OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE OF BOSTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB | SEASON 2020/21 | FREE THE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR 2019/20 THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v ALFRETON TOWN SATURDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2020 | KICK-OFF: 15:00 | VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH David Newton FROM THE BOARDROOM CHAIRMAN DAVID NEWTON SIGNS OFF HIS 2020 SERIES OF PROGRAMME NOTES Good afternoon everyone and first penalty shootout! We are strong, so I am sure this will be the warmest of welcomes to the now rewarded with a visit from a stern test for us today, but we 2020 Boxing Day fixture. Chesterfield, who will present a stiff are also getting into our stride, I hope everyone had an enjoyable challenge, but one I know the lads so hopefully we will see a ‘proper and safe Christmas Day. Night will relish. National League North’ game here games and Boxing Day are my We have received tremendous today. favourite fixtures, where we usually support from fans, sponsors and My thanks go to all our fantastic have a good crowd and a great donors to help the club through staff who have put so much hard atmosphere, but sadly as we all this difficult time. We are both work in this year under very difficult know that is not possible at the humbled and grateful for such circumstances. You have all been present time and unfortunately may support, which has helped not only fantastic and done a great job for not be possible for a while longer as financially, but also to know that we the club – thank you. the pandemic takes hold again. are not on our own in trying to keep My thanks also must go to the Everyone’s focus MUST be to keep the club going, ready for when the construction team who have each other safe at the present better times return. Our Community helped deliver the stadium during a time and try to prevent the spread Foundation volunteers have also pandemic – and I can tell you that is of the virus until the vaccines are done a great job in engaging with no mean achievement! our teams (both young and older) rolled out across the country, so I It has been great to work with local and the wider community to keep urge everyone to do their bit as we companies who understand what everyone engaged; improve fitness can only defeat this thing together. we are trying to produce for the and increase skill levels. The government cannot stop the fans and the wider community and spread… only we can. We have, of course, also moved to many have gone above the call of the new stadium, which is taking Despite a very difficult year, there duty to help us achieve that, again shape, but will not be truly ‘our have also been many positives. – thank you. We must not forget that we were home’ until the fans can join us. Thanks to the great efforts of well-placed in the league when the We popped some videos on the many, including Marc Cucksey, we pandemic hit and then had a great internet this week, to give everyone have also managed to get a good result against Gateshead to secure a peek inside, but I cannot wait for streaming service up-and-running our place in the promotion final, the day when everyone can join us for our fans (bar a few software/ where sadly we fell a little short on to have a look for themselves; make sound issues with one game), so I the day, but it was credit to the hard some noise – and hopefully make hope you enjoy the coverage today. work of the management team and some lasting memories. It really helps the lads knowing that the whole squad to get us into that Normally we would be more than you are getting behind the team, position. halfway through the season at this albeit that you are shouting at the We now have a very talented and time of year and we usually say telly… not them! committed squad that are very that the league positions tend to capable of securing a play-off indicate how things will look at the I wish you and your family all the position for us (if not better) and end of the season, however we very best over the festive period. we are well-placed in the table to have only played nine fixtures so Thanks for your ongoing support mount a challenge if we can get a far, so there is a long way to go this during this difficult period, look good run of games. It was great time around! after each other and I hope to see to progress in the FA Trophy last Today we welcome the players, you all soon. Saturday and at the same time to directors and staff of Alfreton Town. David Newton tick off three “firsts” for the new Billy Heath always produces teams Chairman stadium – first goal, first win and that work hard and are physically THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v ALFRETON TOWN | 03 Craig Elliott THE MANAGER MANAGER CRAIG ELLIOTT PENS HIS FINAL COLUMN OF AN EVENTFUL 2020. I would like to wish all Boston “OUR ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO A BUSY FESTIVE United fans a Merry Christmas SEASON WITH SEVERAL DIFFICULT GAMES BUT A GREAT and a Happy New Year. This year OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE UP THE TABLE. THE BIGGEST has been a difficult year for us CHALLENGE THE PLAYERS FACE IS USUALLY THE QUICK all and I really hope 2021 brings TURNAROUND OF FIXTURES BUT THIS YEAR THE us a lot more happiness. I think I FIXTURES HAVE FALLEN KINDLY FOR US ALL.” speak for us all when I say I hope the stadium is full of supporters and we can begin to enjoy our but I felt we deserved the victory trained well and prepared as well football as we once knew it. especially with a strong second half as we can, so I am optimistic the Today we welcome Alfreton Town performance. We gave ourselves yet players are ready for the challenges and it will be a difficult encounter as again a difficult game by conceding that lie ahead in the coming weeks. a goal early and obviously today they have several ex-Boston United As we come to the end of the it is imperative that we get off to players and are managed by a very calendar year, I feel there is no experienced manager in Billy Heath. a good start. We have now been doubt the Covid-19 virus has They will bring a lot of competitive drawn at home against Chesterfield spoiled many memories for us all. and physical presence and with the in the next round and it is probably However, it has been an incredibly experience they have, I am sure we one of the games of the round positive year on the playing field will be have to be at our best to win and something we are already as we finished third in the league the game today. looking forward to. There are some interesting links and we have and reached the promotion final I was delighted last week to beat several ex-Chesterfield players that and being losing finalists in the AFC Fylde, albeit on penalties, I am sure will give Lincolnshire Senior Cup. these players extra We have made a positive start to motivation. the current league campaign and Our attention now remain unbeaten in both the FA Cup turns to a busy festive and FA Trophy competitions. Off season with several the pitch, the biggest lift has been difficult games but finally moving into our magnificent a great opportunity stadium so on reflection there is a to move up the lot of positive news for everybody table. The biggest associated with Boston United. challenge the players I would finally like to add my thanks face is usually the to everybody that works so hard on quick turnaround of the pitch and off the pitch at Boston fixtures but this year United. It really proves what a great the fixtures have club we are and by sticking together fallen kindly for us through thick and thin and staying all. We need to be as positive, I have absolutely no doubt professional as we the future is bright and we will can be both physically and mentally as we soon be all together again enjoying prepare for difficult football. games both home Craig Elliott and away. We have Manager THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v ALFRETON TOWN | 05 PLAYER & STAFF SPONSORSHIP 20/21 CRAIG JOHN LEE RICH ELLIOTT McDERMOTT STRATFORD LAWRENCE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE CALL (01205) CALL (01205) CALL (01205) CALL (01205) 364406 364406 364406 364406 ROSS MATT SCOTT TOM FITZSIMONS TOOTLE DUXBURY PLATT SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY MATT AVAILABLE THE ALAN GOODACRE CALL (01205) GOSTELOW JACKSON 364406 FAMILY IN MEMORY OF BILL SCOTT LUKE ANDI PAUL GARNER SHIELS THANOJ GREEN SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY LAURIE THE SIMON AND PAT EVERITT CAUMETTE PENNING ASTON GOY FAMILY JORDAN JORDAN JAY PIERCE BURROW THEWLIS ROLLINS BIRD SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SM KENT THE KILLICK BUSA AVAILABLE ROOFING FAMILY CALL (01205) & BUILDING 364406 PETER LEWIS TYRELL CONNOR CROOK GIBBENS WARREN DIMAIO SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY ALAN ROY AVAILABLE AVAILABLE JACKSON HACKFORD CALL (01205) CALL (01205) & HUGO 364406 364406 SCHECKTER TERRY MITCH FRASER JOE HAWKRIDGE ROSE PRESTON LEESLEY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY IN MEMORY AVAILABLE GAMES ANDREW OF DAVID CALL (01205) CENTRAL & STEVEN WOOD 364406 & ADRIAN HEWITT PADLEY MOTORS THE PILGRIM BOSTON UNITED v ALFRETON TOWN | 07 MATCH BY MATCH 2020/21 First teamATTENDANCE fixtures, results and line-ups DATE COMP OPPOSITION RESULT TOTAL AWAY POS OCTOBER 2020 SAT 3 FAC2Q AFC MANSFIELD H W4-2 N/A N/A - FITZSIMONS WARREN SHIELS 1 GIBBENS ASKEW THANOJ PLATT y DIMAIO THEWLIS BURROW 1 HAWKRIDGE 1 CROOK PRESTON 1 TOOTLE GREEN ARCHER DUXBURY GARNER TUE 6 NLN LEAMINGTON A W4-0 N/A N/A 1 FITZSIMONS y TOOTLE SHIELS 1 GARNER 1 y DUXBURY THANOJ PLATT GREEN 1 y PRESTON BURROW HAWKRIDGE WARREN DIMAIO THEWLIS 1 ARCHER ASKEW SAT 24 NLN AFC TELFORD UNITED H W3-2 N/A