Boston United will host an in-form FC Halifax Town in the Vanarama National League North with the Shaymen looking to continue their fine form. Billy Heath’s men will go to Boston with five wins on the bounce under their belt and with Boston having failed to win a match in three games, Halifax should be going into this game full of confidence.
The club have had a few players in common over the years, and we take a look at some of the names who have graced both the MBi Shay Stadium and the Jakemans Stadium.
Kicking off with current Halifax Town man Scott Garner. The centre-back has been a stalwart at the back so far this season for the Shaymen with impressive and consistent performances making sure he is always a feature of Heath’s team sheet. However, Garner made his name at Boston United. Originally joining the Pilgrims on loan from Cambridge United in 2013, Garner impressed and joined permanently the next year.
Proving to be one of the best defenders in the League, Garner went on to make over 100 appearances in the Vanarama National League North over his three-year stint with Boston, before he left in the summer of 2016 to join FC Halifax Town.
A man who may have been brought in to fill the void that Scott Garner’s departure left in the centre of Boston’s defence is Nat Brown. Halifax fans may remember him for his short loan spell with the club last season, where he went on to make a hand full of appearances in the Vanarama National League.
Having started off his career brightly with Huddersfield Town, even going onto to make over 80 appearances for the now Championship team, Brown was released in 2005 and subsequently dropped down the divisions. At the age of 35 and with two appearances in Football League 2 play-offs under his belt, Brown is sure to add some experience to Boston’s backline.
Finally, the last man we look at who linked both Boston and Halifax is much travelled and revered manager, Jim Smith. Well known these day’s for his antics as a manager, in his playing days Smith made over 100 appearances for both Halifax Town and Boston United, going onto to manage the latter.
A glittering managerial career followed including getting teams like Birmingham and Oxford promoted to the first division, seeing Derby promoted to the newly founded Premier League in 1995 and reaching a League Cup final with QPR.
Smith was also the manager who sanctioned the first £1 million sale of a British player, allowing Trevor Francis to join Nottingham Forest.
An icon of English football league management, fans of both Halifax Town and Boston United should never forget that their team is on Smith’s impressive CV.
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