2004–05 Boston United F.C. season

Boston United
2004–05 season
Chairman Jon Sotnick
Manager Steve Evans
League 2 16
FA Cup Third round
Football League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League:
All: Andy Kirk (20)
Highest home attendance 6445 (v Lincoln)
Lowest home attendance 1489 (v Cambridge)
Average home league attendance 2965
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours

After their success in Division Three the previous year, Boston were billed as promotion favourites, as they had bolstered their squad for the 2004–05 Football League Two, Boston's third consecutive season in the Football League, after promotion in 2002.

Hectic pre-season matches in a packed schedule saw Boston play a selection of local and national teams, including Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Stamford A.F.C. and local rivals Boston Town. Boston played a very lucrative friendly against a Newcastle United XI at York Street, bringing in a crowd of 3349. The Pilgrims comfortably won 4–0, with Martin Carruthers scoring a hat-trick. The game saw a number of Newcastle's future players at the game, including Michael Chopra, Matty Pattison and goalkeeper Tony Caig.

A notable addition to the Pilgrims' squad was former England international Paul Gascoigne, who joined the club on a short-term basis, as a player-coach. Assigned his famous number 19 shirt for the forthcoming season, Gascoigne was presented in front of the media against his former club Newcastle, a game which he started. Gascoigne went on to make 10 appearances for Boston before leaving in October.

This season for Boston was also notable for their progression in the Carling Cup. Playing Champtionship side Luton Town was at first a daunting task for United, but they were in form following two consecutive league wins against Chester and Cambridge. The Pilgrims overcame Luton, winning 4–3, setting up a tie with Premier League club Fulham. 5373 people attended the second round tie at York Street, but Boston lost 4–1 at the hands of Chris Coleman's men. Playing for Fulham were many international players, such as Luis Boa Morte, Steed Malbranque, Brian McBride and Tomasz Radzinski.

It was a season of mixed results, with the team only winning 14 of a possible 46 league games. This saw Boston finish in a comfortable 16th position, but this was disappointing to the fans, considering what many had predicted in August.

End Of Season Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
2 England DF Alan White
4 England DF Paul Ellender (captain)
5 England DF Mark Greaves (vice-captain)
6 England MF Steve Melton
7 England MF Brad Maylett
8 England MF David Noble
9 England FW Jason Lee
11 England MF Chris Holland
12 Scotland MF Simon Rusk
14 Scotland DF Austin McCann
15 England MF Lee Thompson
16 England MF Danny Thomas
No. Position Player
17 Wales FW Jermaine Easter
19 Scotland FW Stephen O'Donnell
20 England MF Paul Raynor (assistant-manager)
22 England MF David Staff
23 England MF Courtney Pitt
24 England MF Luke Forbes
25 England MF Rob Norris
26 England GK Nathan Abbey
27 England MF Tom Hurst
28 England DF Dean West
29 England FW Daryl Clare
31 England DF Stuart Smith
32 Mexico MF Luis Ibarra

Left the club

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK Paul Bastock (to Scarborough)
2 Wales DF Lee Beevers (to Lincoln)
3 England DF Greg Strong (to Livingston)
3 England DF Dominic Roma (end of loan from Sheffield Utd)
7 England MF Tom Bennett (to Kidderminster)
7 England FW Kevin James (end of loan from Notts. Forest)
7 England MF Scott Wiseman (end of loan from Hull City)
10 Northern Ireland FW Andy Kirk (to Northampton)
17 England MF Ryan Clarke (to Leigh RMI)
18 England FW Martin Carruthers (to Lincoln)
18 Scotland MF Stephen Boyack (to Blackpool)
18 England GK Luke McCormick (end of loan from Plymouth)
19 England MF Paul Gascoigne (left the club)
21 England MF Matt O'Halloran (to King's Lynn)
24 England DF Gareth Jelleyman (end of loan from Peterborough)
24 Italy DF Emanule Gabrieli (end of loan from Sheffield Utd)
25 England FW Zema Abbey (end of loan from Norwich)
27 Scotland FW Tam McManus (end of loan from Hibernian)

See also

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