Author Topic: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.  (Read 9231 times)

100groundsproject

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Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« on: January 30, 2017, 07:52:04 PM »
York Street features in a book I’m writing on Britain’s favourite football grounds. More information on the project can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/100GroundsProject/

Can anyone point me to a book or other comprehensive works that offer a detailed history of York Street and Boston United’s former homes? There is a section in The History of Non-League Football Grounds and snippets in a couple of other non-League anthologies, but I was looking for something a bit more in depth.

Thanks in advance.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2017, 08:31:04 PM by 100groundsproject »

York Street Pilgrim

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2017, 08:11:10 PM »
Good luck with the book. There is some info on this website about York Road ...

http://www.footballgroundguide.com/leagues/conference/conference-south/maidenhead-united-york-road.html

100groundsproject

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2017, 08:18:01 PM »
Good luck with the book. There is some info on this website about York Road ...

http://www.footballgroundguide.com/leagues/conference/conference-south/maidenhead-united-york-road.html

As it happens, York Road features in the book too!

Thanks for the spot though. I've edited the original post.

Ken Fox

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2017, 09:42:34 PM »
Don't think there's anything detailed out there, but not a lot has happened since the club formed in 1933. They've played at York Street from the start. It was called Shodfriars Lane back then but basically it was the same ground as now. Had a stand burn down and rebuilt a couple of times before the war. The stand at the York Street end was built in the mid fifties and floodlights were added. After failing to get elected into the football league on numerous occasions the club decided to undergo a major rebuilding in 1977 after being turned down yet again - this time as the ground wasn't up to the required standard (some other lesser club got the nod that season instead - whatever happened to Wigan Athletic?). A few cosmetic changes since then - a few extra seats added to the York Street end to meet League requirements, along with an observation/control room in the corner. Name changes with sponsors. Has been called the Jakemans Stadium since 2009.

There's a Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Street

100groundsproject

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2017, 09:07:09 AM »
Thanks, Ken.

The chapter will also touch on Boston United’s new stadium.

What are supporters’ views on the move? Is it necessary to push the club forward?  Is the current ground past its sell by date or could it have been refurbished? Personally, I thought York Street was wonderful, but I’m viewing this as a football tourist and not a supporter of the club.

From reading various sources, York Street was often referred to as the finest non-League ground in the country. It will be a sad day when the demolition crew move in.

Ernie100

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2017, 11:23:29 AM »
Ground is owned by a third party charging us a massive rent, so no real alternative but to move.  There was a muted suggestion to buy the ground, but
it seem to get anywhere.   I for one will be sad to leave York Street.

green hats mate

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2017, 01:21:11 PM »
Ground is owned by a third party charging us a massive rent, so no real alternative but to move.  There was a muted suggestion to buy the ground, but
it seem to get anywhere.   I for one will be sad to leave York Street.

Your a typical stick in the mud Ernie ,  having been to about 2000 matches there over the last 70 years I,m well ready for a move .

100groundsproject

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Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2017, 05:59:03 PM »
    Don't think there's anything detailed out there, but not a lot has happened since the club formed in 1933. They've played at York Street from the start. It was called Shodfriars Lane back then but basically it was the same ground as now. Had a stand burn down and rebuilt a couple of times before the war. The stand at the York Street end was built in the mid fifties and floodlights were added. After failing to get elected into the football league on numerous occasions the club decided to undergo a major rebuilding in 1977 after being turned down yet again - this time as the ground wasn't up to the required standard (some other lesser club got the nod that season instead - whatever happened to Wigan Athletic?). A few cosmetic changes since then - a few extra seats added to the York Street end to meet League requirements, along with an observation/control room in the corner. Name changes with sponsors. Has been called the Jakemans Stadium since 2009.

    There's a Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Street

    Does anyone know when the current main stand was built? I've read it was overhauled in 1981, but did it simply have new fixtures and fittings, or was it a brand new stand? So far I’ve established:

    Fire destroyed main stands in 1926 and again in 1934.
    Fire destroyed separate dressing room block and supporters' club offices in November 1937, possibly due to a faulty coke stove. Some of the players had to train in international shirts borrowed from Freddy Tunstall, as kit was lost in the blaze. Greyhound kennels were converted as makeshift replacements.[/li][/list]


    Apparently a replacement stand was in place prior to the dressing room fire of 1937 but I can’t find a record of when it was built or if the shell is the same one in existence today. I’d value any thoughts on this.
    « Last Edit: February 07, 2017, 07:09:57 PM by 100groundsproject »

    Ken Fox

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #8 on: February 07, 2017, 09:26:11 PM »
    It was a brand new stand. All the stands apart from the York Street stand were rebuilt. Pretty much unchanged since then apart from the President's Lounge, a few extra seats, the control room and refurbished changing rooms being added to the York Street stand. There are some photos of the old stands on Andy Butler's "Boston United FC Photo Archive" on Facebook - well worth a look. Ian Butler added an excellent set on 26th September 2016.
    « Last Edit: February 07, 2017, 09:29:28 PM by Ken Fox »

    100groundsproject

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #9 on: February 08, 2017, 02:23:33 PM »
    It was a brand new stand. All the stands apart from the York Street stand were rebuilt. Pretty much unchanged since then apart from the President's Lounge, a few extra seats, the control room and refurbished changing rooms being added to the York Street stand. There are some photos of the old stands on Andy Butler's "Boston United FC Photo Archive" on Facebook - well worth a look. Ian Butler added an excellent set on 26th September 2016.

    Excellent, thank you for the information. I will take a look at Andy's photo archive.
    « Last Edit: February 08, 2017, 02:29:00 PM by 100groundsproject »

    joshb

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #10 on: February 10, 2017, 09:00:29 PM »
    Thanks, Ken.

    The chapter will also touch on Boston United’s new stadium.

    What are supporters’ views on the move? Is it necessary to push the club forward?  Is the current ground past its sell by date or could it have been refurbished? Personally, I thought York Street was wonderful, but I’m viewing this as a football tourist and not a supporter of the club.

    From reading various sources, York Street was often referred to as the finest non-League ground in the country. It will be a sad day when the demolition crew move in.

    I'm not looking forwards to it but realistically we have no other alternative if we want to get back to the 5th division because the ground is a drain on finances. It's only 40 years old for the most part and would only need a little tidy up in places. Shame we can't take a few of our stands with us. We'll lose that homely town centre sort of feel to it too.... It is still regarded as one of the best non league grounds, despite all the flash new builds like Fylde and grounds being redeveloped like Telford or soon to be Salford.

    youngchubby69

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #11 on: February 11, 2017, 05:53:58 AM »
    I think we all feel like that, we all have some great memories at York Street.
    But we need to move on now and take this club forward to the next chapter in it's history.
    The new ground will have the sport and conference,hospitality facilities that will bring in a steady income.
    I think Des Wood looked into expanding York Street when we were in the football league, that was a non starter,as there was no room for expansion without seriously effecting the residents who live near the ground.
    The traffic congestion around the ground on match days is awful,and with bigger crowds it would be horrendous.
    I think no matter what,us as fans will make our new home feel like York Street,as we make the atmosphere.
    I do hope our last game there will be a special occasion, and no doubt for many of us an emotional day.
    Perhaps we will be able to spend a little time saying goodbye to the ground and have a beer to give York Street a good send off.
    I am though looking forward to our new beginnings and hopefully great success.

    green hats mate

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #12 on: February 11, 2017, 12:00:20 PM »
    Des Wood submitted plans to build a block of houses/flats on York St car park .

    Can,t recall exactly,  but either just before the application came up or during the planning presentation the meeting were told by the applicants representative by phone that the plan was withdrawn .

    youngchubby69

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #13 on: February 11, 2017, 03:50:55 PM »
    Was that with or without the permission of the Malkinson family.


    green hats mate

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    Re: Information on York Street and BUFC's other grounds.
    « Reply #14 on: February 11, 2017, 04:10:28 PM »
    Was that with or without the permission of the Malkinson family.

    No idea.