From Ballymena United debut at Windsor Park to still firing in goals at 40, former Irish League striker loving every moment of football journey
From making his Premiership debut for Ballymena United against Linfield at Windsor Park to still showing a prolific streak in front of goal aged 40, Matthew Boyd has loved every moment of his footballing journey and is determined to extend time on the pitch for as long as possible.
Boyd has showed no sign of slowing down – if anything he’s getting better with age having started the new season at local club Raceview by scoring nine goals in seven matches, including four in last weekend’s IFA Junior Cup triumph over Ballysillan Swifts, which adds to the 34 across competitions last term.
During earlier playing days, which also included a spell in the Premiership with Limavady United, Boyd could never have envisaged going beyond 40, but with his love for the game and desire for goals burning brightly as ever, there’s no plans to hang up the boots anytime soon.
"I do still get the same feeling scoring goals,” he said. “I say to people that it doesn't really matter where you're playing...my daughter is five and she comes back after scoring goals in a 3vs3 and she's loving it.
"It doesn't matter if you're playing with your mates or what level, a goal is a goal and you still get that feeling. It doesn't matter if you score from 20 yards out or one yard. I love it.
"I don't have any real targets in terms of playing to a certain age or amount of games. I gauge it a bit season by season and while I'm still enjoying it I feel I can contribute something to the team.
"At Raceview we've a good group of talented young boys around 18-20 so the likes of myself, and a few others, with the experience you feel being part of the team works well. I'm keen to keep going for as long as my body holds up."
Boyd took on a role as player-manager at Ahoghill Thistle ahead of the 2019/20 season with a view to continuing his involvement in football from the touchline, but the love for playing ultimately won over.
"When I was taking it on I wanted to still play and to be honest, it has been good the last few years to focus on playing and I haven't missed the management side of things,” he added. “I like the social aspect of being in the changing room with the boys and as long as I can play, I hope to continue on.
"When I started playing men's football around 15 I thought boys aged 40 were ancient and now I know we are ancient! My game was never about pace so I haven't lost anything as I got older. I like to think I'm maybe a smarter player and more intelligent now to know where to be."
Boyd was part of a Ballymena United reserve side alongside the likes of Sean O’Neill and David Cushley that won their league and he also made two senior appearances for the Sky Blues, coming off the bench against both Linfield and Coleraine under Roy Walker.
Running onto the Windsor Park turf against David Jeffrey’s all-conquering Blues was a moment that Boyd still remembers and savours.
"We drew that game 0-0...rather than coming on excited about the prospect of scoring the winner I came on thinking 'don't do anything to lose this!'” he laughs. “It was great to get that opportunity for my hometown club and being a boy from Glenarm playing at pitches that didn't have proper changing rooms to getting the chance to play at Windsor Park was a pinch-me moment and left you thinking 'how did I end up here?'. It was brilliant."