Tom Boyd experienced highs and lows at Celtic and emerged as a legend

Tom Boyd a true legend of the club who experienced the highs as well as the lows in an incredible career…

There’s only a select band of players in the history of Celtic Football Club who can lay claim to be classed as ‘legends’ and one of them in my humble opinion is our former captain Tom Boyd.

Tom is a well known and loved name around the club, by supporters of all generations, and despite not being revered as much as some of the other iconic names in the club’s history, he’s up there with the best of them.

Liam Brady signed Tom Boyd from Chelsea in 1992

The life long Celtic supporter was an attacking full back who was equally as comfortable on either the right or the left was signed by Liam Brady from Chelsea in February 1992, just six months after joining the Stamford Bridge club from Motherwell, whom he skippered to the 1991 Scottish Cup after a dramatic win over Dundee United.

Tom Boyd was part of a swap deal for the misfiring Tony Cascarino 

Tom was part of a swap deal, which seen the misfiring Tony Cascarino head the opposite way, and it would in time prove to be one of the best ever deals in the clubs history.

Tom already an established Scottish international, was signed during a very bleak era in the Clubs history, and along with Paul McStay and John Collins was the only player who we could honestly say possessed any true quality.

Tom Boyd made 364 appearances, scored two goals and won eight major honours

364 appearances 2 goals and 8 major honours led to well earned testimonial against Alex Ferguson’s all conquering Man United in 2001, as well as his 72 caps for Scotland more than proved Tom’s credentials, but doesn’t explain the entire story of a Celtic career that experienced the highs as well as the very lows. Tom did experience it all in his 11 year stay at the club.

Boyd endured the dark days of the old board 

The dark days of the old board, which almost led to the demise of the club, to the Fergus McCann revolution, the emotional but somewhat fun rollercoaster ride that was the Tommy Burns era, to the all conquering Martin O’Neill dynasty, Tom was part of it all.

Lanarkshire born Boyd had experienced arguably the worst period in the clubs history, and played in one of the most successful eras, so he’s experienced both ends of the scale.

The man who skippered the side that stopped their ten 

Tom also had the distinction of being the man who skippered the side to our first league title in ten years under Wim Jansen back in 1998, and in doing so stooped the dreaded ‘ten’

As his career entered its final years, Tom adapted to more of a central defensive role, but as always still excelled and gave his all, which resulted in him becoming the first skipper since Billy McNeill to lead the side to a domestic treble under Martin O’Neill in 2001.

Tom retired at the end of the 2002/03 season

He would add a further league title to his collection a year later before retiring at the end of the 2002/03 season, and would continue to work for the club in some capacity, and to this day is still a regular face around Celtic park, whether that’s as his role as club ambassador, in the hospitality area or on Celtic TV, he’s still here and more importantly he still loves the club as much as me and you.

Tom Boyd really has seen and done it all with the club he loves. He has as they say, been there done that, and very much wore the shirt.

Tom’s still an avid supporter, and always speaks up for the club. The word legend gets easily banded about too often these days, but Tom Boyd undoubtedly is a legendary figure and not just at Celtic, but in Scottish football.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy