I’ve already typed up my season review, but after Josh’s “Best and Worst” format was laid out for us to read, I couldn’t resist but create something around that kind of template, myself. To ensure it differs from the review (otherwise it’ll come across as a bit of a ‘fun’ repetition) I’ve put a strange twist on this, with 2 or 3 headings that you perhaps wouldn’t expect to come across. Oh, and this is just based around the best moments, none of the worst (I like to kid people that I’m an eternal optimist). So, without further ado, here we go…
– Home Game
This is difficult due to the fact that I’ve seen so many teams at home this season, due to my scouting adventures and the fact I’ve covered Carlton Town a few times at home. To be honest, I think this will have to be a two-way split between Carlton 5-0 Romulus and Carlton 6-2 Rainworth MW (as Carlton were unofficially the home side in that game).
We’d been on the back of a horror run over the period running upto and including the Christmas period at Stoke Lane and indeed away from home – take a look at our form over that period, below.
| Away | 23/11/13 | Chasetown | Brothwell | 1-2 |
| Away | 07/12/13 | Bedworth United | 0-2 | |
| Away | 10/12/13 | Newcastle Town | 0-2 | |
| Home | 14/12/13 | Brigg Town | Wiggins-Thomas | 1-2 |
| Home | 21/12/13 | Kidsgrove Athletic | 0-1 | |
| Home | 26/12/12 | Rainworth Miners Welfare | Brindley | 1-1 |
Following that shocking run of form that assisted our slip from 3rd place to the brink of the play off places, we welcomed Romulus to The Bill and produced a simply breathtaking display that saw Reuben Wiggins-Thomas notch a hat-trick, two of the goals a minute apart (78 and 79), preceded by a Sam MacVicar header on 76 minutes. It was a stylish way to end such a barren and now lamentable run of form. Special praise was also heaped onto young goalkeeper Jonathon Viscosi, who excelled throughout the remainder of the season.
The 6-2 victory against Rainworth in the Senior Cup final will forever stick in my memory, but a mention must also go to Boston United v North Ferriby at home too, for so many different reasons, all of which are outlined further down.
– Away Game
Again, this is a tough one, but I’ll have to go with Southport v Boston in the FA Trophy. The 25-stop train journey from Liverpool South Parkway was excruciating, the walk to the ground was easy but felt longer than an Alastair Cook century. Once there, however, it was a day to remember. I think a lot of us were confident of beating our opponents on the day, but that expectation still did nothing to calm the jubiliation that ensued once Carl Piergianni headed us in front in the tie. Only about 90 of us travelled, but that was my second Boston away game and a truly memorable one.
It’d be wrong to pass over to the next category without leaving a mention for Tamworth, Worcester/Kidderminster (for the atmosphere) and Barrow too.
– Food
Kidderminster, hands down. I’d heard that the cottage pies were good but I wasn’t expecting the mesmerising undulation of flavour I experienced that day. Top marks, Kiddie. You’ve done well!
Second place does, of course, go to Carlton Town for the sausage cobs/baps/rolls/whatever you want to call them.
– Programme
I can’t pick Boston for this (my own rule) so I’ll have to go with Barrow. A genuinely interesting read, with in-depth sections on the youth team, columns from various members of staff at the club and even a sly, little dig at Boston. I sincerely hope they enjoyed the late comeback we provided for them in response. A typical Boston United present this season.
– Club Visited As A Neutral
Turnstiles at The Silverlands
Buxton, hands-down. Friendliest club I’ve had the pleasure of visiting and it was great to see Matt Thornhill play again. The Silverlands is a beautiful little ground with great scenery from the main stand. A ground worth admiring once you’ve battled your way up the hill to get there. Probably my 3rd favourite non-league club (after Boston and Carlton, obviously). The food was decent, the fans are all too happy to join in conversation with you and their squad, on the whole, is very likeable. They’re definitely a club I’ll make a point of visiting again next season. Special mention to the staff and John Yates, the former Safety Officer there – top man!
– Ground
Inside The Silverlands
It’s a toss-up between The Silverlands and… no, sod it, it’s The Silverlands. I bloody love the place. I love the character of it, I love the scenery you get from the main stand, I love the fact you have to fight with all the power in your legs to get to it, I love that it was absolutely freezing there, I also love that the train journey is easy, but I hate myself for not getting a picture once the mist arrived and the skies got darker. That’ll have to be something I rectify next season!
– Reaction From A Train Station Employee
Yeah, I’ve had a couple…
Trying to get to Marine v FC United
Me: ‘Return to Blundellsands and Crosby please.’
Girl behind the counter: *silence* ‘Where?’
Me: ‘Blundellsands & Crosby…’
Girl: ‘ Where the hell is that?’
Going to Boston United v North Ferriby
Me: ‘Return to Boston via Derby please.’
Girl behind the counter: ‘That’s thirty-sev…
Me: ‘No it’s not. £23.40?’
Girl: *blank look* ‘ Oh, so it is… that’s scandalous that you can save £14 just by splitting! They should work it out by distance.’
The split to Boston via Derby
– (Most) Satisfying Win
North Ferriby at home. Why? Because in the end, it condemned them to the play offs, rather than all but securing the title. Also, because it ALWAYS feels good to beat a team… no, club that you dislike. I have a real problem with little village teams who won’t break even at the end of the season, but don’t mind because they’re bankrolled by a plastic fool.
The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic in the Town End that day and the scenes following Jamie McGhee’s opening goal were something else altogether. A huge wall of noise surrounded me! One minute I was jumping up in the air with sheer joy and relief, the next I was almost laying down at the back of the stand with people piling on top of me, the next I found myself impaled against a crush barrier. Absolutely wild celebrations born out of a genuine hatred for how money has affected the game in general, and now the non-league system. It was one of those goals similar to Rob Earnshaw’s vs. Blackpool in the 2nd play off semi-final 2009/10. The ball dropped kindly and he put his body and soul behind it, absolutely hammering it into the roof of the net, sparking the aforementioned celebrations I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
I found myself thinking ‘THAT is why I support Boston United.’
On the pitch following the 2-0 win over North Ferriby
Special Mention
As this season has been such a special one for me personally, it goes without saying that I do have something/someone to thank. I oddly owe it to one particular club though, and it’s not Boston or Carlton…
– MSV Duisburg
For being a BIG reason as to why I got back into football after temporarily losing affection for the game. MSV have never won a major trophy and fell on hard times in the last year or so. They survived the threat of relegation on the final day of the 2012/13 season and then spent all summer fighting to somehow generate the funds to obtain a Bundesliga license. Ultimately, they failed and they were relegated to 3.Liga, much to the joy of Sandhausen who were given a reprieve.
Pictures came onto my news feed of this ‘little’ club from North Rhine-Westphalia drawing hoards of people to their cause. Fans of Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, FC Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf and many other clubs took part in the fan march through the city of Duisburg in protest against the possible relegation of MSV. That spoke volumes to me and I began to follow their fortunes closely. Their attendances haven’t differed so much from the 2012/13 campaign and they have the second highest average gate in 3.Liga. Second only to the bankrolled poison club that is RP Leipzig (I still despise them).
I may not pay as much attention to Duisburg as I did at the start of the season (or as much as I probably should do), but I do still plan to visit at least once and I owe this season to them. All the best!
MSV Duisburg v Rot-Weiss Essen
Thanks for reading
Nick
Under The Floodlights 