Messages

961

The B-Ark / Re: Away at Lowestoft in the next round of the Cup

« on: September 14, 2009, 02:38:29 PM »

Some of these "regions" must be exceptionally large!

It's a shame we can't potentially do a swap with Bury Town. Potentially we've a situation on our hands where Boston fans have the incovenience of a long trip to the Suffolk coast whilst Bury fans will potentially be working out their route to Sleaford. And if Sleaford don't get through then Bury will facing a trip to Matlock instead. Does anyone really think that North Derbyshire and Suffolk are part of the same region?

Bourne Town travel to Worcester City ... another big region?

26 Trinity are away at Market Drayton Town .

Without being disrespectful, I haven't heard of Tividale, AFC Wulfrunians, Causeway United, Needham Market, Kirkley & Pakefield, Lingfield, Badshot Lea, Brading Town, Hallen, East Preston or VT.

Full draw...


Whitby Town  vs. Vauxhall Motors
Warrington Town  vs. Radcliffe Borough
Atherton LR or Congleton Town  vs. Worksop Town or Frickley Athletic
Retford United or Lincoln United  vs. Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA
Kendal Town  vs. Ossett Town
Droylsden  vs. FC Halifax Town
Horden CW or Durham City  vs. Burscough
Blyth Spartans AFC  vs. Ossett Albion
North Ferriby United  vs. FC United Of Manchester
Hyde United  vs. Salford City
Chorley  vs. Ashton United
Southport  vs. Spennymoor Town
Bradford (Park Avenue)  vs. Harrogate Town
Northwich Victoria  vs. Bardon Hill Sports
Fleetwood Town  vs. Farsley Celtic
Workington  vs. Cammell Laird
Stocksbridge Park Steels  vs. Stalybridge Celtic
Guiseley AFC  vs. Bamber Bridge
Buxton  vs. AFC Fylde
Coventry Sphinx  vs. Stafford Rangers
Matlock Town or Sleaford Town  vs. Bury Town
Nuneaton Town vs. Carlton Town
Bedford Town  vs. Romulus
Evesham United or Tividale  vs. Bromsgrove Rovers or Stourbridge
Alfreton Town  vs. AFC Wulfrunians
Causeway United or Bedworth United  vs. Rainworth MW
AFC Telford United  vs. Pegasus Juniors
Sutton Coldfield Town  vs. Needham Market
Hinckley United  vs. Kirkley & Pakefield
Lowestoft Town  vs. Boston United
Redditch United  vs. Stratford Town
Market Drayton Town  vs. Gainsborough Trinity
Ilkeston Town  vs. Long Buckby or Mildenhall Town
Eastwood Town  vs. Corby Town
Worcester City  vs. Bourne Town
Mickleover Sports  vs. Solihull Moors
Rugby Town  vs. Hucknall Town
Cambridge City  vs. Northampton Spencer
Enfield 1893 or Halstead Town  vs. Chelmsford City
Chatham Town or Walton Casuals  vs. Deal Town or Selsey
Canvey Island or Hitchin Town  vs. Tooting & Mitcham United
Heybridge Swifts or Stanway Rovers  vs. St Albans City
Burnham  vs. London Colney or Aveley
Chesham United or Harrow Borough  vs. Billericay Town
Margate or Sutton United  vs. Uxbridge
Lewes  vs. Leatherhead
Bishop's Stortford  vs. Thurrock
Hythe Town  vs. Woking
Tonbridge Angels  vs. Horsham YMCA
Dover Athletic  vs. Guildford City or East Preston
Boreham Wood  vs. Wealdstone
Windsor & Eton  vs. Farnborough
Hendon  vs. Kingstonian
Aylesbury United or Potters Bar Town  vs. Whitstable Town
Bromley  vs. Flackwell Heath
Braintree Town  vs. Hampton & Richmond Borough
Harefield United  vs. Maidstone United
Northwood or Wingate & Finchley  vs. Erith Town or Aylesbury
Sittingbourne  vs. Staines Town
Worthing  vs. Dartford
Welling United  vs. East Thurrock United
Walton & Hersham  vs. Enfield Town
Ashford Town (Middx)  vs. Lingfield or Badshot Lea
Hemel Hempstead Town or Slough Town  vs. Romford or Concord Rangers
Bishop's Cleeve  vs. Weymouth
Dorchester Town  vs. Hungerford Town
Bashley  vs. Gloucester City
Saltash United or Gillingham Town  vs. Mangotsfield United
Abingdon United  vs. Cirencester Town
Willand Rovers  vs. Bath City
Almondsbury Town or Yate Town  vs. AFC Totton
Weston Super Mare  vs. Havant & Waterlooville
Brackley Town  vs. Basingstoke Town
Clevedon Town  vs. Newport County
Banbury United or Chippenham Town  vs. Merthyr Tydfil
Shortwood United or Witney United  vs. Eastleigh
VT  vs. Oxford City
Bridgwater Town  vs. Brading Town or Hallen
Maidenhead United  vs. Truro City or Bridport
Didcot Town  vs. Paulton Rovers

962

The B-Ark / Re: Paul Shirtliff 1962-2009

« on: September 14, 2009, 12:43:18 PM »

I was in the snack bar queue at half-time at Frickley Athletic earlier this season, and got talking to a home supporter there. We had plenty of time to chat as the queue was moving very slowly, but almost immediately the name "Paul Shirtliff" came into the conversation. It's well worth pointing out that Paul was equally well-liked at Frickley.

963

The B-Ark / Re: Paul Shirtliff 1962-2009

« on: September 14, 2009, 10:51:46 AM »

This is absolutely tragic news.

Some time around the early 1990s Boston United ran a feature in the matchday programme where supporters were invited to pick their best all time "Boston United XI." I had no hesitation whatsoever in naming Paul Shirtliff as the best right back who had played for the club during my time as a supporter, and I maintain that opinion to this day. Yes, we did make it to the Football League, and yes we've had some really good players pulling on a Boston shirt, but in my opinion and as a supporter for almost 30 years, we have not seen Shirtliff's equal as far as right backs are concerned.

If life were in any way fair, then we ought to be inviting Paul Shirtliff back to the club as a legend. He's a lot more deserving of that title than some of the faces we've paraded around the pitch at half-time. It's really sad that this won't now happen. But I really hope that the club will allow for a minute's silence as a mark of respect at the next home game.

Condolences to Paul's family.

964

The B-Ark / Re: F.A.Cup 1st Round Qualifier..(Potential Banana Skin ?)

« on: September 12, 2009, 09:45:08 AM »

We'll be alright today. We're Boston United. The odd mishap against Hitchin, Hyde United, Welling United, Leyton Wingate, Hinckley Town, Matlock Town, Tamworth, Aveley, Canvey Island, Heybridge Swifts, Wisbech, Elmey, Ilkeston Town, Congleton Town, Tiverton Town, Brigg Town and Gateshead aside, we don't allow ourselves to get knocked out of cup competitions by lower league opposition.

965

The B-Ark / Re: v Matlock

« on: September 09, 2009, 06:36:41 PM »

I'm still to be convinced by the 4-3-3 system that we seem to be adopting.

For me, the central striker is too isolated as the two other front players are too wide. And the midfield is too narrow, with Camm, Sleath and Church all too close to each other. Matlock stretched the play across the whole width of the pitch last night, and I'm not sure that we did.

I think we have the personnel for a more conventional 4-4-2 using traditional wingers. Let's get Kennedy on one side and Cotton on the other, let's turn defenders and get crosses in from the byline for Davidson and Clarke. My formation on Saturday would be:

Evans or Butcher

Wood Pearson Parker Cullingworth

Cotton Church Camm Kennedy

Clarke Davidson

Subs:
(I think we can name seven and presumably Gainsborourough won't want Austin cup-tied):
- Evans or Butcher
- Sleath
- Suarez
- Newsham
- Jackson
- Ashton
- Clancy

966

The B-Ark / Re: Nick Jackson

« on: September 07, 2009, 10:31:49 PM »

Wonder if he was given any business cards. He could dish them out to some of the referees we've had over recent seasons.

967

The B-Ark / Re: FA Cup Result

« on: September 04, 2009, 06:10:01 PM »

Looking at the match report from Loughborough's win in the previous round against Long Eaton, they finished the game with eight men!

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/loughborough-sport/loughborough-football/2009/09/04/eight-man-loughborough-book-trip-to-boston-73871-24594250/

Will all three (including their regular goalkeeper) be suspended for the match at York Street?

What a great quote by the way to describe part of the match action...

Nurse raised his arms to the attacker who went down as if he was shot by a sniper high in the floodlights

... I didn't realise Eduardo had signed for Long Eaton.

968

The B-Ark / Re: Drugs, crime and Ashton United

« on: August 31, 2009, 10:31:18 AM »

Of course Ashton United FC is not linked to the goings on of houses next door.

But the street and the immediate area are linked to both football supporters' cars and drug users. Which would be a concern to anyone driving to a match up there.

969

The B-Ark / Re: Drugs, crime and Ashton United

« on: August 31, 2009, 07:27:38 AM »

Did you not go to Ashton last year? There was more than just one house I'd imagine. Some of the area around the ground was very much akin to something out of Shameless

I did indeed go to Ashton last year, and yes there were several houses in the area. But the one on TV was directly opposite the turnstyles and will no doubt be identifiable via the battering ram indentations on its door frame.

To be honest I didn't get the vibe at the time that the area around Ashton's ground was dodgy. Some of those back streets around Leigh Genesis on the other hand .....

970

The B-Ark / Drugs, crime and Ashton United

« on: August 30, 2009, 07:16:21 PM »

Not sure if anyone else saw it, but I watched a fly-on-the-wall police TV documentary earlier today which showed a drugs raid in Greater Manchester. As the police were breaking down the door at the front of the property, the cameras panned across the road. A big sign stating "Welcome to Hurst Cross" came into view.

So we now know that you can buy illegal drugs directly opposite Ashton United Football Club!

Fortunately Boston don't go to Ashton again until February. But generally those people with drug problems get involved in crime to fund their habits. And it doesn't take a genius to work out that (a) a BUFC car sticker or a sticker with "so-and-so garage" of Boston will belong to people who are attending a match, (b) that the same car will remain unattended until after the final whistle, and (c) that in all probability it may contain a sat nav or similar gadgets.

All of this brings home the basic crime prevention sense to make sure everything is out of view, etc., etc., and perhaps to park a little further away from the ground and walk to it.

Unibond League fans are a friendly bunch and there's hardly ever any trouble inside grounds. But is there perhaps an argument for having stewards patrolling outside of grounds and looking after vehicles whilst matches are in progress?

The documentary pixelated the faces of the criminals involved so that they couldn't be identified. Presumably that's due to their human rights. But shouldn't Ashton United have more rights not to be identified?

971

The B-Ark / Re: Eduardo diving implications

« on: August 29, 2009, 06:50:24 AM »

Lee Trundle must be watching developments closely.

972

The B-Ark / Re: In his own little make believe world again

« on: August 29, 2009, 06:48:50 AM »

I don't want to put a pound in everytime I use the E word as I'll soon run out of money. So I'll try and find another way to put my point across....

When Avens came back to the club a lot of fans did cheer. But in my opinion that had something to do with the negative football that we'd been playing under Neil Thompson. I don't want to criticise Thommo as he generally did a good job in very difficult circumstances after the points deduction, and his track record with the Leeds Academy has since confirmed his credentials as a good coach. But on the field I felt that we were going out too often "not to lose" as opposed to trying to win. And it wasn't by any means the best football we've ever seen.

Avens had a more attacking style - immediately bringing in the likes of Danny Thomas and David Noble and reinstating fans favourite of the time Mark Angel. The football was much better to watch and so of course some people cheered. Fans may have known that these "better" players were costing more money, but none of us had sight of the club's books and the true extent to which our club was getting into debt only became apparent later.

The return of Avens was a mistake that almost brought about the death of the club. And there's no way that would have been a price worth paying. But I don't think its right to criticise fans for (a) appreciating better football, or (b) not having the benefit of hindsight at the time.

 

973

The B-Ark / Re: Gypos gonna get ya

« on: August 27, 2009, 06:39:54 PM »

I was talking to a Retford fan, apparently he is really not very popular there.  They don't seem to rate him at all.

Is that a typing error? Surely you mean: I was talking to the Retford fan?

974

The B-Ark / Re: The Fantasy Island Stand

« on: August 26, 2009, 06:22:13 PM »

Shepshed Dynamo's ground has an interesting address...

975

The B-Ark / Re: Bummer

« on: August 25, 2009, 09:57:16 AM »

Up the Arsenal!