LEN BOYD

Full Name: Leonard Arthur Miller Boyd

Born: 11 November 1923

Came from: Royal Navy   Went to: Birmingham City

First game: 12 October 1946   Last game: 08 January 1949

Appearances: 80 (80/0)   Goals: 5

Born in Plaistow, Essex, he played for the West Ham Schools team alongside Ken Green, who would later become his team-mate at Birmingham City, and as a youth had also played for Ilford.

The outbreak of the Second World War when he was 15 delayed his entry into football as a career, and he joined the Royal Navy. While serving in Malta, he was spotted playing for a Navy team by an Argyle supporter who was a friend of Jack Tresadern and recommended him to the club. After a trial, Boyd signed professional forms in December 1945, following the end of hostilities.

He made his debut in October 1946, taking over at centre-half from Alf Miller for a Second Division match away at Leicester City, which Argyle lost 4-1. In his first season, he played 16 league matches, mainly in the inside-left position, and scored four of his five goals for the club. He then played regularly on the right side of the forward line in the following season, but failed to score, and was regarded as 'a promising but not exceptional inside-forward'.

This view of his abilities changed at the start of the 1947-48 season when team reshuffling cast him in the role of right-half. From that point, Boyd's confidence and performances improved rapidly and the big clubs were soon beginning to take notice. Birmingham City were impressed by his display in a match at St Andrew's at the beginning of 1948 but waited another year before making their offer.

After three consecutive seasons helping Argyle avoid relegation from the Second Division, he was indeed sold to First Division Birmingham City in January 1949 for a fee of £17,500. In doing so, he commanded the first five-figure fee ever received by the club for a player. Negotiations were kept secret from the press and public until the transfer had been completed. As if to underline Argyle's folly in releasing Boyd, Argyle lost their very next match, 6-1 at Fulham.

He was to spend six seasons at St Andrew's and in 1952 also won an England 'B' cap. As captain, he led the team to promotion in 1955 and the FA Cup Final in 1956. During his time at the club, he had a profound fear of flying and, ahead of the club's fixture against Internazionale of Milan, made the journey by boat across the Channel and then by train through France and into Italy, while his team-mates flew.

However, a back injury forced Boyd to retire before the start of the following season in August 1956, the day before City were to open their 1956-57 Football League campaign, His contract with the club was terminated at his own request. In total, he had played 255 times for City and scored 14 goals.

After a couple of years out of the game, during which he ran a pub in the city, he made an aborted comeback attempt with Leicestershire non-league side Hinckley Athletic three years later.

He remained involved with football for a few more years, acting as coach and scout for Redditch United between 1960 and 1965. Settling in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, he then went on to become one of the town's first traffic wardens. In later life, he moved into a care home in Melton, where he died in February 2008 at the age of 84.