Adam Boyd

Adam Mark Boyd (born 25 May 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He scored 29 goals in league and cup matches and became the club's highest goalscorer since Joe Allon in 1991.

Arguably Boyd's best goal came against Sheffield Wednesday, on a cold, wet and windy Friday night at Victoria Park.

With Hartlepool already 2–0 up, Boyd received the ball outside the box and faked his way past two players before curling a shot over Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper David Lucas with the outside of his boot for his hat-trick.

During his studies at Hartlepool Manor School of Technology, he played for Hartlepool United, making his debut in 1999.

From the 1999 season to 2003, Boyd had started a total of 25 first team matches and made 38 substitution appearances.

Despite being on the field often, Boyd only managed to score 15 goals.

Boyd's lack of first team appearances prompted the newly appointed Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper to loan him to Boston United to gain experience.

During his time at Boston, Boyd won critical acclaim from Boston manager Neil Thompson and played a total of 14 matches scoring four goals before returning to Hartlepool.

Boyd returned nine 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.

However, both teams failed to reach an agreement with Boston claiming that Hartlepool were asking far too much.

It was rumoured that Hartlepool chairman, Ken Hodcroft, wanted a five figure sum, but Boston were only prepared to pay a four figure amount of around £5,000.

Boyd was a surprise inclusion in the team to face Stockport, and came on as a substitute after 45 minutes.

The next game away at Grimsby Town saw Boyd get his first start of the season for Pools and score two goals.

Boyd kept his place in the team and continued to score for the remainder of the season and notched an impressive 12 goals in 10 starts.

Cooper noticed a change in Boyd's attitude and commitment to the club and made Boyd Hartlepool's first choice striker.

Boyd was also rewarded for his end of season form by being named the Powerade League One Player of the Month and also received the Goalscorer of the Month award.

A Football League spokesman described Boyd as "finally delivering on his undoubted promise".

The following season, Boyd became one of League One's top goalscorers and formed a strong partnership with fellow striker Joel Porter to help Hartlepool make the play-offs.

Signing professional forms there, Boyd would have a short loan spell at Boston United in 2004.

Boyd would then play an integral role on his return to Hartlepool including scoring 22 goals in League One during the 2004–05 season as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship.

Boyd then moved to Luton Town in 2006 for a fee of £500,000, but struggled to settle at the Championship side and left a year later for Leyton Orient on a free transfer.

After spending two seasons at Orient, he returned to Hartlepool United.

However, his second spell at the club was not as successful as his first, and he was released in 2012.

Afterwards, he had spells in non-League with Celtic Nation, Lincoln City, Spennymoor Town and Bishop Auckland.

Born in Hartlepool in the North East of England, Boyd attended Grange Primary School, Hartlepool.

There his football abilities were first spotted by the school's headmaster and PE coach, Brian Cross, who selected him to play for the under-11 team, despite only being seven years old.

While at Grange Primary School, Boyd rarely missed a game for his school.

He then progressed through to Manor College of Technology and he was once again recognised as a football player by the school's headmaster, Alan White, a teacher who had previously taught Steve Harper and Paul Kitson.

Boyd also played for five years with a Sunday League team called Hartlepool St. Francis, where he started off by playing in central defence and helped the team win several trophies in the Teesside Junior Alliance league.

Boyd caught the eye of Middlesbrough who sent scouts to watch him and gave him a trial.

However, they decided against signing him.

Subsequently, he joined Hartlepool United instead, which was his favourite team alongside Manchester United.

He had regularly watched Hartlepool United as a young boy with his father.

While at Hartlepool's youth team he quickly impressed the coaching staff of Mick Smith and Billy Horner.

Despite having been in the youth team only for a short amount of time, he was given a surprising last minute call up to the first team at only 16 years of age.

Boyd eventually made his debut against Shrewsbury Town and was an immediate success after coming on a substitute and scoring a dramatic last minute goal from a tight angle in his debut game.

However, Boyd's early promise quickly faded as the team relinquished him to the reserves and he struggled to make an impact.