OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE OF BOSTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB | SEASON 2020/21 | FREE THETHE VANARAMA NATIONAL PILGRIMLEAGUE NORTH PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR 2019/20 SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2020 | KICK-OFF: 15:00 | VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH BOSTON UNITED v CHORLEY Jakemans Community Stadium FROM A BLANK CANVAS TO COMMUNITY STADIUM PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMELINE OF BOSTON UNITED’S NEW STADIUM SEPTEMBER 2019 OCTOBER 2019 JANUARY 2020 NOVEMBER 2019 02 | BOSTON UNITED v CHORLEY THE PILGRIM MARCH 2020 JUNE 2020 OCTOBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 STADIUM READY FOR ACTION THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v CHORLEY | 03 David Newton FROM THE BOARDROOM CHAIRMAN DAVID NEWTON PENS HIS FIRST NOTES FOR OUR FIRST FIXTURE AT OUR NEW HOME Good afternoon everyone and again. Our scientists are making great way they have faced the challenges welcome to our first-ever fixture progress with vaccines and, if we all so far. Let’s hope that at last we can here at the Jakemans Community look after each other, that day hopefully string a run of games together so they Stadium. will not be too far away. For now, we can really start to make a mark on the We have worked to deliver the new need to remember those that have lost league. stadium for some 12 years. It has been loved ones – and wish those that are ill Our first visitors to the new Jakemans a real rollercoaster, where we have at the present time a speedy recovery. Community Stadium are our old friends survived the deepest recession since Gainsborough Trinity have been Chorley. Although having had a difficult the 1930s; overcome the complex fantastic, welcoming hosts for our first start to the their league campaign, they challenges of the planning system; home games and my sincere thanks go have had a fantastic run in the FA Cup, seen construction costs spiral; secured to Richard Kane for stepping in to help and will now welcome Wayne Rooney’s a number of sources of funding us, alongside all the dedicated people Derby County to Victory Park in the through complex bidding processes; at The Northolme who all made us third round. With Derby currently sitting had ups and downs in footballing incredibly welcome. We will always be in at the bottom of the Championship, terms; vacated our historic home your debt – thank you! Chorley have a great chance of at York Street, and have this year of My thanks also go to everyone who has progressing even further and we wish course lived through a pandemic that worked so hard on the new Community them all the very best for the tie. I also many of us would never have imagined Stadium through this very challenging hope that we have a great game here would be thrust upon us. period. It has been a pleasure working today as we open our doors for the Today we play our first competitive with them and everyone understands first time. fixture at the new Community Stadium that building a stadium is a privilege – that has at last emerged out of the and everyone has gone that extra mile Our streaming service has worked well ground following those 12 years of to help create our new home. so far, so thanks to Marc Cucksey for all work. We only have two-and-a-half Work is well under way on the East his help with getting it up and running stands – but we once again have a Stand, but we will still have to wait to and delivering great coverage, and home to call our own, where we can see what is happening in the wider although it will never replace actually now start to make new memories. It is economy before committing to the being at a game, I hope many will join a day to respect our past; treasure the South Stand and sports hall. If the us for this first fixture. memories from York Street, but also economy remains reasonably positive, Finally, I would like to thank all our look forward together. our aim would be to have the stadium sponsors and fans who have continued Since unveiling the plans in the Pilgrim completed by the end of 2021 but, of to support us through this difficult year. Lounge all those years ago, I have course, we need to be sensible in these We are overwhelmed by everyone’s never once doubted that we would unpreceded times, and that timescale support and generosity, whether that deliver this new facility for the club and will have to be adjusted as necessary. is sending a donation; buying some the community – but I know many On a bright note, we are looking to memorabilia from York Street; taking have! A new home where hopefully start the 3G pitch in the spring, which advertising space in a ground devoid we can give the club a sustainable and will be a long-awaited and much- of fans; buying full season tickets while successful future; grow the community needed asset for this area. knowing that many of the games will and education programmes and Despite all the challenges this year, only be streamed, and supporting in continue to cement ourselves at the we have assembled a fantastic squad so many other ways. We cannot thank heart of the community. who are very capable of competing at you enough. Since that night, I have looked forward the top end of the table, however two So let’s keep doing the basic of hands to the day when we would open the 14-day self-isolation periods; a double – face – space, to get on top of this doors and have a great celebration postponement of the Bradford Park dreadful virus and keep each other together. Sadly, due to the Covid Avenue game, the withdrawal from the safe, and so we can all be together restrictions, we cannot welcome fans FA Cup and the abandoned game in again soon to share a pint and cheer here today, so it will be a day of real 87th minute at Darlington have really the lads on. mixed emotions. However, the day to tested everyone, but the attitude and celebrate has not gone away, it has just togetherness of the squad is fantastic Take care and I hope to see you soon. been postponed for a little while longer, and I cannot praise all the players and David Newton until it is safe for us all to be together management team enough for the Chairman 04 | BOSTON UNITED v CHORLEY THE PILGRIM Craig Elliott THE MANAGER MANAGER CRAIG ELLIOTT LOOKS AHEAD TO A BIG AFTERNOON FOR HIS PLAYERS I write these notes as we approach The main feeling between us in the some teams throughout the football an historic game of which I am dressing room is that we are on pyramid having supporters attend sure there is a lot of emotion and course to be competing with these again. It gives us all hope that soon excitement as we prepare to play teams at the top of the table but we we can have the supporters back and our first-ever competitive fixture just need a bit of luck and a run of we can all share this experience of in our wonderful new stadium. games without interruptions. playing in this new stadium. The occasion is obviously spoiled by You can clearly see with the league It has been a remarkable effort from the absence of many people involved table that it has no clear indication everybody in this club, none more so in the club and all our magnificent of where teams are at as the games than the chairman who has made this supporters. It is a great shame that played column is a mixed bag. I think happen, however I know he will not an occasion like this cannot be shared this is evident in our opponents today rest until it is fully finished. I also know and I can only imagine how you are Chorley who are in a false position this stadium is for the community and feeling to not be able to attend today. due to their amazing efforts in the FA until the day you as supporters can We as management and players will Cup. Incredible results to beat League attend it will then officially start to feel be doing everything we can to start One opposition like they have (twice) like home. this new period in the club’s history mean they can now look forward with a positive result and build on our to an amazing tie against Derby I hope as many of you as possible are good start to the season. County (good luck to them). I am using the streaming service and at least enjoying that experience until I have said many times it will be a sure they will climb this table as they you can sample the real thing. It really season like no other and it continues play more games so today will be an is a great service that at least helps to throw many obstacles in our way exceedingly difficult game for us. you keep in touch with the team and as we plough through the campaign. I am sure like everyone involved in we can feel your support each game. I think since our last home game football the return of supporters Stay positive and safe! we have had abandoned games, cannot come quick enough. We floodlight failure (twice) and another hope supporters can attend games Craig Elliott two-week isolation period due to a soon and it was nice to see this week Manager player having the Covid-19 virus.