The Story of Jamaican Football Legend: Walter Boyd

 

Written by Damalio Powell

Born in Kingston, Jamaica on January 1, 1972, Walter Boyd is known as one of the greatest players to ever play for Jamaica. 

Boyd made his international debut for Jamaica at the age of 19 on May 5, 1991, in which he also scored his debut goal for his country against Haiti. He would then play in the Caribbean Cup in 1991 and scored in his 1st match in the 86th minute vs Guyana. With his help, Jamaica would go on to win their first-ever Caribbean Cup with a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on June 2, 1991. 

On July 14, 1993, Walter Boyd would score his 3rd goal for the country in the 78th minute to seal victory for the Reggae Boyz, who won the Concacaf Group A, Gold Cup match 3-1 over Honduras. Walter Boyd would aid the team in finishing joint 3rd in the competition after recording a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica in the 3rd place match up. 

In an international friendly against Zambia in Kingston on August 20, 1995, Walter Boyd would score his 1st brace for the country in a 3-1 win over the visitors. It would be Boyd’s 3rd goal in 3 days as 2 days prior he scored against Zambia in Montego Bay which helped Jamaica to avoid defeat in a 1-1 draw. On October 22, 1995, Boyd would then score another brace to help Jamaica to a 5-1 win over the Cayman Islands in Georgetown. 

Disappointingly Boyd’s 3rd brace for Jamaica would prove to be too little as the Reggae Boyz would lose 4-2 to Zambia in the Zambian capital of Lusaka on November 5, 1995. His 4th and final brace would come against Honduras in a 3-0 win in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifications, on September 15, 1996. In the 11 games that Walter Boyd played for Jamaica in qualifications for the 1998 World Cup, he would score 5 goals, which would have aided Jamaica greatly at the time to qualify for their 1st World Cup. 

On August 1, 1997, Walter Boyd would get a transfer from the Colorado Foxes to Jamaican club Arnett Gardens FC. 

Walter Boyd would play in all of Jamaica’s matches in the 1998 World Cup held in France. Although not playing in the semi-finals or finals Boyd would help Jamaica to their 2nd Caribbean Cup title, after scoring 2 goals in a total of  3 games for his team. 

After 2 years at Arnett Gardens, Walter Boyd would earn a transfer to Swansea City on October 11, 1999. Boyd’s final Goal for the Reggae Boyz would be against Barbados in Kingston, as he helped his team to a 5-0 victory on July 5, 2000. He would play his final match for the Boyz against St Kitts & Nevis in a nil-all affair in Basseterre on July 30, 2001. He would end his international career scoring 19 goals in 75 matches. Walter Boyd would retire from playing football on July 1, 2010, at Arnett Gardens FC.