As Boston Town celebrate their diamond jubilee in 2024, Simon Ashberry looks back at the momentous events of 60 years ago that led to the club being formed.
The mood among football fans in Boston was very gloomy in the first half of 1964.
Boston United were the only senior club in the town but their fortunes had nosedived both on and off the pitch.
In the late 1950s, United had been one of the leading sides in the powerful Midland League. In 1955-56, they’d had their famous 6-1 FA Cup giantkilling against Derby County. But over the next few years the club went into decline.
By the summer of 1964, supporters were very frustrated – and yet Ernest Malkinson, who had become Boston United chairman 3 decades earlier, seemed unwilling to accept offers of help.
Lincolnshire Standard reporter Wilf Berry said United were in serious financial trouble, needing gates of at least 3,000 to survive rather than the average they were getting of between 800 and 1,000.
At United’s AGM on 4 June 1964, Councillor Bill Stanwell – who would later become Boston FC chairman – offered a helping hand to Ernie and his brother Sydney.
“Let’s help Mr Malkinson. Let’s help Boston United and let’s help the supporters,” he told the meeting.
But his proposal of a meeting between the Malkinson brothers and a group of businessmen who wanted get the club’s finances back on tracks was rejected.
United then revealed they would not be playing in the Midland League the following season and had instead applied for the lowly Lincolnshire League.
Supporters were aghast – and the seeds had been sown for a new club to be born.
*Watch out for part 2 in the coming days*
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