Len Boyd
Boyd as a Birmingham City player
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonard Arthur Miller Boyd | ||
| Date of birth | 11 November 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Plaistow, London, England | ||
| Date of death | 14 February 2008 (aged 84) | ||
| Place of death | Melton Mowbray, England | ||
| Playing position | Wing half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| – | Ilford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| – | Royal Navy | ||
| 1945–1949 | Plymouth Argyle | 78 | (5) |
| 1949–1956 | Birmingham City | 255 | (14) |
| 1959 | Hinckley Athletic | ||
| National team | |||
| 1952 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Leonard Arthur Miller "Len" Boyd (11 November 1923 − 14 February 2008) was an English professional footballer who played 333 games in the Football League in the 1940s and 1950s. After serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, Boyd signed for Second Division club Plymouth Argyle, where he spent two seasons playing as an inside forward. When he began playing as a wing half, a position to which he was better suited, he attracted attention, and soon secured a transfer to the First Division with Birmingham City for what was for Plymouth a record fee.
Though his club was soon relegated, Boyd established himself in the first team and was appointed captain. He was chosen to represent England at "B" international level. An industrious, dynamic player, described by his goalkeeper Gil Merrick as "a good player and a bloody good captain", Boyd led the team to the championship of the Second Division in the 1954–55 season and to the FA Cup Final and sixth place in the league, still, as of 2013[update], Birmingham's record league placing, the following year. He played only once more for Birmingham, forced to retire by the back injury which had disrupted his final season with the club.
Boyd was born in Plaistow, east London. He played for the West Ham Schools team alongside Ken Green, who was later to be a Birmingham team-mate, and as a youth played for Ilford F.C. The outbreak of the Second World War when Boyd was 15 delayed his entry into football as a career. He joined the Royal Navy, and while serving in Malta was spotted playing for a Navy team by a Plymouth Argyle supporter, who recommended him to the club. After a trial, Boyd signed professional forms in December 1945.
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