Emmerson Boyce

Early life and career

Boyce was born on 24 September 1979 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. He grew up in Elmhurst with his parents, Lucille and Melvin, and attended Quarrendon CE Secondary School, where he set athletics records. He began playing football for his local team Aylesbury United F.C. at the age of ten. He played as a striker for two years before being moved to his more familiar position in defence. Boyce was initially unhappy about being moved into his new position, but coach Steve Greenhalf believed Boyce could successfully become a professional footballer as a defender. From the age of twelve, Boyce attended the Luton School of Excellence, and in the summer of 1995 he became an apprentice at Luton Town.

Luton Town

Boyce spent three years playing for Luton's youth team, where he played alongside Gary Doherty and Matthew Upson. The team reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup in 1997. He signed professional terms with the club in 1998, and made his debut on 5 January 1999 in a 3–0 home defeat against Walsall in the Football League Trophy. He appeared once more later in the season, making his league debut in April 1999, in a 1–0 defeat against Lincoln City. At the start of the following season, he was regularly on the substitutes bench, but due to the poor form of first choice right-back Stuart Fraser he was given the opportunity to start the match at home against Chesterfield on Boxing Day. He kept his place in the starting lineup and played 30…

Though born in England, Boyce was also eligible to play for the Barbados national team through his parents Melvin and Lucille, who were both born in Barbados. Boyce earned his first international call-up on 20 March 2008, aged 28, stating that "The appeal is to play international football. I consider myself a Barbadian and I feel it's the right thing to do to play for my country. I am really looking forward to it." He made his debut for Barbados in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Dominica on 26 March 2008, in a 1–0 win which advanced Barbados to the second round of qualifying. His other appearance for Barbados that year came on 22 June in a 1–0 defeat against United States. Boyce was called up again for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and captained the squad in a 2–0 loss to Guyana in Bridgetown. He was recalled to the team in 2014 and captained the squad during the 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification. He scored his first international goal in the 4–1 win over Bonaire that qualified them for the next round.

Boyce was a versatile player who usually played as a right back, but was also been used as a centre back on many occasions. He also played at left back, on the right wing and as a makeshift striker during his career. In the past, he stated that he does not have a preferred position and is happy to play wherever the manager wants him to play. When playing at right back, although Boyce accepts that his more important role in the team is to defend, he has also demonstrated his ability to get forward to contribute to the team's attack. His consistent performances have earned him praise on several occasions, and he has been described as a "reliable" and "dependable" player.

Boyce has three children, two boys and a girl. Boyce became the first international ambassador for Street Soccer USA, an organisation which develops sports programs to help the homeless, and he has made appearances at homeless shelters in various cities across the United States. He was first introduced to the organisation after reading about it during a business trip to the United States. On his new role, Boyce commented that "Soccer is a global sport, it can lift all of our spirits and improve all of our lives and I want to promote the use of the beautiful game in this way. It is a privilege and an honor to be named the first International Ambassador for Street Soccer USA." Boyce's sister is the solicitor I. Stephanie Boyce, who was inaugurated as Deputy Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales in July 2019, making history as the first black person to hold the position. In March 2021 she became the President of the Law Society of England and Wales becoming the first Black and the first person of colour to do so.