Boston United Football Club -The Pilgrims

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Boston United Football Club History

2006-07 Season

23rd, relegated from League Two
League Cup: 1st round; Brighton & Hove Albion a. 0-1
FA Cup: 1st round; Bournemouth a. 0-4
JP Trophy: 1st round; Brighton & Hove Albion a. 0-2

Highlight:
4-0 win over Wrexham, 9/12/06

Low Spot:
0-6 home defeat to Grimsby Town, 3/2/07

Good:
Paul Ellender
Reliable defender who kept up a good level of performance while things got pretty shambolic around him.
Andy Marriott
Experienced keeper who was kept busy as the Pilgrims hit quicksand. Stood up to the test well.

In Brief:
This was a desperate season for Boston which culminated in them dropping not one but two divisions' as years of financial mismanagement came home to roost.
5 defeats in the first 6 games gave an indication of the troubles ahead and although a good run from early December in which 13 points were gained in 7 games raised hopes the next 9 games realised just a single point.
As things got desperate the club managed to grind out a handful of victories but these were not enough in the final reckoning as defeat at Wrexham on the final day confirmed relegation.
With minutes to go in that final game the club placed itself into administration to incur the 10 point penalty this season rather than next so they will start 2007-08 with a clean slate albeit in the Conference North.
There was no consolation in the cup competitions either. Three thankless trips to the south coast brought three defeats and no goals.
It's hard to feel any sympathy for the club given the way it has been run in the past but hopefully it can now move forward again having suffered enough for past sins.

Boston United Football Club was formed in 1934 although football had been played on the ground they would use from the late 1800's on.

The newly formed club simply took over from Boston FC in the Midland League.

The Pilgrims shot to prominence in 1955-56 by reaching the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

After beating Northwich in the 1st round the club was drawn away at Derby County.

Boston's player manager, Ray Middleton, was an ex Ram and so were several of his team. The old boys went back to the Baseball Ground and overwhelmed their former employer, storming to an astonishing 6-1 victory.

Their prize was a trip to Tottenham in the 3rd round and there was no disgrace in a 4-0 defeat.

The 1970's saw Boston enjoy a fine spell as they were Northern Premier League champions on four occasions and they also made it through to the FA Cup 3rd round twice more.

In 1972 The Pilgrims lost 1-0 at home to Portsmouth and in 1974 they were again drawn away from home at Derby.

The side battled gamely to a goalless draw at the Baseball Ground but then took a 6-1 pasting in the replay as the Rams gained belated revenge for 1956.

During this spell Boston came under the control of Howard Wilkinson.

Boston reached the final of the FA Trophy in 1985 only to lose 2-1 to Wealdstone at Wembley.

The club climbed into the Football League in 2002 after winning the Conference on goal difference from Dagenham and Redbridge, clinching promotion with a 2-0 win at Hayes on the final day of the season.

The Pilgrims have managed three seasons of mid table safety in the Football League so far.

One bizarre club record is the highest attendance which stands at 10,086 for a friendly against Corby Town in 1955. The novelty of floodlighting was apparently the big attraction.

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