Borough Boyd started his career as a part of Charlton Athletic's youth system at the age of 10. He was released by Charlton aged 15, and went on to briefly compete for Chatham Town's under-18 team in the Kent Youth League. Following his release from Charlton, Boyd was offered youth contracts by Bristol City, Farnborough Town and Stevenage Borough respectively, opting to join Football Conference club Stevenage on a two-year scholarship in 2001. Boyd made his Stevenage debut at the age of 17 during the 2002–03 season, playing the first-half in a 3–1 defeat against Margate at Broadhall Way on 14 December 2002. Boyd did not play again for the first team that season. The following season, Boyd played eleven times during the second half of the season under new manager Graham Westley, after impressing him during Boyd's involvement in the FA Youth Cup. Boyd made an impact as a second-half substitute in matches towards the end of that season, assisting all three of Stevenage's goals in a 3–1 victory over Tamworth, as well as scoring his first Stevenage goal in a 2–1 win against Northwich Victoria in April 2004. As a result of his form towards the latter stages of the 2003–04 season, Boyd was a regular in the first team the following season, playing 37 matches and scoring three times as Stevenage made the Conference National play-offs. His first goal of the club's 2004–05 season came in a 4–1 victory against Northwich Victoria, scoring Stevenage's second just before half-time. Boyd was sent-off for the first time in his career in a match against Canvey Island, receiving a straight red card. During the team's 2005–06 season, Boyd started the season with three goals in five games, scoring twice against Woking in a 3–2 defeat, and once against Tamworth. He signed a new three-year contract at the club on 11 November 2005. Throughout the season, Boyd scored 12 times in 47 matches from midfield in all competitions. Under the new management of Mark Stimson ahead of the 2006–07 season, Boyd was deployed in a more central role for the first time in a 2–1 defeat away at Tamworth on 2 September 2006, a match in which he scored Stevenage's solitary goal. In the club's next match, he scored his first competitive hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Stafford Rangers. Boyd scored four goals in a 7–0 victory over Merthyr Tydfil