Boyer, Phil – England international was boss at two Grantham clubs

PHILIP John Boyer is an English former footballer who played for various clubs during his career, including Southampton, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Manchester City. He has the rare distinction of having played over 100 league games for four different clubs. He also made one appearance for England.

Born in Nottingham, Boyer attended Musters Road School, Nottingham, from where he joined Derby County as a trainee in August 1965. Although he signed as a professional in November 1966, manager Brian Clough allowed him to leave the Baseball Ground  for York in July 1968, without having made a first team appearance.

In 125 appearances, Boyer scored 34 times but played an important role in creating opportunities for forward partner Ted MacDougall, with whom he was later to play at three other clubs.

After his team-mate moved to Bournemouth, it was only a matter of time before Cherries manager John Bond signed Boyer as well and when Bond moved to Norwich City in November 1973, he took the pair with him.

Boyer made two England under-23 appearances before manager Don Revie called him into the senior national squad and gave him his only full cap, in a 2–1 victory over Wales thus becoming Norwich City’s first English cap.

In August 1977, Lawrie McMenemy, signed Boyer for Southampton, which MacDougall had joined a year earlier.

In November 1980, he joined Manchester City for £220,000 and in February 1982 he moved to Hong Kong, where he played for Bulova on-loan.

He then joined Grantham Town something of a major coup for new manager, Bob Duncan. His debut came in the September 1983 in a Northern Premier League game at Horwich RMI, with his first goal coming the following week at home to Mossley.

He left Grantham towards the end of their time in the NPL to have short spells at Stamford and Shepshed Charterhouse, before Barry Shaw brought him back to Grantham as his assistant during the 1985-86 season.

He retired although briefly followed Barry Shaw in a management role at Harrowby United.

Since retiring from playing he has worked as a bank courier and also scouted for various Football League clubs, including Northampton and Blackpool.

Compiled with help of Jon Barnes