As we continue to celebrate our 60th anniversary season, Carl Smaller is the latest ex-player to reflect on some of the highlights of his time with our club.
Carl played a key role in our famous run to the FA Vase semi-finals in 1993-94 and also the side that won the United Counties League title the following season. His remarkable 49 goals in a season was a club record until it was bettered by Gary Bull in 2006-07.
What was your most memorable match playing for the club?
I’ve split all these answers between the 2 teams I feel I played with – the FA Vase team and the league-winning team.
So the 5-5 vase qualifier away at Fakenham. The game went to extra time and the side was kind of thrown together when Bob took over from Percy Freeman. There is not one single person who could have predicted what a journey this would be after that game. I can’t remember exactly, but I think we might have been 5-3 down at one stage.
There are many games that stick in my mind from the title winning season – clearly the away game at Mirlees Blackstone when we clinched the title on the last day of the season with a 3-0 victory. It was 0-0 at half-time and Chris Grocock had missed a penalty. We pressed on in the second half – I think I got one, then Richard Shaw and I can’t even remember who got the other! (Editor’s note – it was Carl!) Another game that season was Raunds at home – who pushed us all the way. For 70 minutes we were brilliant and 3-0 up. Then Raunds came back at us and scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to force a draw and take it to the last game of season.
Who was the best player you played with at Boston?
Best player is an impossible question. In the Vase side we found a great spine: Derrick Nuttell and Pat Clarke at the back, Lee Cooper, Nick Roddis and Shaun Walker in midfield and Fred McDonnell and I up front – we had a great spirit in the side. It broke up after that season and the league-winning side probably had the same spirit, but more consistency. We were probably better out wide with Chris Grocock and Shaun Hawkey. Simon Dunlop replaced Nick Roddis in midfield and Lee Rippin replaced Derrick Nuttell alongside Pat Clarke. We played some great football that season with goals from several players and no question we were the best footballing side in the league that season.
Any other favourite moments off the pitch?
There were a few that we probably shouldn’t put in print! As a large contingent coming from Grimsby, there was the time when Stigo Stephenson missed a bend on the way to training and wrapped his car through a tree and into a field! Or the title celebration evening in Boston when many of us stayed over in a hotel. I recall myself, Shaun Walker and Pat Clarke bursting into Lee Hudson’s room to find him in the bath with his missus – he took it well to be fair!
60 years: Sheffield connection part 1
60 years: Sheffield connection part 2
More news about our 60th anniversary
You can buy our most recent book ‘To Be A Poacher’ online for only £15 plus postage
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