Boston United: A History and Overview
Boston United are up next for The Moors in what promises to be a challenging match following our opening day defeat away to Harrogate Town. Managed by Paul Hurst, who guided them to a 12th-place finish last season, Boston's top scorer is Lenell John-Lewis with 11 goals from the 25/26 National League campaign. Fans will recall that Boston were our opponents in the bizarre final home game of last season when Conor Wilkinson was wrongly sent off for an incident he has since been cleared of. Despite the controversial nature of the match, both Boston's players and fans handled it with grace, further cementing mutual respect between the clubs. Boston emerged as 3-0 winners that day, with the score at 0-0 before the sending-off.
Pre-season Performance
Pre-season results for Boston United were mixed; they lost to Lincoln and Hednesford but drew a 0-0 match against Grimsby Town while beating Alfreton and Peterborough by scores of 2-1 and 1-0, respectively.
A History of Boston United
Known as The Pilgrims, the name 'Boston United' was originally created in 1933. Football had been played locally since the 1800s on the site of York Street Stadium. In 1887, the Lincolnshire side took part in their first ever FA Cup fixture, getting beaten 7-0 against Gainsborough Trinity. Some even heavier defeats followed, including a 9-0 hammering by Lincoln City and letting in double figures against Grimsby Town in a 10-0 loss.
Heading into the First World War, there were now two clubs in the area, Boston Town, and Boston Swifts. In the early 1990s, a small stand was built on the pitch they both shared on Main Ridge, named after its location as 'Main Ridge.' Both clubs played in the Lincoln and District League with players using their respective pubs for changing facilities.
When the war ended, one single team emerged, known as Boston. The first spell of success came in 1925 when they won consecutive Lincoln and District League titles, leading to semi-professional status and a move to the Midland League. In 1934, local businessman Ernest Malkinson was elected onto the board, driving the club's growth for the next 70 years.
The club's longest-serving manager, Freddy Tunstall, led them for nine seasons, including an FA Cup giant-killing in 1925 against Bradford Park Avenue. Ray Middleton, appointed as player-manager in 1954, built a strong squad and achieved a 6-1 victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup.
In 1977, Boston United's ground was deemed unsuitable for promotion to the Football League, leading to significant rebuilding efforts. They joined the Alliance Premier League as founding members in 1979, finishing third in league standings. The club celebrated its 50th anniversary by reaching Wembley in the FA Trophy final.
Boston United's rich history and recent pre-season results make them a formidable opponent for The Moors.
