Notts County Reserves 1-3 Boston United

Midland League

7th September 1933


After Boston United rose phoenix like from the flames of the bankrupt Boston FC in 1933, it took them a few matches to record their first win. They began their first ever season with two home games, the first was a Lincolnshire League match against Grimsby Town Reserves that they lost 1-3 and the second was a Midland League match against Scunthorpe United that they lost 0-2.

Their first away match involved a trip to Nottingham to play Notts County Reserves in the Midland League on a Thursday evening. They almost never made it as just outside Sleaford the team bus they had commissioned broke down leaving them stranded. But three passing cars were eventually commandeered and they were able to get to Sleaford where a Lincs Road Car bus was engaged and the team arrived in Nottingham just in time for the game.

Boston had two amateur players on trial in their side - Briggs and Turner who had been playing for Waddington near Lincoln. Boston would try out lots of players during the season. In all 44 different players would be used, quite a substantial number when you consider that unlike today, no substitutes were allowed during matches. Scotland seemed to be a good source of players - Buchanan arrived from Albion Rovers, having previously turned out for Glasgow Celtic; and Bill Devlin, born in Bellshill, joined from Cowdenbeath having previously played for Heart of Midlothian, Liverpool, Huddersfield Town and Clyde. Boston even had a Northern Ireland international in their squad. Pat McConnell, who had played in the international against England a year earlier in 1932, was signed up from Southport.

Boston began the match playing into the sun and against a stiff breeze. After ten minutes they took the lead when BLESSED broke away and scored a fine goal. Ten minutes later Notts County equalised when Boston defender Charles BLAKEY put the ball into his own net. The home side kept pressing, but the Boston defence kept pushing them back. Langley in particular made some great goal-line clearances. The Notts County forwards just couldn't finish in front of goal. A mis-hit back pass by the Notts County centre-half almost let Boston regain the lead when it ballooned high over the County keeper, who made a great leap to protect his goal. The ball then came out to Briggs who picked out George PORDHAM who made no mistake. In the second half, clever work by Langley once again resulted in a goal line clearance to deny County an equaliser. The final goal came ten minutes from the end. Billy Marshall got the ball and ran right through the defence. His powerful shot was too hot for the keeper to hold and it came back to MARSHALL who gave the keeper no chance with his second effort. Boston held out for the remaining minutes and thus recorded their first ever win.

It turned out to be a rollercoaster of a season. December saw six games and six wins. In January all four matches ended in defeat. Indeed the first win of 1934 didn't arrive until 24th March when Gainsborough Trinity were beaten 5-1. Only two weeks earlier Boston had been thrashed 12-0 at Bradford Park Avenue Reserves. A friendly game against Sheffield Wednesday on 12th April ended in a 4-2 victory for Boston in front of a crowd of just 1929. The first season ended with Boston United in 14th place in the 17 team Midland League. Top marksman was local lad George Pordham from Swineshead, who scored 32 goals in all.

Boston Utd: Cook, Langley, Blakey, Skull, Buchanan, Blackham, Turner, Pordham, Briggs, Blessed, Marshall.


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