Boston United Football Club Old News

Here are this season's old news items. They are in date order with the most recent news at the top.

Def Con One for Lincoln Game

24 Dec Boston United have made an emergency signing to solve their current goalkeeping crisis. With on-loan keeper Michel Kuipers returning to Brighton last week, Nathan Abbey still away at Leyton Orient and youngster Chris Wright suffering from a hamstring strain, the club were left without any goalkeeping options coming into their busy Christmas schedule. This allowed them to invoke the procedures that let League clubs sign-up emergency goalkeepers, despite the transfer window being closed. So manager Steve Evans has spent much of the last few days hunting for a new goalkeeper and he has now agreed terms with Championship side Leicester City to bring their third choice goalkeeper Conrad Logan to the club. Evans has been very impressed with Logan in the recent friendly games between the two clubs and has put the nineteen year old straight into the squad for the Lincoln City game on the Boxing Day at Sincil Bank. Logan was born on 18th April 1986 in Ireland. He is a Republic of Ireland Under 18 international.

Football League Supporters Survey

12 Dec The Football League are carrying out a survey to let supporters of Football League clubs tell them what they think about the football they watch. So if you want to let them know what you think about such issues as the introduction of goal-line technology, the use of sin bins, the quality and range of goods sold in your club shop, how you rate the club's official web site, whether you get value for money etc, then get voting! You also get a chance to win a pair of tickets for a football final at the new Wembley stadium by sending in your survey form. You can complete the survey on-line at the Football League's web site (www.football-league.co.uk) until 31st January 2006.

Two in, three out

24 Nov Boston United have been busy on the day that the Football League loan transfer window closes until January 2006. Two players have joined the club and three will be leaving. Dutch goalkeeper Michel Kuipers has joined for a month from Brighton & Hove Albion, whilst Nathan Abbey has left to join League Two rivals Leyton Orient. Another arrival is 21 year old left sided midfielder David Galbraith from Northampton Town, again for a one month loan spell. Steve Melton, who has yet to feature for the Pilgrims first team this season after recovering from injury has left to join Conference side Tamworth. Ian Ross's loan spell from Sheffield United is due to end on Saturday.

One in, one out, one grand fine

22 Nov Talented midfelder David Noble has left the club to join League One side Bristol City on-loan with a view to a permanent move when the transfer window reopens. Boston United will receive a five-figure fee if the transfer goes ahead in January.

Striker Francis Green will be joining the club from local rivals Lincoln City in another loan-move. The former Peterborough United forward began his playing career with Ilkeston Town. He joined the Posh for £25,000 in March 1998 and made 126 appearances for them, scoring 16 goals before moving on to Lincoln for £75,000 in September 2003. He has scored 17 goals in 94 appearances for the Imps. He was born on 23/4/1980 in Derby. A clause in the loan contract states that Green will not be allowed to play in the derby match between Lincoln City and Boston United at Sincil Bank on Boxing Day.

Steve Evans has been hit with a £1000 fine by the FA for a breach of FA Rule E3 - abusive and/or insulting words towards a Match Official during the match against Peterborough United on 1st October. However, the fine will only have to be paid if Evans breaches the rule again at any time during the next 12 months. He has also been warned as to his future conduct.

FA Cup fixture changed

18 Nov Boston United's FA Cup second round match against Doncaster Rovers has been moved back a day to Sunday 4th December. This decision has been made following discussions between the club and the police and the FA. The match will be all ticket for Doncaster fans and also for home fans who wish to use the Staffsmart Stand. Home fans who want to use the York Street Stand or Spayne Road Terrace will be able to pay for entrance on the day. Kick-off will be at 2pm.

Supporters' Trust Recruitment Drive

14 Nov The Boston United Supporters Trust will be actively recruiting new members at the upcoming home matches. The following leaflet will be distributed to fans attending the games at York Steet.

By the Fans, for the Fans
Bulletin No. 1
Issued by the Working Group for the Inception of a BUFC Supporters' Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE BUFC SUPPORTERS' TRUST OPEN MEETING ON MONDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2005 AT 8PM AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, MARKET PLACE, BOSTON.
Guest Speakers at the meeting will include Mr Phil Tooley (Chesterfield Football Supporters' Society Limited and Board member of Supporters' Direct), and Mr Rick Keracher (Lincoln City Supporters' Trust).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What exactly is "the Working Group for the Inception of a BUFC Supporters' Trust"?
We are a group of Boston United fans. We joined forces last summer because we had a number of serious and valid concerns for the future of our football club, including its long term financial viability and indeed its continued existence. We meet in Boston before every home game. We have a website providing more information and an email contact address (details of which can be found at the foot of the page).

What do you hope to achieve?
Our aim is to establish a Supporters' Trust, so that eventually the club can be owned by the fans, for the fans. A Supporters' Trust is a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders, and strict rules are already in place regarding the way Trusts can be run. Democracy, transparency, and openness in the way their business affairs are carried out are of particular importance, and it should be emphasized that any fan can stand for election to the Trust Board. We already have links with other fans at Football League clubs where Supporters' Trusts have now become established, and some of these Trusts have now reached the stage where the fans actually own and run the football clubs themselves.

The club may relocate. What are your views on this?
Any proposed changes with regard to where the club plays must be formulated on the basis that the move must leave the club debt-free, playing in the Football League, and controlling its own destiny through the ownership of its own football ground. We have been extremely fortunate in that the club has benefited from Mr Pat Malkinson's goodwill and generosity over many years, but circumstances can sometimes change, and we need to ensure that all necessary safeguards to maintain the club's existence are in place.

How do we form a Supporters' Trust at Boston United?
There are several essential steps that need to take place if we are to succeed in establishing a Trust which is eligible for funding from Supporters' Direct (our parent body). The first is to hold an Open Meeting, which all supporters, club staff and officials, and local councillors are invited to attend. Details of the Open Meeting have been published in the local press recently, and there is more information both on our website and at the end of this bulletin.

I love my club but I do not have time to be involved with the running of a Supporters' Trust. So what else can I do to help?
You can do a lot!
By attending the forthcoming Open Meeting, and giving us your support and your vote, you will be providing us with a mandate to move forward and establish the Trust. And if you can spare some of your time, we are looking to swell our ranks of volunteers, and we shall be actively recruiting new members at the Open Meeting!

All this sounds fine - but how do I keep in touch?
You can contact the Working Group for the Inception of a Boston United Supporters' Trust at www.bufcst.co.uk or email members@bufcst.co.uk

FA Cup draw

6 Nov In this afternoon's draw for the second round of the FA Cup, Boston United will get to play against Doncaster Rovers or Blackpool at York Street providing they overcome Swindon Town in the first round replay on Wednesday week. The draw was made at the FA Headquarters in Soho Square, London just after 3pm. Martin Peters picked the home teams and Ian St John the away teams. The second round match is scheduled for Saturday 3rd December. Winners of second round games will receive £24,000 in prize money.

Doncaster won their first round match 4-1 against Blackpool later in the afternoon, with two goals apiece from Paul Heffernan and Michael McIndoe. The last time Doncaster played at York Street was in May 2004, when a 0-0 draw was sufficient to ensure that Doncaster were promoted from Nationwide League Division Three as champions.

Loan Star Award

6 Nov Boston United's on-loan midfielder Ian Ross has won the Coca-Cola League Two Powerade "Player of the Month" award for October. He was selected by the panel led by Chris Kamara and the award was announced on Sky Sports "Goals on Sunday" programme. The other nominated players were Ricky Lambert of Rochdale, Kevin Betsy of Wycombe Wanderers and Dave Challinor of Bury. The Sheffield United youngster has scored three goals in his six appearances for Boston during October - two from the penalty spot and one direct from a free-kick.

Big Girl's Blouse

3 Nov After failing to win the Coca-Cola League Two Manager of the Month Award for October, Boston United manager Steve Evans launched an amazing tirade against the award panel on the club's official web site. He said: "The results for October for each team are clearly there for all to see, except if you are Chris Kamara or one of his little judges. Everyone apart from them will know that the result in relation to the Coca-Cola League Two Powerade manager of the month award for October stinks, but try as they might, they will not convince us that their decision was not influenced by others." When announcing the award - which went to Martin Ling of table topping Leyton Orient - Kamara said: "Martin deserves all the accolades for the way in which his side have fought back to the top of League 2 this month. Their away win at Grimsby was a massive result and to remain unbeaten, in what is a very competitive league, just goes to show what great form they have been in."

Boston United Supporters' Trust Meeting

1 Nov The Working Group for the Inception of a Boston United Supporters' Trust has arranged an Open Meeting on Monday 28th November 8pm to be held at the Assembly Rooms, Boston. The Open Meeting invites all the supporters, players, directors, Board and management team of Boston United Football Club to attend to come and hear about Supporters Direct and the principles and philosophy behind the Supporters' Trust movement.

The meeting should provide a good opportunity to explain about what has happened at other clubs and for fans to hear about other Supporters' Trusts. The meeting also intends to relate both the theory of Trust formation and experiences from other Trusts around the country to the situation at our club. The ultimate purpose of the Open Meeting is also to encourage more supporters' to join the Working Group in order to take the idea forward, having first obtained the mandate of the meeting to proceed with the formation of a Trust.

The Working Group also hopes to reach agreement on some objectives. Other supporters' trusts have come up with ideas such as constructing a better relationship with the club; raising money to buy a shareholding in the club; uniting divided supporter factions at the club, or simply playing a greater role in the life of the club, to list a few examples.

The Open Meeting will be as open, inclusive and transparent as possible. The Working Group will be informing the club and its officials, other supporters' groups, local MPs, councillors and the local media in the next few days. For further information log onto the Working Group website: www.bufcst.co.uk

Flying Mullet wings off

1 Nov Physiotherapist Lee Taylor - the Flying Mullet - has left the club with immediate effect, citing personal reasons for his departure. The club's Centre of Excellence physio Julie Frost has now been given the additional responsibility of looking after the first team's medical matters. Lee joined the club back in September 2004 after Jim Woods left the club. He was well known for his entertaining if somewhat eccentric columns in the matchday magazine and will be a hard act to follow.

Football club folds

29 Oct With a limited squad which the manager was finding increasingly difficult to motivate, Neil has decided to disband Patter United. The club were formed in the summer of 2004 and all the players had a shared interest in Boston United via the Pilgrims' Patter discussion list. They played in the Boston Sunday League Division One. Only four weeks ago they won their first match of the season when they defeated Railway Hotel 3-2.

Manager Neil Avison said: "I really thought we had something this season and were improving but too many times there was only myself on the bench when we needed someone to change the game. What looked good after the YS Charity Game never materialised unfortunately and I never had the strength in depth or sometimes in the starting eleven to try out new tactics or formations. I have a list of eight names for tomorrow and one of those is on call that was why the step was taken to cancel the game and after consulting Ray we decided that the only option was to disband the team. It's a shame because I really enjoyed it all (even the defeats when we played well) but we cannot go on not knowing whether we have a team or not and I could not go on worrying all week about who was available. I want to thank all the players personally for what we achieved and hope we can pick a Friday night and a venue for a get together so I can do so."

Youth team boss leaves

28 Oct Boston United's "Head of Youth" Neil Richardson has left the club by "mutual consent". Steve Welsh, who recently joined the club from Spalding United, has been put in charge of the youth team with immediate effect. Richardson has been running the youth team since April following the departure of Daral Pugh - who set up the club's Centre of Excellence in August 2003.

Ross returns

26 Oct Ian Ross has returned to Boston United on another loan spell after Sheffield United were knocked out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. Steve Evans reached agreement with Neil Warnock for the nineteen year old to return and he will be available again for Saturday's match against Torquay United.

Noel Whelan however will be out of action for a few weeks as he is suffering from a groin strain and has undergone corrective surgery to sort the problem out.

Ross loss

24 Oct Ian Ross has returned to Sheffield United a few days before the end of his two month loan spell with the Pilgrims so that he can play for the Blades in their third round Carling Cup match at Reading. Whilst with Boston Ross scored three goals in twelve appearances. Manager Steve Evans hopes to bring in further loan players to make up for the loss of Ross.

Vote for Bazza

23 Oct After last year's vote to decide each club's "cult hero", BBC's Football Focus programme is now trying to put together an all-time Cult XI from last years' winners. Boston United's "cult hero" was record breaking goalkeeper Paul Bastock, so if you would like to see him make the BBC's Cult XI then vote for him by texting BASTOCK to 81111. Full details are on the Football Focus web site.

FA Cup Draw

22 Oct Boston United have been drawn away at Coca Cola League One side Swindon Town in the first round proper of the FA Cup. Swindon are currently bottom of the table. They are five points adrift of the nearest team and haven't won a League match since beating Yeovil Town on 27th August. They lost the following eight League games on the trot. Swindon have also been having problems with HM Customs & Revenue. In January they defaulted on a £600,000 VAT bill which was eventually paid by the club's benefactor and a property firm. Then in August they received an insolvency order, but that bill has now also been paid. The club's attempt to move from the County Ground to a new out-of-town stadium at the Shaw Forest Community site was rejected after public opposition. Boston have faced Swindon once before - in the LDV Vans Trophy in 2003. Boston won that game 2-1 with Adebayo Akinfenwa getting a last minute winner for the Pilgrims at York Street. The match is scheduled to be played on Saturday 5th November.

LDV Vans Draw

22 Oct Boston United have been drawn against Kidderminster Harriers at York Street in the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy. Kidderminster are currently in twelfth place in the Nationwide Conference. They beat Darlington 2-1 in the first round courtesy of goals by Wayne Hatswell and Gareth Sheldon after Darlington had taken the lead with a penalty by Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu. The match is scheduled to be played in the week commencing 21st November. It will provide a welcome return to Boston for former Pilgrim Lee Thompson who signed up with the Harriers after being released by Boston at the end of last season.

Evans in more hot water

10 Oct Boston United's manager is once again in trouble with the Football Association. He has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 - abusive and/or insulting words towards a Match Official during the match against Peterborough United on 1st October. He has until 21st October to respond. A similar charge last season resulted in a £750 fine and Evans had to sign a written undertaking as to his future conduct. The club were also fined £100,000 in 2002 for contractual irregularities during Evans first period in charge of the club.

Boston United have announced they will be appointing Steve Welsh as a coach - working with both the first team and the club's Centre of Excellence. Welsh has left his current job as manager of Unibond League side Spalding United to take up his new post. As a player the defender turned out for Peterborough United, Partick Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic, Ayr United and Lincoln City. He was born in Glasgow on 19/4/1968. The appointment comes after continued criticism of the coaching abilities of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor.

Major shareholder quits

5 Oct Nigel Clempson - the major shareholder in the Lavaflow consortium that owns Boston United FC - has resigned from both Lavaflow and the Board of Boston United. Chairman Jon Sotnick told the club's official web site: "I would like to convey my deepest thanks to Nigel Clempson who due to work commitments has made the decision to resign as a director of the football club. His own business has just been awarded a large contract, which means he will be unavailable for most Saturdays for the foreseeable future."

Futcher future

5 Oct Ben Futcher has been attracting interest from Yeovil Town and Rotherham United, both sides are considering taking the tall defender on-loan. Futcher has been left out of the last two starting line-ups - Paul Ellender and Alan White being preferred. He has scored two own goals this season.

Bow Street Magistrates Court

30 Sep Pat Malkinson, John Blackwell, Steve Evans, Brian James and Ian Lee all appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court this morning to hear a charge of conspiring to cheat the public revenue. The charges relate to the avoidance of payment of PAYE and National Insurance between 1997 and 2000. All five were ordered to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 13th January at 10 o'clock. All were unconditionally bailed until that date.

Another month for Ross

26 Sep Nineteen year old Ian Ross has extended his loan period with Boston United for a further month after impressing during his initial loan spell. The young Sheffield United midfielder has turned out six times for the Pilgrims since joining at the end of August, scoring one goal.

Pilgrim Panther in Grand National

26 Sep Boston United's mascot - the Pilgrim Panther - was one of the sixty of so mascots that enterered the annual "Mascot Grand National" at Huntingdon racecourse yesterday. The race - which has been run every year since 1999 - involves mascots from League and Non-League football clubs, as well as assorted charities, racing around a special course with six fences to produce one of the funniest sites to be seen on a racecourse. It was the first time the Boston United mascot had entered the race and after a slow start he finished in the middle of the pack - a very creditable performance by sixteen year old Stevie Owens in the Panther suit.

Taxing times

Back in the summer of 2002, Steve Evans and Pat Malkinson faced an FA Enquiry after being accused of variety of charges of contractual irregularities involving player contracts. Found guilty of all charges, Evans was fined £8000 and suspended for 20 months and Malkinson was fined £5250 and suspended for 13 months. Boston United Football Club were also found guilty of six breaches of FA rules and were fined £100,000 and docked four points from the commencement of the 2002/3 season - their first in the Football League. Steve Evans was reappointed as Boston United manager the day after his suspension period ended.

Forum protest

14 Sep Boston United chairman Jon Sotnick will be answering fans' questions about the proposed relocation of both Boston United and Boston Town football clubs at a Fans' Forum tonight. The event begins at 7.00pm at the Assembly Rooms in Boston Market Place. It is expected that many difficult questions will be asked about the controversial and complex planning application that was recently submitted to Boston Borough Council. Representatives from the Staffordshire based Mining and Waste Management consultants Wardell Armstrong, who helped with the planning application, will also be on hand to provide information.

Boston United have run up huge debts in getting promoted to the Football League and maintaining their position there. Mr Sotnick recently revealed that if any part of the planning application fails then Boston United will be wound up as the debts can only be paid from the profits to be made by relocating.

A protest against the proposed move of Boston Town from their current Tattershall Road ground to Wyberton attracted hundreds of people on Sunday. The local community favours using the land earmarked for Town's new ground as a children's play area and wild flower meadow rather than a football ground and clubhouse. It is a quiet community and that is the way they want it to stay.

County Cup Final

13 Sep The final of the Lincs Senior Cup between Boston United and Scunthorpe United has been scheduled for Wednesday 19th October at York Street, kick-off 7.45pm. Boston reached the final by beating Lincoln City 3-2 on penalties after the game had finished in a 3-3 draw. Scunthorpe beat Grimsby on penalties in the other semi-final after that had finished in a 0-0 draw.

Sportsfunds Sports Funds

12 Sep The Working Group for the Inception of Boston United Supporters' Trust will be raising questions related to the Lavaflow Consortium and the involvement of Sportsfunds (Boston) Limited, the owners of Boston Town FC's ground at the Fans' Forum which is due to be held at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday (14th September) at the rearranged venue of The Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Boston. The new forum will concentrate on issues relating to the proposed relocation of Boston United and Boston Town football clubs. Chairman Jon Sotnick, vice-chairman Nigel Clempson, director Jim Rodwell and representatives of planning consultants Wardell Armstrong will be present to answer questions. A forum on team issues will be held at a later date.

Holland out for six weeks

7 Sep Midfielder Chris Holland has been ruled out for up to six weeks following an operation to sort out a hernia on Wednesday morning. Holland was examined by Harley Street experts on Monday and was quickly booked in for the required operation. The operation was successful and will take between four and six weeks to fully heal.

Day trip by coach

6 Sep Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis, who was sacked last June for failing to exploit the foreign transfer market after taking the Potters to 12th place in the Championship, has attended a Boston United training session this morning. One of Steve Evans' many friends, Pulis has cast an eye over the players and has also recommended two potential first team coaches for the club.

Transfer deadline moves

31 Aug Gavin Johnson has left Boston United on transfer deadline day to join local League Two rivals Northampton Town. The 34 year old only joined Boston back in June - from Colchester United. He made four first team appearances for the club - one as a substitute. Coming the other way, striker Lawrie Dudfield has joined the Pilgrims from the Cobblers. Born on 7/5/1980 in London, Dudfield started his footballing career with Kettering Town, before joining Leicester City in 1998. Loan spells with Lincoln City and Chesterfield followed before he was snapped up for £250,000 by Hull City. He moved on to Northampton Town and then Southend United, before returning to the Cobblers this summer.

Striker Daryl Clare has also left the club to join Conference side Crawley Town for a five figure fee. Since returning to Boston United from Chester City last November he has failed to find the form that saw him become top scorer at the club in 2001/2. He has only scored 3 goals in 20 appearances in his second spell with the club. The club expects to sign two more players on-loan next week when the Football League loan-signings window reopens.

A matter of trust

28 Aug The first meeting of the feasibility study group for the inception of a Boston United Supporter's Trust was held on Saturday 27th August, 2005. This consisted of a small group of Boston United supporters discussing the possibility of setting up a Supporters' Trust in accordance with guidelines of the Supporters Direct organisation.

Supporters Direct is a government initiative, funded by public money, with offices in London and Glasgow. Their aim is to help people "who wish to play a responsible part in the life of the football club they support" and they offer support, advice and information to groups of football supporters. Supporters Direct exists to:

• Promote and support the concept of democratic supporter ownership and representation through mutual, not-for-profit structures
• Promote football clubs as civic and community institutions
• Work to preserve the competitive values of league football in the United Kingdom and promoting the health of the game as a whole

In order to promote and achieve this, they work to bring about the following objectives:

• The Formation of Supporters’ Trusts as IPSs to ensure democratic, transparent representative bodies for supporters at their clubs
• The democratic representation of Supporters’ Trusts on Football Club Boards
• The ownership of shares in clubs by Supporters’ Trusts and the pooling of individually held shares in a club under the influence of the Trust

To qualify for the assistance of Supporters Direct, supporters groups must be:-

• Democratic in their structures and in the way they run their affairs;
• Open to all fans to join, at an affordable cost; and
• Broadly representative of supporters.
• viable and sustainable as a group, and pursuing viable and sustainable objectives

Dale Allitt, the Chairman of the Boston United Supporters' Association (BUSA) was also invited to the meeting and attended. Dale provided the group with the history of previous attempts to establish such a Trust and provided an update to some of the issues regarding the possible relocation of Boston United.

The broad view of those present, was that it was felt, in principle, a football club like Boston United would be well served by having a Supporters' Trust although what form this trust would take, would need to be decided by all the fans of Boston United.

It was agreed to change the group's name to "The Working Group for the Inception of a Boston United Supporter's Trust".

It is difficult to be precise about the time scale for the formation of a supporters' trust for Boston United. A Supporters' Trust would need to have discussions with Supporters' Direct and take advice. Other stakeholders, and most importantly the fans and Boston United Football Club would need to be closely involved.

Consultation will also need to take place with The Football Association, The Football League, and The Football Foundation.

The group is aware that The Football Authorities are keen to welcome more female players into the sport, and are recommending that new facilities should include suitable changing facilities. The group needs to be cognisant of this, and see if the club's plans for redevelopment have reflected this.

BUSA is already in place and works very effectively as a Supporters' Association and has two representatives on the Board of Boston United.

BUSA also ticks all of the boxes in terms of the requirements of Supporters' Direct.

Therefore, it would seem sensible to ask BUSA if it would consider being the starting point for establishing a Supporters' Trust, although fans and BUSA members will need to support this idea.

Work will be ongoing into the feasibility of the Trust and at some future point fans will be consulted on their views and in identifying who would be willing to stand for election to the Trust.

The BUSA Committee has also kindly extended an invitation the members of The Working Group to attend its next Committee meeting at York Street on 6th September at 7pm. The invited speaker will be Mr Phil Tooley, Consultant to Supporters Direct (www.supporters-direct.org)

New loan signing

27 Aug Boston United have signed midfielder Ian Ross from Sheffield United on a month's loan. Ross scored the goal that knocked the Pilgrims out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. Ross goes straight into the squad for the game against Mansfield. Ross was born in Sheffield on 13/1/1986. The Carling Cup match against Boston was his first team debut. He joined the Blades at the age of 12 and went through their Academy. He signed up as a trainee with the Blades in July 2003.

Fans' Forum

26 Aug Boston United have announced that they will be holding a Fans' Forum next month. It will take place on Wednesday 14th September at the Haven High Technology College, Marian Road, Boston PE21 9HB, starting at 7pm. Club Chairman Jon Sotnick and other members of the Board and Management team will be available to answer fans' questions about the club, including the recently submitted planning application for relocating to a proposed new stadium at Boardsides.

Fans' Forum or against 'em?

Mark Isaac

22 Aug Long-time Boston United supporter Mark Isaac has issued a statement about the club's contraversial proposed move away from the York Street ground - which has been their home since the club's formation in 1933. The statement reads: "The recent sabre-rattling by Jon Sotnick, Chairman of Boston United, has concerned a significant number of supporters of the club. According to Jon Sotnick and the Lavaflow consortium, it is imperative that they receive planning permission for their ambitious plans to concrete over the York Street ground, and with the capital receipt from the sale, build a new out of town stadium and pay off all current creditors. However, despite many pleas by supporters for more detailed information of the plans, the costs and how much the club would need to borrow and over what period of time, very little has been forthcoming”. “The recent and rather precipitous announcement by the Chairman makes one wonder whether the Lavaflow consortium is getting cold feet about the amount of money it is investing in Boston United with still no sign of any return on the horizon”.

"Significantly supporters only found out very recently why there was a limitation on developing the York Street end of the ground owing to a mains sewer running through the car park. This information had been known by directors at Boston United for some time but noone had thought to share this with supporters".

Mr Isaac said he was quite simply astounded that Jon Sotnick hoped to get Boston United Supporters' Association (BUSA) to orchestrate a "Say Yes to Planning" campaign, when BUSA itself seems to be completely divided on the matter.

"I can empathise very strongly with Dale Allitt and the very difficult position he must be in presently. But if BUSA can't make up its mind, and it has a member on the Board of Boston United, how can we the supporters and the lifeblood of the club, possibly support the plans for relocation?".

"In my personal view the reluctance of Jon Sotnick to answer these important questions, and dispel the mistrust that some fans feel by revealing the composition of Lavaflow Ltd, is very disappointing".

"There have been numerous changes to the membership of Lavaflow Ltd and the timings seem curious. Work is therefore ongoing into listing the past and current membership and shareholdings of the Consortium, whom, we have been told by Jon Sotnick, are football-loving investors, just to make sure there are no more surprises around the corner".

Jon Sotnick has promised to hold a Fans' Forum at the club in the next few weeks so that supporters can discover his rationale for the proposed move. The planning application for the new out-of town stadium was submitted to Boston Borough Council last Thursday.

Jon Sotnick

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to object to the plans. Valid planning matters will vary with each application but may include:

• conservation of buildings and conservation of the natural environment
• trees and the landscape
• design, appearance and layout
• character of an area
• noise, disturbance and odour
• highway safety and traffic
• previous planning applications
• Unitary Development Plan policies
• Government guidance and legislation
• effect on living conditions, for example the effect on sunlight and daylight, privacy of neighbours and being overlooked
• whether the proposed development will have an overbearing effect on neighbouring properties
• what the building development will look like

Similarly, matters that are not usually valid planning objections include:

• issues covered by other legislation e.g. Licensing, Building Control, Health and Safety
• private property rights, for example boundary or access disputes
• the developer's morals, motivation or activities elsewhere
• perceived impact on property values
• competition between businesses

Boardsides or bust

17 Aug Club chairman Jon Sotnick has revealed to the Boston Standard that if the planning application for a new out-of-town stadium at Boardsides is turned down by Boston Borough Council, then the club will go out of business. The club is in debt to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to the tune of £1 million and hopes that a move from their current town-centre York Street ground will raise the money required to wipe out the debt. Sotnick also revealed that since his consortium took over the club in February 2004, it has been losing £200,000 per season. He expects that the corporate hospitality suites that are planned for the new stadium will generate sufficient extra income to cover these losses. The club will be submitting the planning application in the next 48 hours. The complex plans involve the relocation of Boston Town from their Tattershall Road ground to a new ground at Wyberton Low Road and housing developments at both York Streeet and Tattershall Road. The plans for the new stadium complex at Boardsides include a new hotel and restaurant. If the plans fail to get approval then the club will not be able to go into administration as it has no assets to administer.

Soon to be demolished?

New Boston United web site

2 Aug The Boston Standard has launched a new Boston United website called Pilgrims Today. The new site supplements the newspaper's coverage of Boston United with additional news stories, match previews, match reports and a column written by Chris Holland. You can visit Pilgrims Today via links on the Boston Standard web site.

Leeds match off

28 July Tonight's friendly match against Leeds United has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at York Street.

Leicester game to be re-re-rearranged!

24 July Following the decision of Inter Milan to stick with their tour of England, this now means that Leicester CIty are no longer free to play Boston United on Monday night. The match will be rearranged for a later date.

Leicester game moved again!

24 July Following the withdrawal of Inter Milan from their tour of England, this now means that Leicester CIty no longer have a fixture on Monday 25th July. They have therefore decided to play the pre-season friendly at Boston on this free date. The kick-off on Monday night will be at 7:30pm. The game had originally been scheduled for Sunday 24th, but was temporarily switched to Monday 1st August due to player unavailability at Leicester.

Sunday's game off

22 July The friendly match at York Street with Championship side Leicester City scheduled for this Sunday (24th July) has been called off. Leicester City requested the postponement as they have a number of players unavailable for the match. The game has been rearranged for Monday 1st August, kick off at 7:30pm. The fixture was being promoted as part of a double header Midlands weekend festival of football at York Street as Nottingham Forest are due to visit on Saturday afternoon. The Forest fixture is unaffected and special combined "double header" tickets will still be valid for both matches. Anyone with a double header ticket who cannot make the rearranged Leicester game should contact the club ticket office (01205 364406).

Grantham game off

20 July The friendly match between Grantham and Boston United reserves scheduled for this Friday (22nd July) has been called off. The match clashed with a coaching session that was to be attended by many of the youth team players. Manager Steve Evans has promised to send over his first team to play at Grantham early in the new season instead.

Joachim comes home

4 July Leeds United striker Julian Joachim has agreed to join Boston United on a two year contract. Just a week ago, the 30 year old had been told by Leeds United manager Kevin Blackwell that he still had a part to play at the club, despite only making 13 first team starts since joining from Coventry City last summer. After finishing the season with a highly successful loan period with Coca-Cola League One side Walsall - where he found the net 6 times in 8 appearances, Joachim expressed a desire for regular first team football. It was that desire that led him to agree to sign up for the club in the town where he spent his schooldays. He began his footballing career in the youth team of Boston FC, but was soon spotted by Leicester City where he signed up as a trainee. After scoring 31 goals in 92 starts for Leicester a £1.5 million transfer to Aston Villa beckoned in February 1996. In the summer of 2001 he joined Coventry City in a swap deal that saw African Player of the Year Mustapha Hadji heading for Villa Park. After three seasons with Coventry he joined Leeds United on a free transfer. Overall he has scored 83 goals in 331 League appearances. He was born in Peterborough on 20/9/1974.

Boston United's Coca-Cola League Two match at Macclesfield Town has been moved from Saturday 3rd September to Sunday 4th September to avoid a clash with England's World Cup qualifying match against Wales on the Saturday. The kick-off time on the Sunday will be 3.00pm.

Carling Cup draw

28 June The draw for the first round of the Carling Cup was made at 7.00am this morning. Boston United were in the Northern Section and have been drawn away against Coca Cola Championship side Sheffield United. The match is due to take place on Tuesday 23rd August. The last time the two clubs met in a competitive match was back in 1982 when the Blades won 5-1 in a second round replay in the FA Cup. They first met in the inaugural Mather Cup match in 1947 which Boston won 3-2.

Another summer signing

27 June Boston United have continued their close season signings by adding midfielder Stuart Talbot from Brentford to their squad. The 33 year old signed a two year deal with the club this morning after requesting a free transfer from the Bees at the end of last season. Born in Birmingham on 14/6/73, he began his footballing career with Moor Green, helping the Beazer Homes League side win the Midland Floodlit Cup. A move into the Football League to Port Vale followed in 1994. After six seasons with the "Valiants" he joined Rotherham United in July 2000 and he had three seasons with them before having a loan spell with Shrewsbury and then a free transfer to Brentford in February 2004. He was team captain last season and saw the "Bees" reach the League One play-offs, only to be beaten in the semi-final by Sheffield Wednesday. Overall he has made 308 League appearances, scoring 23 goals. His desire to move closer to his family prompted his request for a transfer.

The season starts here

23 June The Coca-Cola League fixtures for 2005/6 were released at 10:00am this morning and they give Boston United a trip to newly relegated Wrexham on the opening day of the season on Saturday 6th August. The first home game for the Pilgrims will be against Shrewsbury Town the following Wednesday. The season finishes on Saturday 6th May at Torquay United. Over the Christmas period Boston United face Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on Boxing Day and they host Carlisle United at York Street on 28th December. The home match against Lincoln is scheduled for 18th March. In another local derby, for the first time since the late 50s Boston United come up against Peterborough United. The home game against the Posh is on 1st October, while the Pilgrims visit their London Road ground on 15th April.

The Lincs County Cup match against Lincoln City has been confirmed as being held on Saturday 30th July at Sincil Bank, kick-off at midday.

The draw for the Carling Cup first round takes place on Tuesday 28th June. The 72 clubs in the Football League have been allocated to Northern and Southern sections which are split into seeded and unseeded teams. When the draw is made for each regional section seeded teams will be drawn against unseeded teams. Boston United are an unseeded team in the Northern section. The seeded teams in the Northern section are: Derby County, Preston North End, Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City, Burnley, Leeds United, Leicester City, Crewe Alexandra, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers, Hartlepool United, Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City. The first round matches are scheduled for the week commencing August 22nd.

Torquay defender signs

7 June Boston United have continued their summer signing spree by getting the signature of defender Lee Canoville on a two year contract. The 24 year old began his footballing career as a trainee with Millwall. He joined Arsenal in 1997, making a single appearance from the substitutes' bench before moving on to Northampton Town. For the last four seasons he has been with Torquay United. He was born on 14/3/1981 in Ealing.

Ben Futcher becomes a Pilgrim

7 June Boston United have snapped up tall (6'7") centre half Ben Futcher from local rivals Lincoln City. The 24 year old has signed a two year deal with the Pilgrims. He has previously played for Oldham Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic and Doncaster Rovers. He has been a key member of the Lincoln City squad that has made the end of season play-offs for the last three seasons. He was born on 4/6/1981 in Bradford.

Noel Whelan leads summer signings

6 June Boston United's first signing of the summer is former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan - who joins the club on a two year deal after being released by Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen. The 30 year old had 23 starts for Aberdeen last season, picking up five goals and seven yellow cards. Born on 30/12/1974 in Leeds, he started his footballing career with Leeds United before moving on to Coventry City in a £2 million pound deal. A further £2 million pound transfer to Middlesbrough followed before spells with Crystal Palace, Millwall and Derby County. He joined Aberdeen at the start of last season on a free transfer.

Gavin Johnson has also signed up with the Pilgrims after failing to win an acceptable deal with Colchester United. After scoring ten goals for Colchester last season he was offered a six month contract for the coming season, but he turned it down to join Boston United. Born on 10/10/1970 in Stowmarket, he has previously played for Ipswich Town, Luton Town, Wigan Athletic and Dunfermline Athletic.

More signings are expected to be revealed in the next few days.

Full pre-season schedule

17 May Boston United have announced their pre-season schedule. It begins with an away game at Boston Town on 9th July and concludes with a trip to Alfreton on 2nd August. The highlights are home games against Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. The full schedule is as follows:

Sat 9th July Boston Town (A) 2.00pm
Wed 13th July Braintree Town (A) 7.45pm
Sat 16th July Ipswich Town (H) 3.00pm
Sat 23rd July Nottingham Forest (H) 3.00pm
Sun 24th July Leicester City (H) 3.00 pm
Thu 28th July Leeds United (H) 7.45pm
Mon 1st August Stamford AFC (A) 7.30pm
Tue 2nd August Alfreton Town (A) 7.30pm

In addition three games have been arranged for Boston United's reserve side:

Tue 19th July Sleaford Town (A) 7.30pm
Fri 22nd July Grantham Town (A) 7.30pm
Fri 29th July Holbeach United (A) 7.30p