Boston Town F.C.

For the historic club by the same name, see Boston Town F.C. (1920s).

Boston Town
Full nameBoston Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Poachers
Founded1963
GroundTattershall Road, Boston
Capacity6,000 (450 seated)[1]
ChairmanMick Vines
ManagerMartyn Bunce
LeagueUnited Counties League Premier Division North
2022–23United Counties League Premier Division North, 7th of 20
WebsiteClub website

Boston Town Football Club is a football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They are currently a members of the United Counties League Premier Division North and play at Tattershall Road.

History

The club was established as Boston Football Club in 1963 by former officials of Boston United who were concerned that United's financial problems which had led them to resign from the Midland League would force the club to fold.[2][3] The new club joined the Lincolnshire League, winning the league in their first season.[4] They moved to the Central Alliance the following season, going on to win a second successive league title without losing a match.[5][6] In 1966 they joined the Eastern Counties League.[7] After finishing sixth in their first season, the club finished second from bottom in 1967–68,[7] forcing them to seek re-election. However, as the club was on the northern edge of the league's geographical boundary, they resigned and moved to the Midland League.

Boston won the Midland League in 1974–75; after completing their league fixtures, they were ahead of Eastwood Town in the table but Eastwood had one match left at Skegness and could overtake Boston if they won. Despite being 3–1 up at half time, Eastwood eventually drew 3–3, meaning Boston were champions.[8] In 1976–77 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 3–1 at Barnsley.[7] They won the Midland League again in 1978–79; in a repeat of the 1974–75 title, Boston finished their fixtures and were top of the table, but Skegness could overtake them if they won their final fixture at Retford Town. However, Skegness lost, resulting in Boston were champions.[8]

Boston won their third Midland League title in 1980–81, and in 1982 became members of the Northern Counties East Football League when the Midland League merged with the Yorkshire League. The club were placed in the Premier Division of the new league, but after finishing bottom in 1986–87, dropped into the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League.[7] They won the Central Midlands League in 1988–89, and despite only finishing ninth in 1990–91, were accepted into the Premier Division of the United Counties League. In 1993–94 the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, but lost 2–0 on aggregate to Taunton Town.[7] In 1994 Boston were renamed Boston Town and won the United Counties League in their first season under the new name.[9] They won the league for a second time in 2000–01 and went on to win the League Cup in 2003–04 and again in 2006–07. In 2008–09 Boston won the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy, beating Winterton Rangers in the final. They won the cup again in 2022–23, defeating Deeping Rangers 2–0 in the final.

Ground

The club initially played at the Mayflower Sports Ground for a few months, before moving to their current Tattershall Road ground. The ground has a wooden stand on one side of the pitch, which is divided into three sections, one of which has seats. Another stand with bench seating is located behind one goal, with a covered area behind the other goal adjacent to the clubhouse, turnstiles and tea bar.[10] The ground currently has a capacity of 6,000, of which 450 is seated and 950 covered.[1]

Honours

  • United Counties League
    • Premier Division champions 1994–95, 2000–01
    • League Cup winners 2003–04, 2006–07
  • Central Midlands League
    • Supreme Division champions 1988–89
  • Midland League
    • Champions 1974–75, 1978–79, 1980–81
    • League Cup winners 1976–77
  • Central Alliance
    • Champions 1965–66
  • Lincolnshire League
    • Champions 1964–65
  • Lincolnshire Senior Trophy
    • Winners 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2008–09, 2022–23
  • Lincolnshire Senior B Cup
    • Winners 1965–66

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1976–77
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1979–80
  • Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 1993–94
  • Record attendance: 2,700 vs Boston United, FA Cup third qualifying round, 1970[11]
  • Biggest victory: 12–1 vs Clay Cross Works, 1965–66
  • Most appearances: Lee Rippin
  • Most goals: Gary Bull, 201, 2005–12
  • Most goals in a season: Gary Bull, 57, 2006–07[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Boston Town Non-League Club Directory
  2. ^ Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  3. ^ S Ashberry (2004) Come And Sit With Us: A History of Boston Town 1963 – 2004 ISBN 9781873257395
  4. ^ Lincolnshire League history 1948–1968 Non-League Matters
  5. ^ Club Honours Boston Town F.C.
  6. ^ The Central Alliance 1962-1976 Non-League Matters
  7. ^ a b c d e Boston at the Football Club History Database
  8. ^ a b History Boston Town F.C.
  9. ^ Boston Town at the Football Club History Database
  10. ^ Boston Town Pyramid Passion
  11. ^ a b Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p646 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0

External links

52°59′29.96″N 0°02′17.14″W / 52.9916556°N 0.0380944°W / 52.9916556; -0.0380944