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1991-1992
DATE OF BIRTH Wednesday, 24th November 1965
PLACE OF BIRTH Glasgow, Scotland
DEBUT Saturday, 17th August 1991 in a 2-2 draw at home to Wimbledon (Aged: 25)
CLUB CAREER 22 League apps (+1 as sub), 0 goals
Tommy Boyd arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 1991 with quite a reputation from his
time with Motherwell. It was one which he further enhanced after leaving London to return north
of the border to play for Celtic and eventually being rewarded with an MBE for his services to
Scottish football. However, the bit in the middle - the six months he spent as a Chelsea player -
gave few, if any, clues as to how he earned that reputation. The Scottish international defender
was targeted by the Blues' manager Bobby Campbell during the 1990/91 season but his transfer
was delayed due to Motherwell's Scottish Cup run which saw them eventually lift the trophy with
Boyd as captain. The transfer was pushed through for a fee of £800, 000 but by the time the new
season began Campbell had been replaced in the hot-seat by Ian Porterfield and he appeared to
not have quite as much confidence in the abilities of his compatriot. Despite playing at left-back
Boyd was, in fact, far more comfortable with the ball on his right-foot and it was soon apparent
that he was not going to be the ideal replacement for his flowing, naturally-skilled predecessor
Tony Dorigo. He made his debut on the opening day of the 1991/92 season in a 2-2 draw at home
to Wimbledon and was part of a side which made a solid if unspectacular start to the campaign.
However, when Chelsea began to find wins hard to come by in the autumn Boyd became
Porterfield's regular choice of player to be substituted. He managed fleeting glimpses of the form
that had earned him his reputation in previous seasons, and a strong run and accurate cross to
set up a goal for Dennis Wise in a 2-2 draw against Everton showed what he was capable of, but
they were few and far between. A sending-off at Luton in December, when he was red-carded for
hauling back an opponent who had outstripped him for pace, was his last noteworthy act in a
Chelsea shirt, although he was a member of the side that clinched the Blues' first League win at
Liverpool in 60 years. However, that appearance at Anfield was his last as a Chelsea player. An
injury to Kerry Dixon left Porterfield short of attacking options and it was with this in mind that he
agreed a straight exchange deal which took Boyd back to Scotland with Celtic's woefully
out-of-touch striker, Tony Cascarino, moving back home to London in return.
DATE OF BIRTH Wednesday, 24th November 1965
PLACE OF BIRTH Glasgow, Scotland
DEBUT Saturday, 17th August 1991 in a 2-2 draw at home to Wimbledon (Aged: 25)
CLUB CAREER 22 League apps (+1 as sub), 0 goals
Tommy Boyd arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 1991 with quite a reputation from his
time with Motherwell. It was one which he further enhanced after leaving London to return north
of the border to play for Celtic and eventually being rewarded with an MBE for his services to
Scottish football. However, the bit in the middle - the six months he spent as a Chelsea player -
gave few, if any, clues as to how he earned that reputation. The Scottish international defender
was targeted by the Blues' manager Bobby Campbell during the 1990/91 season but his transfer
was delayed due to Motherwell's Scottish Cup run which saw them eventually lift the trophy with
Boyd as captain. The transfer was pushed through for a fee of £800, 000 but by the time the new
season began Campbell had been replaced in the hot-seat by Ian Porterfield and he appeared to
not have quite as much confidence in the abilities of his compatriot. Despite playing at left-back
Boyd was, in fact, far more comfortable with the ball on his right-foot and it was soon apparent
that he was not going to be the ideal replacement for his flowing, naturally-skilled predecessor
Tony Dorigo. He made his debut on the opening day of the 1991/92 season in a 2-2 draw at home
to Wimbledon and was part of a side which made a solid if unspectacular start to the campaign.
However, when Chelsea began to find wins hard to come by in the autumn Boyd became
Porterfield's regular choice of player to be substituted. He managed fleeting glimpses of the form
that had earned him his reputation in previous seasons, and a strong run and accurate cross to
set up a goal for Dennis Wise in a 2-2 draw against Everton showed what he was capable of, but
they were few and far between. A sending-off at Luton in December, when he was red-carded for
hauling back an opponent who had outstripped him for pace, was his last noteworthy act in a
Chelsea shirt, although he was a member of the side that clinched the Blues' first League win at
Liverpool in 60 years. However, that appearance at Anfield was his last as a Chelsea player. An
injury to Kerry Dixon left Porterfield short of attacking options and it was with this in mind that he
agreed a straight exchange deal which took Boyd back to Scotland with Celtic's woefully
out-of-touch striker, Tony Cascarino, moving back home to London in return.
| Other Chelsea Left Backs |
| TOMMY BOYD |