When Boston United could play their first match at new stadium

In this article, we take a look a when National League North club Boston United could play their first match at their new stadium.

The Pilgrims are set to return to football for the first time for a little while now after members of their squad contracted coronavirus.

After two weeks without a match, manager Craig Elliott wants ‘no excuses and no moping’ as his side prepare to face AFC Telford United.

 

 

 

 

 

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Players and staff have been forced to stay at home for a fortnight following positive tests in the camp, which also saw the squad withdraw from the FA Cup and postpone their scheduled league contest against Guiseley.

Boston have only played out one league match so far, that was a 4-0 win against Leamington, and despite only playing one fixture, they sit 10th in the table whilst other sides around them have played a game or two more over them.

Last Saturday’s league encounter against Bradford Park Avenue was also postponed as the Yorkshire club also had COVID cases.

United are back in training ahead of this weekend’s game, which could end up being the penultimate fixture played at Gainsborough with a move to the new Community Stadium (aka The Quadrant) edging ever closer.

The Pilgrims’ re-arranged fixture against Guiseley will take place this upcoming Tuesday and with that encounter being followed by away matches at Southport and Bradford Park Avenue, United could look to move into their new home ahead of their subsequent home clash, which is currently scheduled for the 17th of November against Kettering Town.

OCTOBER
Saturday October 24: AFC Telford United (H)
Tuesday October 27: Guiseley (H)
Saturday October 31: Southport (A)

NOVEMBER
Monday November 2: Bradford (Park Avenue) (A)
Tuesday November 10: Darlington (A)
Saturday November 14: AFC Fylde (A)
Tuesday November 17: Kettering Town (H)
Saturday November 21: Spennymoor Town (H)
Saturday November 28: Blyth Spartans (A)

Elliott said prior to Saturday’s fixture: “I have said to the players, we have to prepare ourselves for things we’ve never experienced befor.

“I messaged them this week explaining that this was exactly what I was talking about, there’ll be things out of our control and what we have got to do is not use things as excuses.

“This last fortnight, players have been sat at home doing nothing and it’s going to be difficult coming back and hitting the ground running again.

“We have to. There’s no moping around or using this as an excuse, we have to get on with it.”

Elliott says all is good including mood since players and staff were asked to isolate following the positive test after the opening day win at Leamington.

“It’s all pretty positive. I spoke to ever player, I phoned them all up (on Friday) and obviously some were still feeling a little unwell.

“I’m making sure they’re alright and the other lads are feeling well as well.

“You want to get on and carry on the form but its difficult to keep that motivation when you can’t do anything.

“But now fixtures have been re-arranged and you can see a clear path and we can start training again we can get our head on it a bit more more.”

Elliott is also counting on his senior players to help keep the youngster squad focused.

He added: “I spoke to a lot of leaders in the team.

“These players, I said to them, we’ve just got to keep sending the positive messages into the camp, saying there’s no time to dwell on things and overthinking things. Football stops for nobody. That’s what we’ve got to do, move forwards.”

There has been plenty of reaction to when Boston United could play their first match at new stadium…

Rick Thompson: Wait till you see the new pilgrim lounge 

James Nobby Harmer: Rick Thompson hoping won’t be long before I can get back behind the bar

John Topley: Looking good trying the floodlights yesterday

James Stuart: The stadium is looking awesome

Jeff Bush: Who needs the premier league with facilities like this been built for us to enjoy

Josh Butler: Look better with the corners filled in down that side

James Broughton: The stadium will never even start being built. In it for the land, this lot. All these pictures are a conspiracy.

Mick Lawson: James Broughton totally agree mate these pictures are just of a model not the real thing that’s never going to happen that’s the real reason we’re not aloud to go to matches we haven’t got a stadium to play in. By the time the government let us go again Dave Newton will have done a runner lol. Sorry I had to join in it pisses me off as much as you by the sound of it that people can’t believe Dave Newton is actually doing what he promised

Stephen Cornwell: Great to see it progressing further

Jason Lee: Very impressive, shame they had to leave York Street but a move was definitely needed imo. This new one looks class, the way it’s laid out, the design etc, fair play to them, just one day I hope to see them back in the English Football League!