Luke Garrard will be hoping to see our unbeaten start to the season continue when Boston United visit Meadow Park on Thursday night.
After narrowly avoiding the drop following promotion via the Enterprise National League North in 2024, the Pilgrims enjoyed a successful campaign after batting away fears of relegation. They settled for a 12th-placed finish with their late-season surge propelling them up the table.
A vital cog in Boston retaining their National League status last term, Tom Cursons will be aiming to build upon an impressive campaign in front of goal.
The 24-year-old, who joined from Harrogate Town after failing to replicate the ruthless goalscoring form he had previously showcased at Ilkeston Town, netted nine goals in 17 appearances and the Pilgrims certainly justified signing him on a multi-year contract.
His most notable moments included bagging a hat-trick at Scunthorpe United and netting the only goals of the game in 1-0 victories over Sutton United and Gateshead. Cursons has previously turned out for the likes of Walton & Hersham United, Gainsborough Trinity and Barwell.
A man who knows only too well what it takes to secure promotion from this division, Paul Hirst will be hoping his promotion pedigree comes in use this term having done so with Grimsby Town in 2016 and 2022.
Having managed Ilkeston as well as Boston alongside former Rotherham United teammate Rob Scott, they headed to Grimsby in March 2011. Hirst spearheaded their successive promotion campaigns, suffering four defeats in five attempts, before finally ending the Mariners’ six-year exile from the Football League after beating Forest Green in the play-off final in 2016.
This caught the attention of Shrewsbury Town, who he joined in October of that year, sitting bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, and guided them to safety, before leading them to the final of both the play-offs and EFL Trophy in the following campaign.
His next step-up came with a switch to Ipswich Town in the Championship ahead of the 2018/19 season but a run of just one win in their opening 14 matches led to him being dismissed.
After a brief stint at Scunthorpe United, Hurst returned to Grimsby but was unable to save them from relegation in 2021, but his promotion expertise came to the fore to guide them back to the EFL at the first time of asking. However, four consecutive defeats led to his departure and his return to Shrewsbury brought similar struggles in a poor 10-month stint which included just two wins in 19 matches.
Our first meeting saw the Wood make the trip to the Jakemans Community Stadium in September and a 2-0 victory followed with Zak Brunt and Abdul Abdulmalik getting on the scoresheet in the second-half.
The reverse clash seemed to be following a similar pattern when Abdulmalik broke the deadlock just before the break. However, a Femi Ilesanmi red card for a clumsy challenge in the box led to Lenell John-Lewis converting the spot kick, before Jordy Hiwula was the hero with the winner nine minutes from time after Regan Booty was dismissed two minutes prior.
The game kicks off at 15:00 and will operate under full segregation.
Adult – £20.00
OAP – £18.00
Under 20 – £14.00
Under 16 – £10.00
Under 14* – £6.00
Under 5* – £2.00
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
*Must be accompanied by a paying adult or OAP.
Access to the Stadium is available via turnstiles 1 to 6 at the north-east of the Stadium for home supporters and via turnstiles 9 and 10 at the south of the Stadium for visiting Boston United supporters. Turnstiles 7 and 8 will not be in operation.
Turnstiles 3 to 6 at the north-east corner will open at 17:00 for access to The Glass House only. Turnstiles 1 and 2, as well as 9 and 10, will open one-and-a-half hours prior to kick-off at 18:15 when the Stadium opens.
The Glass House will open on match day at 17:00 and will be accessible via turnstiles 3 to 6, whilst the Fan Zone in the south-east corner of the Stadium will be in operation on match day for visiting Boston United supporters from 18:15 when the Stadium opens.
A variety of quality food options will also be available from our stadium catering partners, with outlets conveniently located adjacent to The Glass House and in the middle of the South Terrace.
Toilet facilities are situated throughout the Stadium and are easily accessible from all areas.
Written by Jack Patmore.
