Kris Boyd’s testimonial was thoroughly earned as he deserved his big day.
A match between a Kilmarnock XI and a Rangers Legends side ended 6-3 to the Ayrshire men. In typical Boyd fashion of old, the striker fired in a hat-trick for Killie to earn them the win.
It was a match that showed all that was good about Boyd’s game, as he showed his clinical finishing that he’s know for. It was a huge day for him, and played in front of 4,302 supporters – over 900 of which were Gers fans.
The likes of Nacho Novo, Sasa Papac, and Pedro Mendes were just several of the Rangers stars to feature. Old Killie faces such as Manuel Pascali and Alexei Eremenko also returned to Ayrshire.
Boyd has so often polarised supporters at Rangers. Be it his all-round performances at Ibrox or his punditry work, people always find a way to have a go at him.
In truth, however, this is totally unfair on the former Rangers hero. Boyd netted a sensational 147 goals during two different spells at Ibrox. He was also part of the famous three-in-a-row side built by Walter Smith.
To sum it up, Boyd had done more than his fair share to deserve this kind of recognition. He brought a period of success at Ibrox that helped keep them ahead of Celtic between 2008-2011. He played a huge part in that with his goals, and scored so many crucial strikes for the Gers.
A hero for both clubs
Added to that, his work with Kilmarnock in the past has also been heroic. Killie were the side that Boyd started out in, and the club Rangers signed him from. There, he’s scored 135 goals in three different spells for the Ayrshire side. He’s regarded as a hero over at Rugby Park, and rightfully so.
His time at Rangers also saw him overtake Celtic legend Henrik Larsson as the Scottish Premiership’s top goalscorer. That is no easy feat, and Boyd deserves a lot more praise than he gets for his footballing achievements.
His demeanour can strike people the wrong way these days. Boyd isn’t afraid to give his own opinion in the media, even if it’s against Rangers fans’ views.
The truth is, however, that Boyd is a great personality in Scottish football. He adds a bit of flavour and character to the country’s game, and his testimonial was more than merited.
The former Rangers hero is just as entertaining on the mic as he is on the pitch. He’s the kind of character Scottish football has been missing, and doesn’t get the praise he deserves.
Therefore, it was great to see him have his day in the sun at Rugby Park. It’s one he’ll never forget, and nor should he.
