Len Boyd

Len Boyd
Boyd as a Birmingham City player
Personal information
Full name Leonard Arthur Miller Boyd
Date of birth (1923-11-11)11 November 1923
Place of birth Plaistow, Essex, England
Date of death 14 February 2008(2008-02-14) (aged 84)
Place of death Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England
Position(s) 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
Total 333 (19)
International career
1952 England B 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonard Arthur Miller Boyd (11 November 1923 − 14 February 2008) was an English professional footballer who played 333 matches 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 2018, 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.