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The B-Ark / Re: BUFC v Worksop pix
« on: November 19, 2009, 07:56:53 PM »
We won the Northern Premier League that season and I wrote that one up for my Trophy Cabinet page in the match programme recently. Here it is:
THE TROPHY CABINET
Northern Premier League 1977/8
Boson United won their fourth and most recent Northern Premier League title in the 1977/8 season. The season began with a publicity stunt by the club. At the beginning of June all the club’s directors except Alf Bell resigned in protest over Boston United not being submitted for election to the Football League despite winning the Northern Premier League title. Unlike today where there is automatic promotion for the winners of the Conference, back in 1978 clubs had to apply for membership with places decided by voting at the Annual General Meeting of the Football League. United’s plans for election were scuppered when the Football League ground inspection team deemed that their York Street ground was not up to the required standard. So the directors of the club resigned en masse to gain some publicity for their plight. After some significant coverage in the press all the directors were however reappointed at a meeting at the end of July that lasted just 15 minutes and was attended by only two shareholders and the five directors. Their first act was to appoint a new manager. Mick Walker joined the club. He had formerly been in charge at Burton Albion.
The race for the title was close all the way to the end. Boston United, Wigan Athletic, Northwich Victoria, Bangor City, Scarborough and Stafford Rangers all vied for the title. By mid November only five points separated Boston in sixth place from leaders Scarborough, but Boston had two games in hand. By mid January a sequence of eight wins in their last ten league games saw Boston topping the table, ahead of Scarborough, Northwich and Wigan, but both Scarborough and Wigan now had games in hand over the leader. Boston United finished off their home schedule with an encounter against second placed Wigan Athletic. It resulted in the most exciting game seen at York Street all season.
Boston dominated the early play, but it was Wigan who went into a two goal lead midway through the first half. Wigan took the lead in the 24th minute when centre-half Noel Ward rose above Dave Poplar and Steve Thompson to head home a free kick from the right at the near post. A minute later Boston went further behind when a shot from Worswick could only be parried out by Stewart to Houghton who scored from close range. Boston pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when Dave Poplar headed a good goal from a free kick hit high into the penalty area by Adamson. Forty-six seconds into the second half Jim Kabia scored from close range to bring the scores level. Player-coach Brian Bates gave Boston the lead in the 65th minute as they began to dominate the match. Four minutes later Poplar got his second goal to clinch the win for United.
The win ended Wigan's title hopes, but it didn't quite confirm Boston as champions. Bangor City still had five games left and if they won all five and Boston lost their two remaining games then Bangor would sneak the title. As it happened, Boston won their subsequent game at Mossley by 2-1 and thus were crowned Northern Premier League champions for the fourth time in six seasons. They finished six points clear of runners-up Wigan.
By the end of the season Boston had beaten Wigan both home and away in the league and home and away in the league cup. Both sides were keen to join the Football League. Boston Chairman Ernest Malkinson however refused to spend money on the ground improvements required to bring York Street up to League standards. This gave runners-up Wigan the chance to apply as the top team in the Northern Premier League with a compliant ground. Wigan got the votes required and they replaced Southport in the Fourth Division.
THE TROPHY CABINET
Northern Premier League 1977/8
Boson United won their fourth and most recent Northern Premier League title in the 1977/8 season. The season began with a publicity stunt by the club. At the beginning of June all the club’s directors except Alf Bell resigned in protest over Boston United not being submitted for election to the Football League despite winning the Northern Premier League title. Unlike today where there is automatic promotion for the winners of the Conference, back in 1978 clubs had to apply for membership with places decided by voting at the Annual General Meeting of the Football League. United’s plans for election were scuppered when the Football League ground inspection team deemed that their York Street ground was not up to the required standard. So the directors of the club resigned en masse to gain some publicity for their plight. After some significant coverage in the press all the directors were however reappointed at a meeting at the end of July that lasted just 15 minutes and was attended by only two shareholders and the five directors. Their first act was to appoint a new manager. Mick Walker joined the club. He had formerly been in charge at Burton Albion.
The race for the title was close all the way to the end. Boston United, Wigan Athletic, Northwich Victoria, Bangor City, Scarborough and Stafford Rangers all vied for the title. By mid November only five points separated Boston in sixth place from leaders Scarborough, but Boston had two games in hand. By mid January a sequence of eight wins in their last ten league games saw Boston topping the table, ahead of Scarborough, Northwich and Wigan, but both Scarborough and Wigan now had games in hand over the leader. Boston United finished off their home schedule with an encounter against second placed Wigan Athletic. It resulted in the most exciting game seen at York Street all season.
Boston dominated the early play, but it was Wigan who went into a two goal lead midway through the first half. Wigan took the lead in the 24th minute when centre-half Noel Ward rose above Dave Poplar and Steve Thompson to head home a free kick from the right at the near post. A minute later Boston went further behind when a shot from Worswick could only be parried out by Stewart to Houghton who scored from close range. Boston pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when Dave Poplar headed a good goal from a free kick hit high into the penalty area by Adamson. Forty-six seconds into the second half Jim Kabia scored from close range to bring the scores level. Player-coach Brian Bates gave Boston the lead in the 65th minute as they began to dominate the match. Four minutes later Poplar got his second goal to clinch the win for United.
The win ended Wigan's title hopes, but it didn't quite confirm Boston as champions. Bangor City still had five games left and if they won all five and Boston lost their two remaining games then Bangor would sneak the title. As it happened, Boston won their subsequent game at Mossley by 2-1 and thus were crowned Northern Premier League champions for the fourth time in six seasons. They finished six points clear of runners-up Wigan.
By the end of the season Boston had beaten Wigan both home and away in the league and home and away in the league cup. Both sides were keen to join the Football League. Boston Chairman Ernest Malkinson however refused to spend money on the ground improvements required to bring York Street up to League standards. This gave runners-up Wigan the chance to apply as the top team in the Northern Premier League with a compliant ground. Wigan got the votes required and they replaced Southport in the Fourth Division.
Sorry Ken.
