Most people these days know former Celtic captain Tom Boyd as the passionate ex-Celtic player doing the co-commentary on Celtic TV.
People of my age will remember him as the legendary Celtic captain that led us to our first treble under Martin O’Neill in 2001 since Billy McNeill in 1969.
Boyd was honoured by Celtic for his work as a player and behind the scenes for his work with the Celtic Foundation at the Player of the Year Awards last night.
An emotional Boyd was interviewed after being presented with the trophy and paid tribute to his late father who he credits for getting him involved in The Celtic Family. You can watch his interview here.
Boyd said [CelticTV], “I’m overwhelmed. I’m just one of the supporters who got lucky and now, being recognised for the work I do, I’m absolutely delighted.
“I’ve seen some videos there and I was welling up with my mum. My father just died recently and he would have been delighted to have been here today as one of the Celtic family. And I’m lost for words in terms of what to say and express my views but I’m chuffed.
“I was very lucky that my dad did not follow my grandad because my grandad was a [Partick] Thistle supporter. And I’m not saying anything against Thistle but my dad went with his friends to Celtic Park and then he took me and my brother along with him and followed us.
“And that’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Because we can look now in terms of thinking about the Celtic family, going as a young kid through the turnstiles getting lifted over as most people did in those days.
“And then to come through, wanting to play for your team. Thought I’d lost the moment. I went to play for Motherwell and went to Chelsea.
“Thankfully there was a wee opportunity to come back up [to Celtic]. Running out and playing in that first game against Airdrie, the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. It was a brilliant experience.
“Now that I’ve retired and the work I do to help the foundation. And I don’t see it as help. I see it as a wee challenge. I like a wee challenges and people have helped me along the way.
“And so we’re a very special club. We were founded for a very special reason. And I don’t think any Celtic supporter would ever forget that.”
Boyd had a very mixed career at Celtic. Signed in 1991 from Chelsea, the former Scotland international picked up three league titles, two Scottish Cups and three league cups during his time at the club. But that was after going through a painful period of watching Rangers dominate Scottish football.
In fact, Boyd was part of that famous Celtic side that ended a six-year trophy drought under Tommy Burns after defeating Airdrie in the Scottish Cup Final in 1995. He also captained Wim Jansen’s Celtic side that stopped Rangers’ bid for ten in a row.
Boyd will always be synonymous with one of the most difficult and most successful periods in Celtic’s history in the nineties and early 2000s.
However, his name will always go down in history as the Celtic captain that brought domestic dominance back to the east end of Glasgow and the club hasn’t looked back since.
In other news, Adidas strangely release two new pieces of Celtic’s 2023/24 kits
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