Boulding was available as a Bosman transfer and had seemed set to join Middlesbrough after being invited for a trial by manager Steve McClaren.

But Taylor has nipped in to secure the services of a player whose displays at the end of last season convinced him that he was worth investing in.

Boulding said: ‘‘I was attracted by the fact that in Graham Taylor I’ve now got a manager who has a proven track record of taking players from the Nationwide League and turning them into flight players.

‘‘West Ham also offered me a trial and I was scheduled to go up to Middlesbrough but the chance to come up here came up.

‘‘I was a Sheffield United supporter as a kid and they wanted me this summer but the chance to come here was too good to turn down.

‘‘It is a dream come true. I started at Mansfield, then moved to Grimsby and now it’s fantastic to be at Villa.

‘‘I would say my pace is my biggest asset. I’ve got a few goals in me as well.’’