Adam Mark Boyd (born 25 May 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.
During his studies at Hartlepool Manor School of Technology, he played for Hartlepool United, making his debut in 1999. 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. 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. 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. This goal earned him two awards, Hartlepool United's Goal of the Season 2005 and the North East Goal of the Season 2005. Boyd was also named Hartlepool United's Players' Player of the Year. Boyd ended the season strongly and scored a brace in the first leg of the play-off semi-final match against Tranmere Rovers. This helped to secure Hartlepool's place in the play-off finals for the first time to forge a reputation for his goalscoring exploits, which has won him admirers such as Alan Shearer. His teammates likened him to his childhood idol Dennis Bergkamp. As Boyd was acclaimed, his value went up to £1 million and he attracted the attention of FA Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Sunderland. However, Boyd remained in Hartlepool's club for the start of the 2005–06 campaign. Boyd started the season by scoring two goals in four starts, but later picked up a long-term injury against Yeovil Town after bruising his bone. To make matters worse, Boyd's injury treatment went badly as he contracted a blood infection, which resulted in him being ruled out for five months. Former manager Mike Newell, then of Luton Town, sought to take advantage of the effect that his injury had had on his value and made Hartlepool two offers thought to be of approximately £500,000 that the club quickly rejected. After finally returning to full training, Boyd struggled to overcome the effects of his injury and spent the majority of the time on the sidelines as the season drew to a close.
On 28 July 2006, Boyd signed a three-year contract with Luton Town after Hartlepool accepted a bid in the range of £500,000. Before leaving, Boyd thanked Hartlepool's coaches, managers and fans for helping him to develop and supporting him. He also thanked Chris Turner, Ken Hodcroft and Danny Wilson for allowing the transfer to happen so he could fulfil his ambitions. On his debut for Luton Town, he played a part in setting up Carlos Edwards' goal against Leicester City to make the game 2–0. Boyd's first goal for Luton Town came in a League Cup match against Bristol Rovers – the game finished 1–1 with Luton winning 5–3 on penalties. It appeared that Boyd was way behind the rest of the team in terms of fitness and match sharpness. However, Newell believed this was because Boyd has "had the best part of a year out of the game". Boyd scored his first League goal for Luton against Queens Park Rangers.
However, Boyd showed few signs of adapting to Championship football, leaving many Luton fans frustrated with Boyd's lack of form after such a big money move for a club of Luton's financial situation. Boyd ended an unhappy spell with the Hatters by being released from his contract, after Town were relegated to League One. Boyd spent one year at Luton Town, scoring only two goals in twenty-three first team games.
Boyd was signed by Leyton Orient on 24 July 2007 on a two-year deal, following his release from Luton. Boyd scored on his debut, a pre-season friendly against West Ham United with a 25-yard (23 m) volleyed lob over Robert Green. The match was testimonial to Orient manager Martin Ling, who signed Boyd on the same day as the match. He scored the opening goal on his league debut for Orient, along with Sean Thornton, against Southend United in a 2–1 win at Roots Hall.