If my charity saves one life it will mean more to me than any goal I’ve scored or medal I’ve ever won
Boyd wants to save others from heartache
KRIS BOYD has scored almost 300 goals in a recordbreaking career that is still going strong.
But the Kilmarnock striker insists saving just one life through his new charity would mean more than anything he has achieved in football.
Boyd will be able to look back on his playing days with immense pride whenever the day comes for him to hang up his boots.
There are milestones with his recent strike against Hibs moving him joint fourth alongside Hearts legend Jimmy Wardhaugh in the all-time top-flight scoring charts.
There are six major trophies won during four-and-a-half years at Rangers as well 18 international caps for Scotland.
The 34-year-old is now using his profile in Scottish football in a bid to help others after launching The Kris Boyd Charity in honour of his brother Scott who took his own life less than a year ago.
He hopes some good can come from the heartache suffered by him and his family after teaming up with sport psychologist Donald MacNaughton.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch at Rugby Park, Boyd said: “I firmly believe the charity will be a success. Hopefully we’re sitting here in a couple of years time with success stories.
“If that is the case I would take more pride from that than anything I achieved in football because it’s someone’s life.
“The most important thing for me is if I can help one person and stop their family going through what mine has gone through, especially my mum and dad.
“Yes, football has given me a good life but when you get right down to it life is more important than anything. I want to put the effort into it and I’ve never been one to shy away from any scenario or bury my head in the sand.
“I’ll always be at the forefront of anything I do. This will involve a lot of hard work and I might pester people for strips and things.”
Boyd would love to have the impact Neil Lennon had in raising awareness when the Hibs boss went public with his battle with depression during his Celtic days.
The striker said: “Neil has been seen in a totally different light since that. A lot of people would come out and say he was a hothead but most people didn’t understand what was going through his head.
“When he first openly spoke about it I think it would have saved a lot of people. If a Celtic captain, a Celtic manager can speak about it why can’t others?”
Boyd admitted there are still huge problems in football dressing rooms when it comes to talking about issues they might have.
He said: “There’s a big problem in Scotland, especially for youngsters. We need to get out there and explain they don’t need to keep up with the Joneses.
“As men there is always a period where you feel down but you’re the big strong guy and you don’t want to admit it. It’s about breaking that barrier down and saying it is alright to speak, it is alright to open up.
“People have issues with alcohol, drugs and gambling but that’s something that tries to numb the pain before it gets a grip of you so we need to tackle beforehand.
“You have the mental aspect where you’re fighting to understand who you are as a person and we need to try to help people before any addiction takes a grip.”
● Kris Boyd was speaking at the launch of his charity. The inaugural event is a Valentine’s Ball at Ayr Racecourse on February 17. Visit www.thekrisboydcharity.co.uk for more details.
I’ve never been one to shy away from any scenario KRIS BOYD