Your memories and stories of York Street

[Dipdodah]

I lived opposite the ground in Spayne road.  I remember that game very well.  One of the Newcastle fans decided to break into my shed, he did not see my black lab in the garden.  When I got outside, all I could see was this Geordie trying to get over the fence with my lab firmly biting the seat of his tracky bottoms. 

[Ken Fox]

I wrote this one up as one of my "Classic Games" for the match programmes a few years back. Here's the piece:

http://www.bufc.drfox.org.uk/C180289.html

Thanks for all the stories - keep them coming.

Newcastle bringing their first team for a friendly. Losing 1-0 to a goal from Brazilian international Mirandinha.

Very minor point but although Mirandinha played in that game he didn't actually score - the game's only game was scored by the Dane (and lesser-known Newcastle player) Frank Pingel.  I was Newcastle's mascot that day!  Glenn Roeder was Newcastle's captain and I remember the referee given me the £1 coin used during the toss-up at the start of the game which I thought was loads of money at the time! 

Although I am a Boston lad my Dad brought me up as a Newcastle supporter so this was a fabulous day full of memories for me.  I've still got the game on VHS...

[Ken Fox]

I've started putting my match programme pieces on the web site. Keep the memories of York Street coming.

Here are the first few:

• More lives than a cat
• Let there be light
• Leeds, Leeds, Leeds
• FA Trophy Semi-Final vs Altrincham
• Mr Boston United
• The Redevelopment of York Street
• FA Cup games at York Street
• FA Cup replays at York Street

   
   
   

[TAWMAN]

Ken

Re your piece in the Kidderminster programme about non-Boston United related events at the ground.

There was a huge pageant at the ground in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain. The theme was the history of Boston from AD 654 to 1951. The crowd was estimated to be 9,000. Lincolnshire Film Archive has a film of the occasion.

[Ken Fox]

Ken

Re your piece in the Kidderminster programme about non-Boston United related events at the ground.

There was a huge pageant at the ground in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain. The theme was the history of Boston from AD 654 to 1951. The crowd was estimated to be 9,000. Lincolnshire Film Archive has a film of the occasion.

Brilliant. Many thanks for that. I'll have a dig in the newspaper archive to see if I can get the details.

[noughtyforties]

I've got the programme from it, I'll put it up on the Photo Archive later.......PM me on Facebook to remind me Ken.

[Ken Fox]

I've bunged a few more of the match programme articles on the History of York Street on the web site:

• Champion Of Champions
• Foreign Visitors
• Christmas Derbies At Boston
• Dr Martens League Champions 2000
• Not Only But Also

[Ken Fox]

Ken

Re your piece in the Kidderminster programme about non-Boston United related events at the ground.

There was a huge pageant at the ground in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain. The theme was the history of Boston from AD 654 to 1951. The crowd was estimated to be 9,000. Lincolnshire Film Archive has a film of the occasion.

A bit of Googling has uncovered the details of this on a website about Historical Pageants: http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk/pageants/999/

noughtyforties has dug out the programme for me and posted on the Boston United Photo Archive on Facebook.

So I reckon I've got enough to write a little piece on it in the match programme now. Thanks for pointing me at it.

[TAWMAN]

Ken

Another suggestion for inclusion in a programme - full internationals who've played for Boston? I count 15: Don Donovan, Jack Doran, Paul Gascoigne, Phil Gray, Asa Hartford, Kevin Hector, Eric Houghton, Derek Kevan, Andy Kirk, Pat McConnell, Andy Marriott, Ray O'Brien, Ludovic Quistin, Mel Sterland and Fred Tunstall. Some great players amongst that lot!

Not to mention other internationals who've played at York Street - what a privilege it was to see the great Archie Gemmell give a masterclass in 1974.

Doug

[Pilgrim86]

Spencer Weir-Daley is still a current Montserrat international. Jermaine Easter went on to play for Wales, Sebastian Małkowski played once for Poland, Jason St Juste for St Kitts, Courtney Wildin for Antigua... must be a few more too.

[TAWMAN]

I mentioned Gemmill but there were loads of stars from the forties onwards who played for opponents, especially in friendlies, charity matches and testimonials. In the sixties I remember seeing Stan Matthews playing for a Port Vale XI, Derek Temple with Wigan and Kevin Keegan playing on the wing for Scunthorpe in a Lincs Senior Cup game. And Barry Fry for Barnet!

[chris b]

Zeph Thomas and Ryan Robbins (St Kitts and Nevis)
Pa Sulay Njie (Gambia)

[bostonwoody]

Wasn't Henrich Ravas a Polish under 21 international. Does that count?

[John C]

I don't like to slag players off but I don't suppose he will be reading this. Pa Sulay Njie is the worst player I have ever seen play for Boston.

However I am not suggesting the worst Pilgrim ever as an idea for a programme article Ken!

[Pilgrim86]

Wasn't Henrich Ravas a Polish under 21 international. Does that count?

Doubt it, he's Slovakian!