Club Background

QUOTE : “they (Yeovil fans) do not like me very much” – Steve “Cheatmeister” Evans.

Boston United were founded in 1933. Because of their location they have played in Midland, Southern and Northern based leagues. It took them many years to come to the fore, but by the Seventies they were a major force in the Northern Premier League, winning the Championship on four separate occasions, and became founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979. They started quite solidly, but from the mid-Eighties were more usually found at the bottom end of the table until relegation finally caught up with them in 1993. They spent five years in the Northern Premier League, before switching to the Southern. Two attempts in the Dr. Martens saw them back in the Conference again for the 2000-01 campaign. They coped with it handily enough without ever setting the table on fire, finishing twelfth. Threats from the then Boston chairman to sue the Football League for failing to promote them if they had finished 2nd were thus a tad redundant, but caused plenty of merriment. Less merriment went with the territory known as “Rent (used notes only)-a-gob”. Some saw him as just another manager with too much to say for himself, but others were already murmuring that the man was far worse than just the standard loud-mouth.

For their second season in the Conference The Pilgrims went full-time. How could they afford it, people asked? Well now the world knows. Eleven players were chopped and in came a large number of expensive looking full-time pros, mostly with previous in the League.

The title appeared to be a two-horse race from early on. Of course it was really a one horse race, as one of the contestants was cheating. As the season progressed more and more rumours about a rottenness at Boston United were surfacing, but as usual the authorities held their noses and ignored the stench. The Pilgrims finished at the top of the table on goal difference from Dagenham & Redbridge. Belatedly the F.A. arrived on the York Street doorstep, and soon uncovered a web of dishonesty and corruption another fat bastard, Robert Maxwell, would have been proud of. Boston’s former chairman Pat Malkinson disappeared off to Spain, single handedly resurrecting the Costa-del-Crime tag, and subsequently received a ban from football. Steve Evans pleaded guilty to four charges, and was also found guilty of four more. Barred for 20 months and fined £8,000.

Terry Skiverton in action during our visit to York Street in September 2001. Picture by Martin ‘Badger’ Baker/Ciderspace Archive.

As for the club – outside of the F.A. there was only one possible verdict: Boston were not champions, and the taking up of a place in the Football League would be a disgrace to the name of football and fair play. However from a planet of five billion people the F.A. managed to appoint the only three arse-wipes alive who would have had the gall to find Boston guilty, and then…….. reward the club with a promotion. A paltry fine, that was miniscule compared to the financial benefits of promotion, and a feeble four points deduction from the following season, simply compounded that insult to all integrity and decency.

Surprise surprise, Boston struggled during their first season in Division 3. The Cheatmeister was out, morale plummeted and for most of the season the Pilgrims hovered around the foot of the table before new boss Neil Thompson pulled them up by their bootstraps to the giddy heights of 15th. Nine more places than they deserved in our opinion, but nobody asked us. Some property developer called Des Wood, drafted in as cover for the disgraced Malkinson mafia, found a ready audience amongst a bunch of in-breds who’d already amply demonstrated their incapability of spotting a pile of turds on their own doorstep. Once again surprise, surprise : the talk of a shiny new stadium proved as much hot air as all the Boston apologists’ weasel words about how they weren’t really a bunch of cheats.

Then, just as Boston appeared to be living down the ignomy of their cheating, the very second Evans the Cheat’s ban ended he was reappointed manager by his mate and employer outside football, Jon Sotnick, who had become chairman a few weeks before. Neil Thompson had been booted out within two days of Sotnick’s arrival without a thank-you, and Neil Redfearn had the decency to follow a short time later. Boston finished 11th, one point better off than their first season (ignoring the points deduction).

Yeovil’s record at York Street is totally abysmal over the years. In 2003-04, after playing them off the park for 95% of the game we managed to lose yet again, 3-2 in the dying seconds. The only piece of merriment of note was Boston’s habit upon scoring of playing canned “cheering” through the tannoy. What a sad embarrassment………

In 2002-03, when we went up to York Street to play in the LDV, an official of the club lodged a complaint about the tone of the profile on Boston on Ciderspace, the Gloverscast is proud to continue with the tone. So, if you are still reading – live with it matey. Whilst Boston continues to associate itself with a cheat the story of how that club shamefully ripped the piss out of fair play and honesty in sport won’t die – and nor should it.

Judging from this comment from a Boston fan ahead of our trip there in August 2024, we’re going to assume some Boston fans still associate themselves with it – not all, but some.

From 2004-2005 onwards and the Cheatmeister still in his position, the next couple of seasons was largely built around a run to the third round of the FA Cup and mid-table finishes in League Two. But the ‘highlight’ of that season was the arrival of a certain Paul Gascoigne to Lincolnshire. Then aged 37, Gazza arrived on the eve of the new season, played five games and left to “further his coaching career” – clearly he found no role models for this at York Street.

Surprise, surprise, the headlines around Boston continued to be about the shrinking violet (not much shrinking going on there) of a manager. In November 2005, he got a suspended fine for insulting a match official, three months later he was escorted from Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park stadium by Humberside Police at half-time for berating a fourth official and in October 2006 got a red card for squaring up with Wycombe manager and one-time Yeovil loanee, Tommy Doherty.

Sotnick claimed there was “a conspiracy” against his manager, but the Boston United Supporters’ Trust were able to not so blind and weirdly could not condone the criminality and bad behaviour of those at the club.
The 2006-07 proved the end of Football League journey for Boston after a season where players went unpaid for the final two months of the season – presumably another conspiracy. It came down to the final day of the season and a win was needed at Wrexham to survive – they lost 3-1 and after five years of League football, they were back in the non-League.

Tuesday, 8th May 2007: Evans told Boston’s official website: “I have a contract at Boston and I will not be applying for the manager’s job at Chester City or indeed a job anywhere.”
Sunday, 27th May 2007: Evans and his assistant Paul Raynor both resigned from their jobs and two days later took over at Crawley Town.

But if you thought the tale of woe stopped with the rats jumping a sinking ship, think again. In June 2007, the Pilgrims entered in to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), effectively bankruptcy, and were relegated down another division to what was then known as the Blue Square North. Then, due to still being in administration at the end of the 2007-08 season, they were relegated yet again to the Northern (then Unibond) Premier Division, the third tier of non-League football. Was it worth it, honestly?

They were, however, back to the second tier of non-League football at the first time of asking finishing third and getting promoted back to the Blue Square North via the play-offs and there they remained. There were flirtations with returning to the top of the non-League game with unsuccessful play-off campaigns in 2012, 2015 and 2016, with the 2015-16 leading to an exodus of players.

It was not until the 2019-20 season, concluded early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that they reached the play-offs again. That season proved historic for another reason with it being the last at the club’s York Street stadium as they prepared to move to a new out-of-town stadium on the edge of town, Pilgrim Way. Boston finished third on points-per-game, winning a behind closed doors semi-final against Gateshead 5–3 to secure a play-off final with Altrincham. The Robins scored the only goal of the game, the club’s last match at York Street.

The opening of the new Pilgrim Way stadium was delayed by the pandemic, meaning the 2020-21 National League North season began playing at Gainsborough Trinity, behind-closed-doors. It took until December 2020 before the first fixture was played at the new stadium and the pre-season of the 2021-22 season until fans were allowed to enter the ground to watch.

Pilgrim Way – or the Jakeman’s Community Stadium as it was in 2024 – the home of Boston United since 2020.

There was another failure at the play-off stages that season, this time losing out to York City, and hard times fell on-the-pitch until the appointment of Ian Culverhouse, who had enjoyed success at nearby King’s Lynn Town. He pulled them clear of danger in the 2022-23 season and the following year they finally broke their play-off hoodoo, beaten Brackley Town in the 2023-24 play-offs to return to the top tier of the non-League game. 

We’ve Met Before

Previous Results for Yeovil Town First Team vs

11/10/1955 Home Frnd L 2-3     Fidler, Fraser
12/03/1956 Away Frnd L 1-2     Fraser
22/10/1956 Away Frnd L 1-3     Fidler
19/03/1957 Home YCC D 1-1     Alexander
04/02/1958 Home YCC D 2-2     Gaynor, Riseborough
24/03/1958 Away Frnd L 1-3     Torrance
17/09/1959 Away SL L 1-2     Phillips
28/09/1959 Home SL D 3-3     Phillips, Dennis, Blackburn
08/10/1960 Home SL W 8-1     Kelly(2), Ashe(2), Paton, Pounder, Albury, McLaughlin
25/02/1961 Away SL D 2-2     Taylor(2)
25/08/1979 Home APL D 0-0 1620    
01/03/1980 Away APL L 0-3 2024    
23/08/1980 Away APL L 1-3 1187   Levy
21/03/1981 Home APL W 2-1 1024   Green, Ward
28/11/1981 Home APL L 0-1 1108    
25/04/1982 Away APL D 0-0 746    
28/08/1982 Away APL L 3-6 1103   Hawkins, Benjafield, Beck
23/04/1983 Home APL L 0-4 944    
31/03/1984 Home APL W 4-2 888   Paparella(2), Brown, Ward
05/05/1984 Away APL L 2-3 875   White, Doherty
18/08/1984 Home GOLA L 2-4 1140   Horton, Doherty
18/04/1985 Away GOLA L 0-3 1162    
10/09/1988 Home GMVC D 1-1 2005   Wallace
08/04/1989 Away GMVC D 1-1 1581   Whittingham
09/09/1989 Away GMVC W 1-0 1409   Spencer
24/03/1990 Home GMVC W 2-1 1844   Conning, Wilson
01/09/1990 Home GMVC D 1-1 3105   Wallace 17
26/01/1991 Away GMVC L 0-4 1184    
23/11/1991 Away GMVC W 3-1 1240   Carroll, McDermott, Shail
18/04/1992 Home GMVC D 1-1 1823   Wilson
27/02/1993 Away GMVC L 0-1 1118    
24/04/1993 Home GMVC W 2-1 3049   Spencer(2)
13/09/2000 Away Conf L 1-4 1303   Patmore 18
17/02/2001 Home Conf W 2-1 3585   McIndoe 43, Betts 73
08/09/2001 Away Conf L 0-4 2282    
26/03/2002 Home Conf L 0-1 5061    
23/10/2002 Away LDV1 L 2-4 1323   Skiverton 73, Alford 80
30/09/2003 Home DIV3 W 2-0 5093   G Williams 21, Lockwood 38
12/04/2004 Away DIV3 L 2-3 2848   Weatherstone 4, Stansfield 51
14/08/2004 Home CCL2 W 2-0 5178   Jevons 49, Tarachulski 65
26/03/2005 Away CCL2 W 2-1 3069   Skiverton 10, 82

Results Summary For Yeovil Town First Team vs Boston United

Home Away Overall
W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A
8 7 5 37 29 3 3 15 24 53 11 10 20 61 82

 

Club Statistics

RECENT RESULTS

10/08/2024 Rochdale Home NLP L 3-0 2,578    
17/08/2024 Forest Green Rovers Home NLP L 4-0 1,830    
20/08/2024 Southend United Away NLP L 2-0 6,924    
24/08/2024 Tamworth Home NLP D 1-1 1,620    
26/08/2024 York City Away NLP W 2-0 5,893    
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

LEAGUE ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 2,578
Lowest League Attendance: 1,620
Average League Attendance: 2,099

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win: 0   Games Without A Home Win: 3
Games Without An Away Win: 0   Games Without Defeat: 2
Games Without A Home Defeat: 0   Games Without An Away Defeat: 1
Games Without A Draw: 1   Games Without A Score Draw: 1
Games Without A No-Score Draw: 4   Games Without Scoring: 0
Games Without Conceding: 1   Home Results Sequence: LLD
Away Results Sequence: LW   Overall Results Sequence: LLLDW

 

Club Information

Address: The Jakemans Community Stadium, Pilgrim Way, Wyberton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7NE. (click for map)

Telephone Number : 01205 364406
Email :

Chairman : David Newton
General Manager : Rebecca Barker
Club Secretary : Craig Singleton
Team Manager : Ian Culverhouse

Capacity : 5061 
Seated : 2155 
Covered Terrace : 1124
Surface : Grass
Record Attendance : 2,694 – vs King’s Lynn Town – 26/12/2022

Colours : Yellow and Black (Home)
Nickname : The Cheats 
Programme : £3.50

Ticketing

Tickets have been on sale for our first-ever visit to the Pilgrim Way for almost a month (as the eagle-eyed among you will have spotted – here), and can be purchased online – HERE. You will need to set up an account on the website. There is a £1 surcharge for those buying on the day, so advanced purchase is advised.

Yeovil fans in the East Stand for the 3-1 win in August 2024.

We will be located in the away section at the ground in the East Stand which is a covered terrace If you do wish to sit rather than stand, please contact the club on 01205 364406.

Prices:

Adult: £17
Concession: £14
Under-16s: £6
Under-5s: Free – but you still need to buy a ticket.
Disabled: Any disabled supporters attending this fixture are asked to call 01205 364406 to discuss their requirements.

Official Away Travel

The Green & White Supporters’ Club is running away travel to Boston United on Saturday, 31st August, 3p.m. kick-off.

Details are as follows:

Members: Adult £40; Concession £38
Non-Members: Adult £43; Concession £41
Coach departs Huish Park: 7am

To book, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 (after 6.00 p.m. please). You may be asked to pay a £5 deposit to reserve your seat.

Directions To The Ground

General

There is an excellent guide to Pilgrim Way and Boston in general available via the TrailofDebt.com website (see the club history for the reason behind this name) – click here.

If you think you have been to Boston’s ground, you probably haven’t – and that might not be a bad thing! Pilgrim Way has only been home to Boston United since 2020. It’s sometimes known as The Quadrant, sometimes as ‘that place that looks like an ALDI in the middle of nowhere’, and sometimes as the Jakeman’s Community Stadium – but we’ll call it Pilgrim Way. The bad news, it is a fair way from town centre; the good news is it is a fair way from the town centre and significant upgrade on York Street.

Take this as your warning, if you’re looking on a map at a football stadium in the centre of Boston, that’s is York Street stadium which is still there and home to Railway Athletic FC. Instead, look to the south of the town, near a place called Wyberton, and you’ll see it.

Away fans are housed in a section of the East Stand closest to a hole in the ground which will one day become the South Stand. There is an area for home fans to the northern end of the East Stand, accessed via turnstile E2, and there is a snack bar and toilet facilities in there.

Pilgrim Way/The Jakemans Community Stadium/The Quadrant/ALDI in the middle of nowhere

Road

If you are travelling from Yeovil, Boston is about a five-hour journey and the first bit is a fairly familiar trip to most fans driving eastwards. A303-M3 until you reach Junction 2 where you turn on to the M25, carry on clockwise until you reach Junction 21 and then join the M1 (signposted ‘The North’ and Luton Airport), stay on for about 25 miles until you reach Junction 13 (signposted Bedford/Milton Keynes S) and join the A421. Stay on the A421 until it becomes the A1 and then the A1(M) soon after until you get to Junction 17, then exit on to the A1139, skirting around Peterborough, where there’s a jump on to the A15, almost immediately on to the A47 and then on to the A16 – don’t worry, you’re almost there! From there you stick on the A16 until you reach the southerly tip of Boston, you’ll see a Burger King and Costa Drive-Thru on your right-hand side and the floodlights of Pilgrim Way will be visible to you. Well done, you made it!

Parking

There is NO parking available at the stadium and anyone without a permit – which won’t be any of us – will be turned away.  You can stump up a fiver, there is parking available next to the Costa Coffee on a first come, first served basis. Otherwise, you are looking for on-street parking around The Quadrant housing estate next to the ground or Tytton Lane East. Please park considerately, we cannot guarantee how friendly the locals are.

By Rail

Back when Boston played at York Street, the stadium was within walking distance of the train station, but if you’re coming on the East Midland Railway, you are facing a 45-minute walk on some pretty hostile, pedestrian unfriendly roads. There is a shuttle bus which laid on by the club which departs the Len Medlock Centre (St George’s Road PE21 8YB) at 12.00pm, 12.45pm, 1.30pm and 2.15pm – returning at 5.00pm and 5.45pm – on Saturdays.

 

By Bus 

Assuming you don’t want to take the shuttle bus, see above, there are a couple of other routes departing from Boston Bus Station (Bay 4) or outside Boots in the town centre, according to TrailofDebt.com’s guide to Boston.

K58 Boston-Kirton: This is the better of the two routes as the bus will stop inside the Quadrant housing development opposite the stadium on Wallace Way. The stadium is just a couple of minutes from there – you’ll be able to see the floodlights. Timetable.

B13 Boston-Spalding (Black Cat Travel): This will drop you at the top of Tytton Lane East. The ground is approximately a ten minute walk from here. Timetable.

By taxi

There is no Uber in Boston, so you will have to try a local taxi company, a few are available:

Acorn Taxis – 01205 358358

Abby Taxis – 01205 353333

Bryan’s Taxis – 01205 360476

Swift Taxis – 01205 311123

Star Taxis – 01205 355055

Knight’s Taxis – 01205 629917 / 07368 229027

 

Web Resources

Web Sites

Boston United FC – Official Site

TrailofDebt.com – the world’s fifth favourite Boston United website and fanzine.

Social Media

@BostonUnited – Official X/Twitter account
Official Boston United – Official Facebook account
Official Boston United – Official YouTube channel
Boston United Supporters’ Group – Facebook Group

Local Press

Lincolnshire Live – local media, such as it is

Food & Drink

General

Bear in mind, it’s almost 20 years since we last visited Boston and a lot has changed in that time – both on and off the pitch. But, the following, are the pubs which the relevant Good Beer Guides advise upon – we will update after our visit on 31st August! However, once again, we invite you to check out Trail of Debt’s excellent guide to Boston – here.

Town Centre

Eagle –Closest to Train Station. Part of the Castle Rock chain, the Eagle is known as the real ale pub of Boston. This two-roomed, friendly hostelry has an L-shaped bar with a large TV screen for big sports events. The smaller lounge has a cosy feel. The pub stocks a wide range of guest ales, and at least one cider. Regular beers: Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Castle Rock Preservation, Castle Rock Screech Owl.
Address:  144 West Street, Boston, PE21 8RE. Opening times: Mon–Sun 11:00-24:00

Moon under Water –A large, lively town-centre Wetherspoon pub near the tidal section of the River Witham. A spacious conservatory-style dining area is supplemented by a second child-friendly dining room adjacent to the lounge. Regular beers: Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best Bitter, Sharp’s Doom Bar + Guests.
Address:  6 High Street, Boston, PE21 8SH. Opening times: Mon–Thu 09:00-24:00; Fri and Sat 09:00-02:00 next day; Sun 09:00-00:00.

Brittania – For anyone planning to make a night of it!! The pub is now Boston’s main Fun Bar, with weekend entertainment, and is licensed until 2.30 am. Regular beers: Batemans XB, Batemans Gold (Also known as Yella Belly Gold).
Address: 4 Church Street, Boston, PE21 6NW. Opening times:  Fri and Sat 12:00-03:00 next day

Goodbarns Yard – Situated in a cobbled medieval street, which runs northwards away from the Boston Stump, parallel to the River Witham. The 630-year old pub is very popular for meals, with a busy restaurant. A large garden with tables and covered patio areas overlooks the river. Regular beers: Adnams Ghost Ship, Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Address: 8 Wormgate, Boston, PE21 6NP. Opening times:  Fri and Sat 11:30-23:00.

Carpenters Arms – This is a multi-roomed low-ceilinged traditional local, hidden in the maze of side streets off the medieval Wormgate and overlooked by the magnificent Boston Stump. There is a patio area outside for sunny days. Regular beers:  Batemans Gold, Batemans XB, Batemans XXXB.
Address: 20 Witham Street, Boston, PE21 6PU. Opening times:  Sat 12:00-01:00 next day

 

On the Way to Ground from Town Centre

Railway – The conventional exterior hides a fully modernised interior with modern wood floors, furniture and LED lighting. Music memorabilia adorns the wall. Regular beers: Horncastle Brewery –varies.
Address: 84 London Road, Boston, PE21 7EQ. Opening times:  Fri and Sat 13:00-00:00.


At the Ground

Ellenders – Ellenders bar, named after one of Boston United FC’s heroes, Paul Ellender, was set up when the football club moved to its new premises, the Jakemans Stadium. Situated in Wyberton, opposite The Quadrant, Ellenders is a modern, stylish bistro style bar and restaurant. Popular on match days and well supported at other times it provides beers from the local brewery at Heckington, 8 Sail.
Address: Pilgrim Way, Wyberton, PE21 7NE. Opening times: Mon–Sat 11:30-22:00

As seen in August 2024, if you were asking yourself ‘is Boston in the North?’

 


Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You: The locals speak their own dialect. Most is understandable, but they have no words for: honesty, morality, ethical, or conscience.

Top-Tip: Speeding in the area is quite acceptable, providing one can successfully spin the magistrates a sob story about being a cheating football manager with the vague possibility of a ‘consultancy’ position coming up six months down the line for which retaining one’s licence would be useful. As we suggested earlier, they’ll swallow any old shit in Lincolnshire and call it à la carte.

Local Amenities: If you are visiting the stadium only, the chances are you will not actually get anywhere near Boston anyway. So the nearest to amenities you are likely to see are a Gregg’s, Burger King and two coffee outlets – because who doesn’t need such choice – it’s Starbucks and Costa, if you do need it.

Other Points Of Interest: There is apparently a Bubble Car Museum located in Langrick not far from Boston and they seem to be quite proud of their lamp posts.

[No responsibility is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice. ]