Farewell York Street! A look at Boston United's home records

11,000 fans watched Jim Conde score against derby County.

Today should have been Boston United's final ever league match at York Street.

The Pilgrims were due to host Hereford in the final contest of the 2019-20 National League North campaign this afternoon, before the club moved to its new Community Stadium this summer.

Of course, Craig Elliott and his side were hoping the Jakemans Stadium would host at least one additional match as United set their sights on a place in the play-offs.

Howard Wilkinson and Jim Smith were legendary players and managers for the Pilgrims.

The coronavirus had put paid to those dreams. The fantastic ground, United's home since 1933, has seen some weird and wonderful matches over the years, and here is a look back at some of the club records set at York Street...

First game

Boston United's fist competitive fixture at York Street was a Lincolnshire League contest against Grimsby Town Reserves on August 26, 1933. A crowd of 1,544 watched the Mariners win 3-1. Blessed scored the hosts' first goal at the ground. The club's first home win came on September 30, a 2-0 win over Rotherham United Reserves in the Midland League. McConnell and Pordham, scored.

Highest attendance

On January 9 1974 a sell-out 11,000 fans packed into the stadium to watch Boston United host First Division Derby County in the FA Cup. Due to the three-day working week, imposed to conserve energy because of the oil crisis and industrial action by the coal miners, the match was played in the afternoon to save the floodlights being used. Local schools also shut for the afternoon. The two sides had drawn 0-0 at the Baseball Ground but the Rams won the replay 6-1, Jim Conde scoring the Pilgrims' consolation.

Biggest win

The Pilgrims' biggest victory at York Street was a 12-0 thrashing of Wisbech Town Reserves on April 2, 1966. Don Donovan's Pilgrims had won their previous 12 matches going into this United Counties League Premier division contest. Jimmy Rayner opened the scoring after just 15 seconds and from then on the goals flowed. Rayner, Bobby Baker and Jimmy Fell all scored braces as the Pilgrims led 6-0 at half time. The trio completed their hat-tricks in the second half with Hoard Swain adding two and Billy Howells also getting in on the act.

Biggest defeat

From 2002 to 2007 York Street hosted Football League action.

Playing in the Boston and District League Premier Division on 1964/65, United suffered two 14-0 home thrashings. The first came at the hands of Spalding United on September 5 in the FA Cup, the second on March 20, a defeat to British Railways in league action.

Highest tally

Three players have scored five goals in a match for Boston at York Street. Wilf Notley managed the feat twice in consecutive seasons while Jack Stone hit five for the Pilgrims twice, but one of those was on the road at Skegness. The high-five tallies are: Wilf Notley v Bilsthorpe Colliery (10-0, FA Cup, September 18, 1937); Wilf Notley v Denaby United (9-0, Midland League, April 29, 1939); Jack Stone v York City Reserves (6-0, Midland League, November 25, 1950); Brian Flack v Anstey Nomads (6-0, Central Alliance, September 23, 1961).

Biggest wins by competition

The final competitive game at York Street was a 3-0 defeat to Gateshead. Photo: Eric Brown

United's top victories in each competition is: FA Cup - 10-0 v Bilsthorpe Colliery (September 18, 1937); Football League - 6-0 v Shrewsbury Town (December 21, 2002); League Cup - 4-3 v Luton Town (September 7, 2004); FA Trophy - 6-0 v Chatham (December 1, 1973) and v Kidsgrove Athletic (October 18, 2008); Alliance/Conference - 6-0 Maidstone United (January 23, 1982); Northern Premier League - 10-0 v Durham City (January 23, 2010); Southern League - 6-0 v Wisbech Town (November 26, 1960) and v Salisbury City (August 14, 1999); West Midlands League - 9-1 v Bromsgrove Rovers (January 28, 1967); United Counties League - 12-0 v Wisbech Town Reserves (April 2, 1966); Central Alliance 8-0 v Linby Colliery (March 24, 1962); Midland League - 9-0 v Denaby United (April 29, 1939).

Top home attendances

The Pilgrims may have only broken the 10,000-fan barrier once, but they have enjoyed many healthy attendances at York Street. The top 10 are: 11,000 v Derby County, FA Cup (January 9, 1974); 9,656 v Peterborough United, Midland League (October 8, 1955); 9,345 v Corby Town, Midland League (October 3, 1955 - the first floodlit game at York Street); 9,288 v Peterborough United, Midland League (December 26, 1957); 9,110 v King's Lynn, Midland League (March 30, 1956); 8,794 v Bradford Park Avenue, FA Cup (November 17, 1956); 8,584 v Grantham Town, Lincs Senior Cup (April 20, 1946); 8,405 v Blyth Spartans, FA Cup November 20, 1954); 8,362 v Peterborough United, Midland League (August 19, 1950); 8,300 v Portsmouth, FA Cup (January 15, 1972).

Final game

The COVID-19 outbreak saw this season end early, with six games left to play. Darlington, Alfreton, Farsley Celtic, Spennymoor Town, Gloucester City and Hereford never got their final games at York Street. That means the final competitive contest played at the stadium was the 3-0 defeat to Gateshead, only Boston's second home league defeat of the campaign on February 25. The final FA Cup contest was December's 2-1 defeat to League One Rochdale. The last home victory was the 1-0 victory over AFC Telford United on February 22, Dominic Knowles the last Pilgrim to score at the stadium with his decisive penalty.

MORE: Thirteen weird and wonderful York Street matches