Messages

196

The B-Ark / Re: Barrow AFC

« on: August 09, 2014, 05:42:54 PM »

I was at the game and in all fairness to Bastock, I doubt he was aware of the extent of the injury.

The long walk to the changing room situated behind the home teams goal however, gave the home fans ample time to suggest that he may have been a tad harsh in his mimicry.

I was there that day too. I will never forget that as we were leaving and making our way around to the exit behind the above goal I was approached by an irate Barrow fan (actually foul mouthed yob would be a better description). He shouted at me saying something like (minus the swear words after every other word) "Give us that Boston scarf mate, I'm going to strangle your goalkeeper with it".

Years later I worked with a younger Barrow fan at Manchester City Council and he told me that the story of that day had been passed down to him by his Dad - the name Paul Bastock, apparently, will not be forgotten in the Barrow area.

197

The B-Ark / Re: Altrincham promoted

« on: May 10, 2014, 05:52:08 PM »

Altrincham had really promoted the game this week - and had been making the point that it was the only local game being played today. Yesterday's Manchester Evening News had reported that they'd hoped to attract a crowd of 3,000+. From Guiseley's end, they had provided free transport for their supporters. All this effort obviously paid dividends - with the crowd announced as 4,630. 

198

The B-Ark / Altrincham promoted

« on: May 10, 2014, 05:34:00 PM »

A last minute extra-time goal gives Altrincham a 2-1 win in the play-off final against Guiseley.

199

The B-Ark / Re: Opponents next season

« on: May 03, 2014, 11:02:48 AM »

Must be fairly intimidating for the home team seeing and hearing such support.  It virtually turns it into a home game for FCUM.  Shame we don't get to go to their new ground next season always a good atmosphere when we play each other.

According to yesterday's Manchester Evening News the new FC United will not be ready for the start of the new season - they hope be 'home' (as they put it) in October. Early season home games will be played at Stalybridge Celtic. They are also hoping to invite a 'top European side' as opponents for the opening game at the new stadium.

A friend of mine from work is a FC United supporter and was at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night. We were contemplating whether conceding a 90th minute goal to take the game into extra-time, and then losing to a 120th minute goal, was actually worse than losing on penalties. I think it probably is.

200

The B-Ark / Re: Tuesday

« on: April 01, 2014, 10:55:58 PM »

Very good point but sounded as though we deserved all three.

Home after the short drive back from Alty - and yes we could have had all three points tonight. Had some great chances in the last 15 - 20 minutes and Ricky missed a couple he'd have buried on any other occasion. They didn't really create too much despite having spells on possession - but losing their top player Nicky Clee obviously disrupted them. He did play on after being clattered by Indy - and was extremely unhappy about having to be substituted. A great effort from all the Pilgrims tonight, but when the 'sponsors away team man-of-the-match' was announced it was Carl Piergianni - and I agree with them 100%, he was immense again.

201

The B-Ark / Re: Tuesday

« on: April 01, 2014, 05:37:04 PM »

I was going to go to Altrincham tonight, but probably won't now as I don't fancy coming back on Metrolink just as 60,000 Man Utd fans pour out of Old Trafford having been tonked by Bayern Munich. 

Ken,
Can you get a train to and from Bolton? If so, I could pick you up and drop you off again at Bolton Station. I'm planning on leaving Bolton around 6-15pm, so if that's any good to you let me know (George on 07443605490).

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work either. Looks like the train routes between Leeds and Bolton all involve changing at Piccadilly so I'd just end up in amongst all the rowdy Man Utd fans at the station. The team seem to play better when I'm not there anyway.

The Man Utd game actually changed my plans. I work in central Manchester - and I'd planned to work a little later and then go to Altrincham on the tram straight from the office. I did it last season and it was a doddle, as was the return back to Manchester - but then I realised it was the game at OT tonight and so decided I'd go home, get the car and drive (its about 17 miles door-to-door). Might encounter some traffic around Stretford, but I think its the lesser of the two evils. Anyhow, sorry you couldn't make it - lets just hope your absence does produce a better result than the last two visits to Moss Lane!!

202

The B-Ark / Re: Tuesday

« on: April 01, 2014, 01:41:40 PM »

I was going to go to Altrincham tonight, but probably won't now as I don't fancy coming back on Metrolink just as 60,000 Man Utd fans pour out of Old Trafford having been tonked by Bayern Munich. 

Ken,
Can you get a train to and from Bolton? If so, I could pick you up and drop you off again at Bolton Station. I'm planning on leaving Bolton around 6-15pm, so if that's any good to you let me know (George on 07443605490).

203

The B-Ark / Stockport County Trivia

« on: February 02, 2014, 04:12:35 PM »

Following last Tuesday's night match, I was talking to a Stockport County fan at work on Friday - and he was telling me about about a fans forum type of event he'd attended on the Wednesday night. A couple of his mates at the forum, incidentally, reckoned their draw at York Street was one of their three best results of the season to date, given our current home form. 

Anyhow, during the night, they had a quiz where these two bits of trivia came up :-

1. It is quite possible, of course, for a player to be on the subs bench for both the home and then the away game between two teams in any season - but how often does it happen that the same player is on the home subs bench for both games?? It happened this season between Stockport County and BUFC - Lewis King was on Stockport's bench on the opening day of the season and , of course, on BUFC's bench last Tuesday.

2. Four years ago almost to the day of County's visit to York Street, they were also playing an away league match at.......Southampton. Just four years later the clubs are now six levels apart.

Someone might know this - but when we were in the Unibond League were Hull City having their first spell in the Premiership? If so, we'd beat that statistic.

204

The B-Ark / Re: Pitch Inspection at Alty... 3:30pm today

« on: January 25, 2014, 06:27:55 PM »

Disappointing so much looking forward to it but at least we know early enough to make other arrangement. HISTON TAKE NOTE.

I'd have preferred to have played tomorrow, partly because of the confidence from last week's performance and result but partly because Altrincham away was the only game I missed last season and I want to get there this time around. Last season's match was rearranged for a midweek night at such short notice that getting time off work wasn't feasible, and it was annoying to miss one game under those circumstances. Admittedly with hindsight it probably was the best game to miss, but hopefully this time around we'll get a bit more notice of when the rearranged game will be. ALTRINCHAM TAKE NOTE.

Yes it was such a late rearrangement that many of their own supporters didn't even know about it. I went to the game straight from work in Manchester taking the Metrolink tram (one end terminates in Alty about a 10 minute walk from their ground). Next day I was talking to an Alty fan at work and he, of course, had plenty to say about their 7-1 win, but then he revealed he wasn't even there!! Why? Because he and his mates who are regular home and away supporters didn't know the game was on - and, apparently, there was quite a bit of criticism around town about how little had been done to publicise it. It was most probably their lowest gate of the season - under 600. I sat in the main stand and one chap remarked there was less than half the usual amount in there.

205

The B-Ark / Re: New keeper

« on: November 08, 2013, 05:16:45 PM »

Just looked at twitter and looks like he knows a couple of our players already (pidg and galiniski).Also his record for Stockport wasnt bad.Give him a chance

Agreed. Although speaking to a Stockport County fan today he was never that impressed. King was on the bench for County against us for the opening game of the season.

206

The B-Ark / Re: Length Of Service

« on: July 13, 2013, 04:52:55 PM »

I saw 229 of the 230 league matches we played as a Football League club and have always wondered if there's anyone out there who completed the whole set? The one I missed was an away game at Hull, when I was at a wedding. I managed to listen to a few minutes commentary whilst driving between the church and the reception. During that time the commentary stated at least four times that Boston were down to ten men, but each time failed to mention who had been sent off! The game had long since finished before I found out it was Matt Hocking and that Boston had lost 2-1. Hull were promoted that season, and I haven't yet been to the KC Stadium.

That is extremely impressive LP. Brilliant stuff!!

My first game was the 1967 FA Cup tie v Leyton Orient (a 1-1 draw and a 1 -2 defeat in the replay) when I was 9 and I think my first away game would have been a 4-0 win at Spalding in the FA Cup around 1968/69. I do remember my first few away games were all either FA Cup or FA Trophy games, taken by my grandfather to places like Boston FC, King's Lynn, Kettering and Frickley.

I moved from Boston to live here in Greater Manchester when I was 20 in January 1979 and that season of 1979/80 was my highest attendance - missing just one of the 65 or so games United played that season. The one I missed was a rearranged Wednesday night home game.

Nowadays I do the majority of Saturday home games and a few of the away games. Last season two of my away games were the 2-1 defeat at Skelmersdale and that infamous 7-1 thrashing at Alty. I went that night thinking it was bound to be better than the 6-1 defeat I'd endured the previous season!!  New season, new optimism though - and on 17 August I will travel to Stockport on the First Bus No 22 bus service which runs from Bolton - Stockport. not sure the exact amount of away grounds I've seen United play at - but I remember the last count was 112 and I've done some 'new' ones since then.

I was at the KC Stadium for that match you missed LP - and visited again maybe a year or so later to see Hull take on the other Pilgrims, Plymouth Argyle. Both times I went with a friend of mine who is a Plymouth Argyle fan.

207

The B-Ark / Re: Relax......

« on: May 26, 2013, 10:59:00 AM »

..........Tough tough league next season.

Absolutely!! AFC Telford look like they mean business too. The new manager Liam Watson (remember him giving our defence a hard time in his days as a Runcorn and then Marine winger?) has taken a couple of players with him from Southport and signed-up three from Chester FC.

208

The B-Ark / Re: Gainsborough tomorrow

« on: February 02, 2013, 02:39:00 PM »

Think 28 was the total, less than 20 on the coach and we were initially segregated and went in through the away fans turnstile.

I wonder where the 28 figure came from then? Was this the number through the away fans turnstiles? If so, it was nearer the 40 than 28 coz I - and a few other BUFC fans - went through the Golf Road end home fans turnstiles and headed straight to the snack bar in that corner. I chatted to them for a while before going up into the main stand and they made their way to meet up with other BUFC fans near the snack bar / portakabin toilets at the away end.

209

The B-Ark / Re: Gainsborough tomorrow

« on: February 02, 2013, 12:06:58 PM »

Well we took 28 to Alty on Tues, at short notice.

So more than that, I would say between 200 and 300.

It would have actually have been a few more than 28 at Alty - I'm presuming that was the number on the supporters' coach. I came across a few who regularly travel in their cars and then there was the locally' based Pilgrims fans. Two up in the main stand, e.g. being myself (travelled straight from work in Manchester on the tram) and another based in Liverpool who'd driven there. So I'd reckon at least 40 - I was talking to an Alty supporter on the tram going back into Manchester and he was impressed by our turn-out. 'Some teams only bring a dozen or so on a Saturday' he told me.     

210

The B-Ark / Re: Old BUFC programmes for sale/exchange

« on: January 26, 2013, 12:36:52 AM »

No problem....sounds like a bit of a collection going on there

If you know of anyone else...give me a shout. Ta.

I'll just throw the name of Mike Alexander into the forum. Featured for BU in the NPL first season then moved over to Trinity.
Prolific striker for both teams....bit too early to make comparisons with young Mark Jones?

I met Mike in the Blues Club a couple of years back....he had brought in his programme collection of when he played for Trinity to pass onto the supporters club.
I know you guys had a good scheme inviting former players back as match guests, Did Mike ever attend one of these....just out of interest?

Yes he did...and, of course, it was whilst a BUFC player that Mike won the Anglia Sports Personality of the Year (when Boston was in the Anglia TV region before it was switched (amidst protest) to Yorkshire)