Boyd would then play an integral role on his return to Hartlepool including scoring 22 goals in League One during the 2004–05 season as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship.
Boyd then moved to Luton Town in 2006 for a fee of £500,000, but struggled to settle at the Championship side and left a year later for Leyton Orient on a free transfer.
There his football abilities were first spotted by the school's headmaster and PE coach, Brian Cross, who selected him to play for the under-11 team, despite only being seven years old.
He then progressed through to Manor College of Technology and he was once again recognised as a football player by the school's headmaster, Alan White, a teacher who had previously taught Steve Harper and Paul Kitson.
Boyd's lack of first team appearances prompted the newly appointed Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper to loan him to Boston United to gain experience.
[9] The following season, Boyd became one of League One's top goalscorers[10] and formed a strong partnership with fellow striker Joel Porter to help Hartlepool make the play-offs.
[11] Arguably Boyd's best goal came against Sheffield Wednesday, on a cold, wet and windy Friday night at Victoria Park.
With Hartlepool already 2–0 up, Boyd received the ball outside the box and faked his way past two players before curling a shot over Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper David Lucas with the outside of his boot for his hat-trick.
This helped to secure Hartlepool's place in the play-off finals for the first time to forge a reputation for his goalscoring exploits, which has won him admirers such as Alan Shearer.
[15][16] As Boyd was acclaimed, his value went up to £1 million and he attracted the attention of FA Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
To make matters worse, Boyd's injury treatment went badly as he contracted a blood infection, which resulted in him being ruled out for five months.
[18] Former manager Mike Newell, then of Luton Town, sought to take advantage of the effect that his injury had had on his value and made Hartlepool two offers thought to be of approximately £500,000 that the club quickly rejected.
[19] After finally returning to full training, Boyd struggled to overcome the effects of his injury and spent the majority of the time on the sidelines as the season drew to a close.
[21] On his debut for Luton Town, he played a part in setting up Carlos Edwards' goal against Leicester City to make the game 2–0.
[25] He scored the opening goal on his league debut for Orient, along with Sean Thornton, against Southend United in a 2–1 win at Roots Hall.
[26] Boyd had talks with Huddersfield Town at the beginning of the January 2009 transfer window, however he failed to agree personal terms.
[30] Celtic Nation during pre-season went on to bring in numerous ex-Football League players including Boyd's former teammates Paul Arnison, Jeff Smith and Graeme Lee.
He left the club by 'mutual consent' after only three months having managed only a solitary goal during his brief stay – a volley to win the FA Cup tie against Dunston in September.
[33] He marked his debut for the club by scoring a seventh-minute penalty as they defeated Billingham Synthonia 4–0 in the third round of the Durham Challenge Cup on 4 February 2013.