George Boyd – The Best Ever?

There are few superlatives that haven’t been used to describe George Boyd. His natural skill and ability on a football is something that cannot be taught; it’s something you either have or don’t. The left winger has lit up London Road since his arrival in 2007 and there is now an argument to suggest he may well be the best player to have put on the blue shirt of Peterborough United in the club’s history.

At first it wasn’t as easy to win the fans over though. Boyd came as a big money signing; the most any club had paid for a player currently plying their trade in non-league football, in-fact £250,000 was parted with to secure a youthful player from Stevenage. A player without league experience but with “potential”. It was a gamble. It was one which certainly paid off.

Boyd arrived at Peterborough in January 2007 along with two other non-league hopefuls, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith, who were looking to secure a career in league football. All three have made their mark on Peterborough United history. The fact that the trio are now known as “the holy trinity” by Peterborough United supporters shows just how highly regarded they are but Boyd stands out above the rest.

The left winger had been christened “The White Pele” by Stevenage fans and, therefore, had a lot to live up to at Posh. Boyd made his debut on a cold afternoon in Darlington where Peterborough lost 3-1. He looked a little lightweight; like a boy thrown into what was a man’s game. He had a lot to develop but what he had was a killer instinct, a sensational first touch and the rare ability to look as if he had time on the ball wherever he received it. There was no doubt about it, from the first moment he put on a Posh shirt, the boy was talented.

A month later and Boyd was becoming a regular in the Peterborough United line-up. He had scored his first goal for the club in a comfortable win against Wrexham but it wasn’t until ‘The Posh’ played against Boston that he announced his arrival and really showed why Posh had splashed out such a sizable sum for him. After falling behind to a poor Boston side, at home, Peterborough United needed a moment of brilliance to rescue them from an embarrassing defeat. Boyd was to provide it, coming off the bench; he picked the ball up just inside his own half, cut inside, and unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner of the net. It was sensational, a piece of magic off Boyd’s left boot; it was not that last time that London Road would be in awe of “Boydie” though.

After asserting himself as the first name on the team sheet, the club’s catalyst and being an inspiration in Peterborough United’s promotion season from League Two – where he scored 15 goals – Boyd would go onto break a Posh record; he made 125 consecutive appearances beating Eric Steele’s previous achievement of playing 124 times in a row. Quite remarkable for an out-field player to play so many times without getting injured, without losing form and without ever looking like he wanted a break.

During last campaign Boyd looked set to depart from London Road though, despite the best efforts of chairman, Darragh MacAnthony. Few could begrudge Boyd his move to a club of a higher reputation, he had been a loyal servant to ‘The Posh’ and with an impending relegation it looked to be time for him to achieve his potential and play in the Premier League. Eventually his big break happened; in March 2010 Nottingham Forest came in for Boyd’s services; snapping him up on an initial loan deal with a view to permanent in the summer. This was it. Posh fans, and Chairman Darragh MacAnthony conceded they would never see George Boyd gracing the left wing again.

However, Boyd’s loan spell at Forest was unsuccessful. He struggled to make an impact at the City Ground and he returned to Peterborough United for one last year with his contract expiring in the summer of 2011. Unbelievably, during the summer, he was convinced to stay and Boyd signed a new contract at Peterborough United to everybody involved with the football club’s delight.

There have been some notable names that have made their way through Peterborough’s ranks; Simon Davies, Matthew Etherington and Jimmy Bullard have all played in the blue and white kit. Not one of these, however, can make their claim to of had such an impact as Boyd has. For now, at least, Boyd remains a Peterborough United player and whilst he does Posh fans will continue to marvel at “The White Pele’s” brilliance.

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