd became one of League 1's top goalscorers and formed a strong partnership with fellow striker Joel Porter to help Hartlepool make the play-offs. He scored 29 goals in league matches and cup serie and became the club’s highest goalscorer since Joe Allon in 1991. The peak of Boyd’s goals came against Sheffield Wednesday F.C. where Boyd received the ball outside the box and faked his way past two players before curving it over Sheffield Wednesday Goalkeeper (football) Paul Gallacher. This goal earned him two awards, Hartlepool United's Goal of the Season 2005 and the North East Goal of the Season 2005. Boyd was also named Hartlepool United’s Players’ Player of the Year. Boyd ended the season strongly and scored a brace in the first leg of the play-off semi final match against Tranmere Rovers F.C.. This helped to secure Hartlepool’s place in the play-off finals for the first time to forge a reputation for his goalscoring exploits, which has won him admirers such as Alan Shearer. His team mates likened him to his childhood idol Dennis Bergkamp. As Boyd was acclaimed, his value went up to £1 million and he attracted the attention of FA Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United F.C., Liverpool F.C., Middlesbrough F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C.. However, Boyd remained in Hartlepool's club for the start of the 2005-06 in English football. Boyd started the season by scoring 2 goals in 4 starts, but later picked up a long-term injury against Yeovil Town F.C. after bruising his bone. To make matters worse, Boyd’s injury treatment went badly as he contracted a blood infection, which resulted him being out for 5 months. Former manager Mike Newell (footballer), then of Luton Town F.C., sought to take advantage of the effect that his injury had had on his value and made Hartlepool two offers thought to be of approximately £500,000 that the club quickly rejected. After finally returning to full training, Boyd struggled to overcome the effects of his injury and spent the majority of the time on the sidelines as the season drew to a close.

Luton Town

On 28 July 2006, Boyd signed a three-year contract with Luton Town after Hartlepool accepted a bid in the range of £500,000. Before leaving, Boyd thanked Hartlepool’s coaches, managers and fans for helping him to develop and supporting him. He also thanked Chris Turner (footballer b. 1958)‎, Ken Hodcroft and Danny Wilson (footballer) for allowing the transfer to happen so he could fulfil his ambitions. On his debut for Luton Town, he played a part in setting up Carlos Edwards' goal against Leicester City F.C. to make the game 2-0. Boyd's first goal for Luton Town came in a Football League Cup match against Bristol Rovers F.C. - the game finished 1-1 with Luton winning 5-3 on Penalty shootout (football). It appeared that Boyd was way behind the rest of the team in terms of fitness and match sharpness. However, Newell believed this was because Boyd has "had the best part of a year out of the game". Boyd scored his first The Football League goal for Luton against Queens Park Rangers F.C. in a match likely to be remembered for Mike Newell's post match comments about female Assistant referee (association football) Amy Rayner.

However, Boyd showed few signs of adapting to Football League Championship football, leaving many Hatters fans are frustrated with Boyd's lack of form after such a big money move for a club of Luton's financial situation. Boyd ended an unhappy spell with The Hatters by being released from his contract, after Town were relegated to Football League One. Boyd scored on his debut, a pre-season Exhibition game Football (soccer) against West Ham United F.C. with a volleyed lob over Robert Green. The match was Testimonial match to Orient manager Martin Ling, who signed Boyd on the same day as the match.
of a woman he was in bed with caught them and assaulted him. Boyd was then forced to flee naked down a "posh estate" and suffered bruises and injuries to his feet. Boyd refused to take any legal action against his attacker, claiming that he just wants to "forget about it". Ironically, months before during Hartlepool’s pre-season tour in Holland, a streaker ran onto the pitch and danced in front of him.

Honours

- Hartlepool United Player’s Player of the Year: 2005
- Hartlepool United Goal of the Season: 2005
- North East Goal of the Season: 2005

With Hartlepool United F.C.
- Football League Third Division runners up: 2002/2003
- North East Team of the Year: 2002/2003.
- League One Play-Off Finalists: 2004/2005