York Street, currently known as the Jakemans Stadium for sponsorship reasons, has hosted football in Boston since the late 1800s.
Boston’s first ‘giant killing’ came in the second round of the FA Cup in 1925, when they defeated then football league side Bradford Park Avenue 1-0.
Though football was played in Boston long before, “Boston United” was only formed in 1933, to take the place of Boston FC in the Midland League. The previous club’s owners had chosen to wind up the club, as it was no longer financially viable.
They are nicknamed ‘The Pilgrims’.
Boston United recorded the biggest ever win for a Non-League side away at a Football League club, when they beat Derby County an amazing 6-1 at their former home, the Baseball Ground, in the second round of the FA Cup in 1955.
Over 9000 people watched Boston’s home game against Corby Town, the first-time floodlights were used at York Street, also in 1955.
After financial troubles, Boston United were refused re-entry into the Midland League in 1967, and so ended up being an eastern club playing in the West Midlands League. They won the title both seasons they competed, and the league cup in the second season.
1968 saw Boston become founder members of the newly created Northern Premier League, and they would go on a remarkable run throughout the late sixties and early seventies, including four Northern Premier League titles, several cups, and records set including a remarkable 51-match unbeaten run in the league, home and away.
Boston United were a Football League club from 2002-2007.
After relegation in 2007, the club were demoted not one but two leagues, to the Blue Square North, after they entered a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
