A year or so ago, United’s legendary ex-general manager John Blackwell wrote a book. You may have read it, but I’m going to assume you haven’t so I won’t spoil it for you. Suffice to say he has a few stories to tell.
Like all the best writers do, John held a book launch up in the posh bit of the stadium, along with a fair few old players and ex Boston United managers. As David Newton took to the microphone to say his thanks to one of non-league’s most revered figures, even he realised he had to address the elephant in the room. “It’s amazing to see so many ex-managers here tonight,” he said, “considering I sacked you at some point.”
It was the best gag of the night. As laughter rippled around the Nineteen33 suite, Newton couldn’t help but gaze around the room with a cheeky smirk. You can find the speech on YouTube if you want to see it for yourself, and I really recommend you do. But even amongst the laughs, there was a serious point. Managers who’d been given their P45s by the chairman really had come back to the club to pay their respects to John, and I hope it says a lot about how we do our business that so many had chosen to do so.
Tommy Taylor was there that night, a manager appointed in a hurry but who was a perfect fit for the 2007 version of Boston United. A couple of weeks ago Jason Lee returned and took his tour around the pitch. A classy man, and a very classy manager, you might enjoy the latest episode of the Under The Cosh podcast, in which Lee has some very interesting anecdotes about his time here at Boston under a certain Scottish manager, the one who pushed Gazza aside in training because he knew how to take a better free kick. You couldn’t make it up (unlike his contracts).
Lee, of course, returned as a manager, but despite getting a P45 from David Newton he seems to remember his time here fondly. Greg Fee has been back. Lee Canoville has also been back. Rob Scott and Paul Hurst might not be getting an invite any time soon, but the fans would probably clap them around the pitch anyway. With one very notable exception, I don’t think there’s a single ex manager who wouldn’t walk into Ellenders and be surrounded by fans eager to buy him a pint. On Monday, Boston fell to defeat at the hands of Craig Elliott, an excellent manager who has done a wonderful job at Buxton and who remained annoyingly magnanimous in victory. It’s probably a bit too soon to have him back making speeches in Club 85, but in years to come he’ll be more than welcome.
All of this brings us to Adam Murray, who returns today with Fylde and is – recent wobble notwithstanding – on the cusp of a remarkable title victory. Murray’s failure as Boston manager continues to perplex those who take an interest in the behind-the-scenes kinda stuff. It was, in a way, a sort of successful failure. Murray made some brilliant signings, instigated some very progressive changes in training, and started running the club largely as it remains today – a Football League club in all but status. He liked his stats stuff and introduced GPS vests in training back when those kinds of things were very expensive and quite unusual. Everyone has them now.
But there was just one problem: he couldn’t win matches. Why? I have no idea. Apart from the actual games of football, which are admittedly quote important, everything else he did here was first rate. Did he struggle to adapt to part-time football? Were his tactics more suited to League Two than the National League North? Was his over reliance on Adam Chapman to blame? I often think about the latter: Chapman was a technically gifted Football League standard midfielder who seemed confused and sometimes even infuriated by the kind of football he was confronted by at step six, and his performances in this division often reflected that. But I honestly don’t know. It still irritates me that there’s no clear answer.
It goes without saying that I hope we deny Fylde the opportunity to extend their lead today, but I also hope Murray is afforded a warm welcome regardless of the dugout he’s now sitting in. He did a lot of good here and helped bring about a radical transformation of the club and the way in which we go about our business. He may soon be lifting a trophy with Fylde, but when it’s our turn, some of our success will be down to the legacy he left behind.
Enjoy the game.
How it went: Boston lost to Fylde by a single goal, in front of 1636 fans
