Tom Boyd

Brilliant goalie.

 

We don’t know if Tom Boyd and Tony Cascarino actually passed each other in flight or on the road on February 6, 1992, but we do know that their footballing paths crossed in the swap deal that occurred 30 years ago today.

The Irish internationalist was on his way to Chelsea while Boyd was travelling in the opposite direction to fulfill a Bhoyhood dream and sign for his beloved Hoops.

Here we take a short look at his Celtic career.

PRELUDE TO PARADISE
Tom Boyd grew up in the industrial heart of Lanarkshire and quickly, his steely determination transferred to the football field as his talent as a defender took him into a career as a professional footballer. His career would start at his local side Motherwell where he quickly became a fans’ favourite as a commanding presence at the back who also had the skill to move forward. This was showcased when he captained the side to victory against Dundee United in the 1991 Scottish Cup final, widely regarded as one of the most entertaining of the era. His performances during his eight years at Motherwell saw him attract the attention of Chelsea, and with a Scottish Cup winners’ medal in his pocket, he headed off to London.




DEBUT BHOY
Fortunately for Celtic, Tom Boyd’s stay at Chelsea was fairly short-lived. In what is still seen as one of the transfer deals of the decade, Celtic brought Boyd home in exchange for Tony Cascarino. And the defender’s first start for the Bhoys saw him line up against Airdrie on February 8, 1992 – a team that Tom would enjoy success against on a larger scale a few years later at Hampden.



HIGHLIGHTS
Alongside the midfield talent of Paul McStayand John Collins, Boyd would be at the heart of Celtic’s triumph in1995 as they lifted the Scottish Cup against Airdrie. The emotions displayed at the final whistle showed just what the win meant to all of the Celtic support – including Tom – ending a barren spell for the Bhoys that had lasted six years. Despite Celtic’s inconsistent form during this period, Boyd would soon enjoy being at the heart of another major triumph for the Bhoys as the newly-appointed captain helped Wim Jansen’s team stop the 10. Indeed he even had a helping hand in setting up Harald Brattbakk to seal the points against St Johnstone. While going on to play a part in the Bhoys’ 5-1 and 6-2 victories over Rangers, perhaps his greatest achievement is being just the second captain in Celtic’s history – after Billy McNeill - to captain the side to a treble in the 2000/2001 season.




LOW POINTS
Tom Boyd was a consistent performer throughout his time at Celtic, and the disappointments he felt were as much as a supporter as a player. The early years of his time were frustrating, but he was also part of the resurgence of the club under the later, great Tommy Burns. And like his team-mates, his one regret is that they didn’t win the title during Burns’ tenure as manager.




BOWING OUT
Tom Boyd’s last appearance in the Hoops would be an unassuming role in November 2002 in the fourth round of the League Cup as the Bhoys defeated Partick Thistle on penalties to progress to the next round. As the season went on, a combination of injuries and strong competition from Martin O’Neill’s preference for playing physically imposing defenders in the shape of Joos Valgaeren, Johan Mjallby, Ulrik Laursen and Bobo Balde saw Boyd’s playing time become increasingly limited. His appearance as an unused substitute against St Mirren and St Johnstone in the third and fourth rounds of the Scottish Cup would see him make the decision to hang up his boots. With a decade of service in the Hoops he had plenty to look back on.




FITTING REWARD
On May 15, 2001, Alex Ferguson brought his Manchester United side to Celtic Park for a special occasion – a testimonial match for Tom Boyd in recognition of his faithful service to Celtic going back to when he joined the club in February 1992. The result of the game was a 2-0 victory for the English side, but it was still a night of celebration of a Celtic great.

 

Comes across as sound
As a commentator he's much easier on the ear than monotone 'fantarrstic' O'Dea

 

What a brilliant servant to us, always wanted us to sign him when at Well, unbelievable engine.

Great player piece of business acquiring him, biased as * as a commentator though, lol

 

I love this guy man..

 

Felt emotional watching that tbh. What a guy.

 

I still maintain that in the bad old days (when we signed Tom Boyd), that if it wasnt for him, John Collins and Paul McStay we'd have been battling relegation.

He lost a bit of pace as he got older (as you do). But when he was in his pomp. Bombing down either the right or left wing, he was immense at times. Both in defence and in attack for us.

We brought in Tosh McKinley and then a season later Jackie McNamara, which took a good bit of the pressure off him and he moved into centre half position where he was also brilliant. Cant give the guy enough compliments to be honest. What a player

 

Belter of a pic, some talent in that lineup.

 

I genuinely love O’Dea’s commentary, can see why we have him as a coach, he has an insight that I’d have never expected from watching him as a player. He was all effort but he clearly puts a lot of thought into football.

Tam Boyd’s commentary is funny as *, more biased than ma Da watching games. Brilliant, doesn’t give a * at all, basically just slates all the refs as Orange *, ignores it when the replays show he called it wrong and he’s no putting out embarrassing * like Tom on Hun TV when * score against us. He infuriates them man

Peter Grant is the blandest guy on a mic I’ve ever heard, find it funny when he rambles into nostalgic stories from his time then remembers there’s a game on though.

 

Always forget he was in O’Neill’s treble winning team, he just seems so much an era before. Morten Weighworst still being there, until 2002 man, baffles me. It’s factual he was but I still don’t quite believe it