York City have made another statement of intent by signing Harry Boyes from Southend United for an undisclosed fee.
The Minstermen have confirmed the arrival of the 24-year-old after seeing off reported competition from Notts County. He returns to the Football League following an excellent season at Roots Hall, where Southend reached the National League play-offs and won the FA Trophy.
Boyes is exactly the type of signing York required following promotion. He is a natural left wing-back, has previously played in League One and arrives after establishing himself as one of the strongest players in his position at National League level.
Much of York’s attacking play last season came down the right, with supporters highlighting the influence of Ollie Banks and Jeff King. Adding Boyes should bring greater balance and stop opponents concentrating their defensive efforts on one side of the pitch.
He contributed one goal and 14 assists across 51 appearances for Southend, demonstrating that he can deliver the final ball consistently. His crossing can be pinpoint, and he never stops for the cause. That combination of quality and industry should translate well into League Two. Boyes is quick, prepared to make repeated forward runs and has already dealt with the physical demands of senior football. He is not an academy prospect being asked to learn on the job.
There has reportedly been a substantial fee involved, with one suggestion placing it between £250,000 and £300,000. That figure has not been confirmed, but it would represent a considerable investment in a player signed from the National League.
Even so, promotion has changed York’s requirements. The club cannot simply rely on the squad that carried it out of non-league, particularly when there is an opportunity to add one of the division’s outstanding performers before a rival does.
The response among supporters has been overwhelmingly positive, although almost every discussion has inevitably returned to Matt Uggla and the controversy surrounding Stuart Maynard’s departure.
Those two subjects do not need to be treated as one. Supporters can remain angry about how the managerial change was handled while recognising that Boyes is an excellent addition. Praising the recruitment does not require anybody to revise their opinion of the ownership.
Supporters can back the team without necessarily backing those running it. Uggla could be an excellent investor and recruiter while remaining an exasperating presence on social media. That contradiction may define York’s season. The club’s off-field noise continues to dominate conversations, but the squad being assembled appears increasingly capable of challenging near the top of League Two.
Boyes does not solve every issue. York may still need further depth, and there are questions elsewhere in the side, but a specialist left wing-back was an obvious requirement. They have filled that position with a player proven at the level below and experienced at the level above.
