'Men against boys' Hatters debut for Emmerson Boyce helped shape his career

A rude awakening on his Luton Town debut was a huge learning curve for former Hatters defender Emmerson Boyce.

Back on January 5, 1999, then as a 20-year-old, Boyce made his maiden Hatters start in the Auto Windscreens Trophy at home to Walsall.

It’s a game that won’t be recollected that much by the 1,870 in attendance at Kenilworth Road that evening, the Sadlers romping to a 3-0 win, but for Boyce, it was an integral part of his development.

He said: “I remember that so, so well.

“That was the time of my career when I played against Jason Brissett, who was the quickest and Sean Dyche was making his (Luton) debut as well.

“Whenever I talk to younger players, I always bring that story up, because first game for the first team, Jason Brissett got the ball, ran straight past me, they scored straight away.

“I think it was in the first 10 minutes, then he did it again and we were 2-0 down. I remember the headlines the next days were ‘men against boys.’

“It was a big learning curve for me, right at the start of my career, basically get tight to your winger and don’t let him do anything, and that stayed with me for my whole career.

“It was a great learning curve and a baptism of fire straight away.

"I had to rebuild my character and get back into the team as a young boy and thankfully I did that.”

Boyce only played once more that season, Town beaten 1-0 at home by Lincoln in the April before going on to make 35 appearances the following campaign in Division Two as his Luton career really took off,

He had plenty of highs and lows during his time with the Hatters, spanning 212 games and nine goals, relegated from Division Two in the 2000-01 campaign, before winning promotion straight back up the following season.

There were plenty of other memories for the full back too, as he continued: "We had some ups and some downs and some frustrating moments.

“We were going through administration as well, so there's been a lot.

"An FA Youth Cup semi-final too and it was a rollercoaster time, Joe Kinnear will say he shaped me mentally for my career, whether I agree or not, I’m not too sure.

“But there’s been many characters and obviously the fanbase at Luton has always been incredible.

"They always get behind the team no matter what, so to play at Kenilworth Road, that tunnel that I used to clean as a youth team player, for me, I had an amazing time there and am always happy when I go back, as it brings back certain memories.

“I scored my first goal against Bournemouth (February 2000, 2-1 defeat) I still see Marv (Marvin Johnson) and he says he set me up for my first goal of my career.

"A promotion, I think it was at Swansea and making my debut, the Carling Cup against Charlton, the 4-4 (September 2003), winning player of the year and internet player and supporters player, just the whole journey was amazing for me.”

Boyce had started in a youth team that included the likes of Matthew Upson, Matthew Spring and Gary Doherty that reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final in 1997, before going out to a Leeds United side containing Paul Robinson, Harry Kewell and Jonathan Woodgate.

On that period of his life, the defender said: "It feels a long, long time ago now, but Luton was where it all started for me.

“They’ve got a great production line and even when I was a youngster, I was thinking who to sign for, Luton always had that reputation of producing players.

"John Hartson came through, and they had so many players who went on and played in the first team.

"Luton prided themselves on it at the time and they’ve kept that tradition, kept producing the players and they keep playing them.

"For any youngster thinking of a club to go to, Luton is one of the best who produce young players that are coming through the ranks and they always will give you a chance and an opportunity.

“I had success later in my career, but the time at Luton was for me, the best, from my youth teams days, the people that I grew up with, my youth team, Liam George, you can go on.

“That was the time where it grounded me and the managers they had at the time, Mike Newell, Joe Kinnear, Lennie Lawrence, they all shaped me to how I wanted to be as a professional.

“Without that start and the chance that Lennie Lawrence gave me quite early in my career, then my career wouldn’t have gone where it is now.

"I'll always be grateful and I enjoyed my time at Luton when I was a player. I left there on a free and won quite a lot of trophies towards the end, but I’ll always look back on fond memories and when I went back to watch the Wigan game recently, it brings back loads and loads of memories for me.

"It was fantastic to see John Moore, again he was my youth team manager at the time, and he got me mentally prepared for what career I could have.

"I owe a lot of thanks to many people at Luton, so I’m always grateful."

Like ex-Town defender Curtis Davies, who also went on to the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Hull City, who spoke to the Luton News recently about the impact club legend John Moore had on his career, Boyce was of a similar opinion.

He said: "I don’t think anybody has got a bad word to say about him.

"He’s honest, he has hard working standards and professionalism. He wanted you to do your best for yourself, let alone everyone else, then everything else will follow and you’ll be an important member of the team, he always drilled that into you.

"He was a hard man, Scottish background, but he was honest with you and when he needed to tell you he’d tell you, but when he needed to put his arm round you, he’d put an arm round you and give you the confidence you need to go on.

"As a young boy going through the ranks, you need someone to guide you and he was the person for many of us.

"It’s no coincidence that a lot of us have gone on and played in the Premier League and played at the highest level, who came through that youth team, so great credit to him.

"It's always good to see how well he’s doing now and fantastic that they’ve got the lounge named after him, he’s done a lot for that club, I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

When he finally left Kenilworth Road in July 2004, Boyce moved to Crystal Palace, before heading to Wigan in August 2006, where he enjoyed a wonderful spell of his career, playing over 250 times, picked up an FA Cup winners medal and also featured for Barbados at international level as well.

He added: You want to play at the top level and Wigan gave me that platform, that chance and an opportunity to do that.

"Luckily enough I was there for nine years, won the FA Cup, had some magnificent results against Liverpool and Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, stayed up on a few occasions, even when people had written us off.

"I played in Europe, played in the Charity Shield, played at Wembley, and the fans for me, were unbelievable, I probably haven’t said it enough, but I can’t appreciate them enough.”