COLUMN: Newcastle United are Boston’s dream draw... but they can’t afford to snooze against Rochdale

As the name Newcastle United was read out during Monday night’s FA Cup draw, the camera panned to the Boston United contingent at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

From left to right, chairman David Newton, manager Craig Elliott and vice-chairman Neil Kempster couldn’t hide their delight as they pondered what might be: a home tie against Premier League opposition.

Secretary Craig Singleton allowed the corners of his mouth to rise, but retained the look of a chap who may well have quite a lot of work to do.

But it is the stuff that dreams are made of for loyal supporters of non-league clubs.

For every disappointment in knockout action there remains the hope that next year could be the one, reaching the third round and earning that Hollywood-esque tie against one of the game’s big boys.

Boston United are currently living that dream. Almost.

As Elliott said, it is the ‘perfect draw’. But there is also the perfect drawback. The fact the Pilgrims aren’t actually in round three yet.

Standing in their way will be League One Rochdale, a side three divisions higher up the pyramid who will arrive at York Street for December 16’s replay fired up by the chance to play the Magpies, simultaneously smarting at being held to a goalless draw at home by the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.

There’s all to play for when the two sides clash under the BT Sports cameras that Monday night in December.

It could be Boston’s final FA Cup game before they move ground. It could be the one before the big one, a cup shock that paves the way for Newcastle to visit York Street one final time.

Legendary Pilgrims boss Jim Smith brough a Toon team down to Lincolnshire in February 1989, when both teams found themselves with a blank weekend in the fixtures.

Tricky Brazilian Mirandinha was the big star that drew the crowds, while a youthful Glenn Roeder skippered the side, who won 1-0 courtesy of Frank Pingel’s goal.

And those old enough to remember will have the most recent meeting between the two sides firmly stuck in their minds.

Paul Gascoigne pulled on a Boston shirt for the first time for a friendly against a youthful Newcastle side back in summer 2004.

On that night the England legend wowed the crowd against his home-town club, while Martin Carruthers’ hat-trick and Mark Greaves’ goal secured a4-0 win for Boston.

It’d be nice for a repeat of that scoreline, wouldn’t it?

Of course, but the one thing United - and the fans - must do after this week’s early delerium, is to realise Boston have to reach round three to make this happen.

They need to slay a giant to meet a titan.

It’s possible, bu the hard work starts now.