Right, we’re nearly there. Just two more of these to go before ToD can return to a well-deserved slumber for about two years. In the penultimate season recap, Scott Burrell – @scottbufc over on Twitter, go give him a follow! – takes us through his highlights of the season and how he thinks Boston United can flourish in the National League North next season. And, yes, it’s another vote for Shane Byrne as player of the season. It’s almost like there’s a pattern emerging here. Anyway – take it away, Scott!
My favourite moment of the season was…
I suppose it has to be one of the play-off games, the season didn’t really come alive until then. Notable shouts for Brackley away – decent away following and a very surprise win/performance. Kettering away – 2-0 down but somehow came back to win 3-2. York home – big away following for midweek and nice to turn them over. I’ll have to go for Kiddy away in the play-offs though. I met a good friend of mine Matt Dixon (owner of the fantastic Deliverance Escape Rooms in Lincoln, ideal summer activity for anybody looking to fill the football void and support a small business owned by a fellow Pilgrim!) at Leicester and we travelled together, I said I expected a 3-0 loss or something similar so to come away with the win and not really fluke it but to fully deserve it must be the moment of the season for me!
My player of the season was…
Shane Byrne. Got my votes in the player of the season comps. Almost certainly our best technical player, can pick a pass, deliver a set-piece and is very much what youngsters would describe as a ‘baller’. Notable mentions for Shiels, Burrow, Elliott and Wright Jr for various different reasons but I’ve gone for Byrne as he’s just shown that quality throughout the season. Lets hope he gets that new deal signed ASAP!
My goal of the season was…
Elliott away at York. Hell of a strike, very unexpected which made it all the better but I’m struggling to think of any better than that. Remember Leesley knocking a few in from outside the box in various home games but THAT Elliott goal really was a class above. A shame it was down the opposite end to where we were but we’ll take it!
My favourite away trip of the season was…
I’ve kind of mentioned these above so I’ll pick one I didn’t mention in the first paragraph… Gateshead away! You’ll be wondering why the hell, we got battered 3-1 and most of the players spent the game shouting/ranting at our own dug out. I watched the game with exile Pilgrim Richard Houghton who is living up in Newcastle now having worked many years for the Community Foundation at the club and we had a good chat about running…. which was much more entertaining than the performance served up on the pitch that day! I also had a couple of slices of cold seafood pizza I’d bought from home during the drive back and even now remember those being particularly nice!
I really wish I hadn’t bothered going to…
Oh God, where do we start with this one? Stratford, Southport, Chester or Gloucester. All long drives and all equally bad performances. I’ll probably say Chester out of those four as we had two sent off, barely managed a shot let alone a shot on target and it was just a horrendous performance. Pete Crook was our best player that day which says a lot! I do remember Josh Butler singing alone during the whole of the second half ‘Newton time for change, Newton, Newton, time for change!’. Not one other Pilgrim in the away end joined in but it didn’t stop Josh going for the full 45 minutes. That change did come just under two months after this game. That was a long, lonely drive back, but I did see some of the firework display being put on by Alton Towers en-route back!
I think our first proper season at the JCS was…
A success. Few small issues and of course we all want the ground complete but it’s a fantastic facility and I’m a big fan. I know there are snack bar issues, I don’t use these myself so it doesn’t really affect me but appreciate it’s annoying for those who do. Sounds like Mr Newton is on that though. Hopefully it’s bringing in much more revenue than York Street and that allows us to push forward on the pitch. Always nice to see Ellenders packed knowing the money that’s making is going directly to the club unlike previous setups at the club over the years.
If I could retract one furiously held opinion I had during the season, it’d be…
Jordan Burrow. A bit over the top to say I had a furiously held opinion of him but he’s hell of a player really for what he does on the pitch even if that isn’t scoring a goal a game. Another I want to see signed and full fit for next season. A slightly side point to this as again it’s not a furiously held opinion at all but BUSA buses! Much more fun than driving on your own to away games. I only used BUSA again from March when fuel prices went mental and hadn’t been on since 2005(ish) time and our Football League days. In hindsight I wished I’d gone on the buses all season even before the fuel price crisis as it’s much more fun than driving alone!
If we’re going to get promoted next season, Paul Cox has to…
Keep that consistency going. I’m not sure we’re completely there yet but towards the end of the season and into the play-offs it looked like things we’re becoming a bit more consistent. I hope he gets a training setup (I know there’s talk of moving away from Donny) he wants, the players he wants come in and hopefully we’ll have a successful season. Craig interacted with the fans pretty well but it does seem like Paul has taken this up a notch, hopefully that continues into the new season and that togetherness increases.
If Boston United could improve one thing off the field next season, it’d be…
Fan interaction and communication regards player injuries. Craig does an absolutely fantastic job off the pitch but if there’s one thing I’d love to see improved it’d be information on injuries. A player goes off injured and then unless they post on their own social media channels we hear nothing. I don’t think anybody could tell you now how long Nicholson and Platt are expected to be out for? Are both expected to be fit for the start of next season? If we’re lucky we may see something in Hayden’s programme notes 2-4 weeks after the injury but if not we know nothing! It’s all a mystery!
My realistic hope for 2022/2023 is…
It’d be very easy to say promotion and of course that’s what we all want but I think top 3 is more realistic. Gets us a home play-off and potentially a home play-off final. If we finish below fourth I’d be a touch disappointed but I feel first, second or third would be a good season!
Other 2021/2022 recaps
Oliver Atkin
Pete Brooksbank
Christian James
Adam Upsall
Callum Bates