Boston United unveil new scouting team as they look to gain advantage over National League North rivals

Quintet will work alongside chief scout Richard Boryszczuk...
Chief scout Richard Boryszczuk. Photo: Eric BrownChief scout Richard Boryszczuk. Photo: Eric Brown
Chief scout Richard Boryszczuk. Photo: Eric Brown

Boston United are casting their net wider as they hope to gain an edge in the National League North next season.

The Pilgrims have assembled a team of five scouts who hope to be discovering players of the future before their rivals get a sniff.

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After receiving more than 300 applications, the newly-created team will work under chief scout Richard Boryszczuk, casting their eyes on players and opponents as manager Craig Elliott aims to stay one step ahead.

"I put an ad on LinkedIn and on my Twitter and I had more than 300 people apply, 303 in total," Boryszczuk told The Standard.

"It gave me something to do at the weekend going through them all."

After whittling down the applicants, including sifting out the hopefuls from places such as Kent and Bristol who live too far away from the world of the National League North, Boryszczuk settled on a group he believes will bring different skill sets to the club.

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Chesterfield-based Andrew Gent will remain with the Pilgrims after scouting for the club last season.

Joining him will be Boston exile Luke Clarke, who now lives in the north east and has coached with Newcastle United and Sunderland's academies and Harry Jackson - who lives in Leeds and has previously done work with York City and Farsley Celtic and analysis for the Leeds United Academy.

Birmingham-based Paul Rowe, who has previously done scouting work for an agency as well as grassroots work with Leicester City, and Adam Gregory, who lives in Cheshire, complete the quintet.

"We've got pretty much every area we need covered," Boryszczuk said of his team, who will predominantly we watching lower level games and looking out for potential signings.

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"It allows us to thoroughly watch a player. I can send each scout to watch, get different opinions. We've done that over the past two seasons but we can do that even more so now."

Boryszczuk will continue to watch the Pilgrims' upcoming opponents, but second opinions will always be welcome.

"We've got people like Luke in the north east," the chief scout added.

"If we're playing Darlington or Spennymoor he can watch them a few weeks before then I'll watch them the week before.

"The lads we've got in are good, and a different mixture."

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The roles may be voluntary, but can offer a foot in the door of what is a competitive industry.

Ryan Winson, who covered games for United in the Manchester area last season, has since moved on to become head of recruitment at Northern Premier League Matlock Town.

Team member Clarke grew up in Boston and is looking forward to working with his home town team.

He said: "To have the opportunity to be involved with the club at such an exciting time is something which I'm relishing and to work alongside Richard, and other good people within the club, really is exciting for me.

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"Even more so as I am from Boston originally and have been a big supporter all my life.

"The club holds a special place in my heart so I can't wait to get started and make a positive contribution to the success of the team on the pitch."

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