Two of the Goole-based players who were part of Boston FC’s early days in the Midland League share their memories of that era.
Defender Steve Foster played a big part in Boston FC’s famous FA Cup of 1970.
What was your most memorable match playing for the club?
It was the FA Cup match v Boston United in 1970, with a record crowd in. The people of Boston FC got right behind us and we all gave our best.
Any other favourite moments off the pitch?
Playing a double header in January and staying over at supporters’ houses, having Sunday dinner at the mascots’ mums (lovely people). On the Saturday night we went to the Pineapple Club. John Whiteley had his raincoat taken as there were some Navy lads in, they must have mistaken the coats, so we had to go on the minesweeper to change it. We had a great time going to the ground and playing in the snow in the morning. Great memories and the people of Boston were very friendly.
Who was the best player you played with at Boston?
1970 John Powell
1971 Brian Clifton
Geoff Welham scored a vital goal that kept Boston FC alive in the 1970 FA Cup run.
What was your most memorable match playing for the club?
The match v Boston United in 1970, but also the qualifying round against Spalding when I was booed off by the home supporters for bundling the ball and the keeper into the net and the ref allowed it to stand.
Any other favourite moments off the pitch?
Sharing the company of Steve Foster, John Whiteley and John Brooks on and off the pitch as we drove to the games in the same car together in 1970.
Who was the best player you played with at Boston?
John Powell
Editor’s note: Sadly, John Whiteley, who was FC’s goalkeeper for the FA Cup tie against Boston United, died earlier this year – you can read tributes to him here. Also, Steve’s memory is not playing tricks on him – Boston FC did play a ‘double header’ over the first weekend of 1971 – first losing 1-0 to Grantham in the league on Saturday 2 January and then drawing 1-1 after extra time with Spalding in a county cup replay 24 hours later.
Remember, there were no penalty shootouts in those days so we then had to play a second replay against Spalding a few weeks later. And bear in mind we’d also played 2 FA Cup ties against the Tulips (the original game plus a replay) in October, so we managed to play them 5 times in all that season even though we weren’t even in the same league!
- If you’re an ex-player and would like to contribute your memories to our 60th anniversary archive, do get in touch. You can email club historian Simon Ashberry using this address: sashberry@hotmail.com
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