OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE OF BOSTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB | SEASON 2020/21 | FREE THETHE VANARAMA NATIONAL PILGRIMLEAGUE NORTH PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR 2019/20 SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2020 | KICK-OFF: 15:00 | EMIRATES FA CUP 2Q BOSTON UNITED v AFC MANSFIELD David Newton FROM THE BOARDROOM CHAIRMAN DAVID NEWTON PENS HIS FIRST COLUMN OF THE 2020/21 SEASON Good afternoon everyone and the be questioning such funding at the everyone safe in the meantime – so warmest of welcomes to this FA present time, but clubs were faced PLEASE do your bit! Cup fixture. I hope you and your with either having to start the season Today we welcome AFC Mansfield loved ones are safe and well at this and trade until they became rapidly to our temporary ‘home’ at The difficult time. insolvent, or withdraw before the Northolme. I hope you enjoy your Having been advised of this date for season commences and lose their afternoon, if in slightly different the start of the season with spectators place within the league structure. circumstances to how we would in attendance, we have worked hard That potentially would rip the heart normally meet. Last time we met it was to assemble a squad which hopefully out of our local communities; several a close game despite the difference in will help us build on the success of thousand jobs would be lost and, of league positions and I fully expect the last season. We have also put in place course, all the valuable community same this afternoon. all the Covid measures in accordance work done by all of the National We were notified fairly late in the day with Government guidance for League clubs would be lost at a time that today’s game could be streamed, welcoming fans back to our fixtures, when we need to support each other. so ‘technical glitches’ aside, Russell both here at The Northolme and at the Despite the very generous level of Dossett from SportsPictures.Online new Community Stadium when ready. funding, all clubs will still be faced with will be streaming the game free of Last week’s announcement that the a significant shortfall, so I hope we can charge via YouTube this afternoon. We test events had been suspended come together to ensure that the club are working hard to ensure that we and that we would be required to can get through this extremely difficult will have a full live streaming service play behind-closed-doors came as a period. available for the Guiseley game next real blow. It was absolutely clear that Of course, the saddest part is that at Saturday, so keep an eye out of how without a change in advice to either present fans cannot attend games. you can subscribe later next week. allow fans in, or a financial package Attending a game is not so much The new Community Stadium is now to compensate for having to trade about watching the football, but it is coming together despite delays due without any gate and associated about coming together with friends to the pandemic and the east stand is income, we would not be in a position and family; the shared experience; under construction, so I hope it will not to start the season; indeed it would venting some frustrations on the be too long before we can be playing actually put the existence of the club in players, manager (and sometimes there. Apart from the construction serious doubt. myself!); having an opinion on each issues, we also need to make sure player and the manager’s tactics; all the systems are fully tested and The majority of the National League enjoying a cup of tea and a burger operating well and, of course, we have North clubs made the National League at half-time; sharing the desire for all the safety criteria to satisfy. But we aware that they could not kick the the team to win and be successful; are getting there! season off under such circumstances. standing or sitting next to the person A huge thanks to all those that are I am delighted that we are now able you have done for years (and you helping us through this period by to start the season and play today, would not have met if you did not go buying memorabilia and donating. following the generous Government to the games) - all of which is much It really is appreciated. funding that has been made available needed at the present time. Clearly to clubs (although we still await the Finally, my sincere thanks go to things are going in the wrong direction Richard Kane for allowing us to use details around the actual distribution at the moment with the infection The Northolme at the present time, between National League clubs). My rates rising rapidly, but if we all keep and Matt Boles for all his help in sincere thanks go to HM Government to Government advice of social making the ground Covid compliant. and the work done by the National distancing; regular hand washing Stay safe – and look after each other. League staff and our local MP Matt and wearing face masks we will be Warman to help secure the funding. able to come back together sooner David Newton I am sure many outside of football will rather than later and, of course, keep Chairman 02 | BOSTON UNITED v AFC MANSFIELD THE PILGRIM Craig Elliott THE MANAGER MANAGER CRAIG ELLIOTT LOOKS AHEAD TO THIS AFTERNOON’S AFC MANSFIELD CLASH I hope everybody is well and the team. Gainsborough to know we cannot keeping as safe as you can in these We have obviously lost a few players underestimate them (and we won’t). unprecedented times. Albeit with from last season, however most It is unusual to start in the FA Cup and unusual preparation, I hope there of them I was already aware for a we must begin with no mistakes as it’s is still an excitement for the up- number of reasons would be moving winner-takes-all on the day. We then and-coming season. on (I wish those players well at their look forward to getting the league The past six months from a football new clubs). But I have been delighted campaign started on Tuesday night point of view have been surreal and with the recruitment we have done away at Leamington. We all know at times worrying for everybody in pre-season. We have signed both what a good job Paul Holleran does concerned. I feel the supporters’ pain experienced proven senior players and at Leamington and I have no doubt in not being able to attend games and some young lads who are on the first he will be performing miracles down the players share your frustration in step of the ladder in their careers and I there again this season. the decision to not allow fans at our look forward to seeing them progress In general, I am glad to be looking level but unfortunately, it is a situation at Boston United. forward to playing competitive we cannot control. Everybody has fitted in well and so far football. I understand everybody is I just hope at some point in the season it has been a great dressing room and frustrated with how different the we can have you, the supporters, back everybody has settled in very quickly. football world is at the moment but with us as there is no doubt it is not The biggest issue was managing the I feel grateful that at least we are the same without you. I have already workload for lads who were involved playing football as at one point I braced the players for a season that in the play-offs in July and players who felt it would be a long time until we will be full of unexpected events and have done nothing since late February. would be playing again. I just hope everybody stays safe and positive and situations beyond our control. We will We now look forward to starting the fingers crossed soon we will be back probably all experience a season like competitive games as we begin the to a bit of normality and all enjoying no other but ultimately all we can do FA Cup against a particularly good the beautiful game again together in as players and as a manger is be as team in AFC Mansfield. I have watched our fantastic new stadium. professional as we can preparing for them a couple of times and I have games. I know you, as supporters, been very impressed and you only Craig Elliott will be with us in spirit in each game have to look at their past results in the Manager we play. FA Cup in beating Cleethorpes and Reflecting on our pre-season it has gone as well as can be expected although restrictions were frustrating at times with limited training facilities and adhering to strict Covid protocols. I think the players have been fantastic in their positive attitudes and willingness to adhere to the many Covid protocols that they have been presented with. A big obstacle was arranging friendlies as we did not have the use of our home ground so I was delighted in the end that we got a good mixture of friendlies and in every game we got good progression from individuals and THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v AFC MANSFIELD | 03 MATCH BY MATCH 2020/21 ATTENDANCE DATE COMP OPPOSITION RESULT TOTAL AWAY POS OCTOBER 2020 SAT 3 FAC 2Q AFC MANSFIELD H 15:00 TUE 6 NLN LEAMINGTON A 19:45 SAT 10 NLN GUISELEY H 15:00 SAT 17 NLN BRADFORD PARK AVENUE A 15:00 SAT 24 NLN AFC TELFORD UNITED H 15:00 SAT 31 NLN SOUTHPORT A 15:00 NOVEMBER 2020 SAT 7 NLN CHORLEY H 15:00 TUE 10 NLN DARLINGTON A 19:45 SAT 14 NLN AFC FYLDE A 15:00 TUE 17 NLN KETTERING TOWN H 19:45 SAT 21 NLN SPENNYMOOR TOWN H 15:00 SAT 28 NLN BLYTH SPARTANS A 15:00 DECEMBER 2020 TUE 1 NLN GLOUCESTER CITY A 19:45 SAT 5 FAT R2 TBC - 15:00 SAT 12 NLN CHESTER FC H 15:00 SAT 26 NLN ALFRETON TOWN H 15:00 MON 28 NLN FARSLEY CELTIC A 15:00 JANUARY 2021 SAT 2 NLN ALFRETON TOWN A 15:00 SAT 9 NLN YORK CITY H 15:00 SAT 16 NLN GATESHEAD A 15:00 SAT 23 NLN BRACKLEY TOWN H 15:00 SAT 30 NLN HEREFORD