UP NEXT, after an unlucky home draw against Grantham Town on Wednesday night, the first team are on the road to Boston where they face Boston Town in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Kimberley will approach the match in the hope of progress, being aware that an FA Cup run would be great for the club bank balance. However, the importance will be on the league this season as the stress of the final match of last term will still be very fresh in people’s memories.

Boston Town, having missed out on promotion on penalties in the play off final last season, represent a big challenge for the lads. Having taken just one point from their opening two matches in the league, the Poachers will be keen to get back to winning ways after seeing a nine match unbeaten run ended at Wisbech.

Kimberley played their first competitive match at their temporary home at Basford United on Wednesday night as they welcomed Grantham Town. Having the lion’s share of the game, the miners found themselves behind through an own goal midway through a first half littered with bizarre decisions from the middle of the pitch. Finn Ryder equalised just before half time and then doubled his tally in the opening ten minutes of the second half to give Kimberley the lead. Despite pushing for more, Kimberley had to settle for a draw as Grantham grabbed a very late equaliser. A good performance to follow the opening day win.

Boston made the trip to face Wisbech Town on Tuesday evening in their first away fixture of the season. Having had to come back to draw in the first home match against Heanor, the Poachers fell behind in the first half against Wisbech. Wisbech doubled their lead just after half time, leaving Boston Town to grab a consolation goal midway through the second half.

LAST TIME AROUND

In their late charge for survival, Kimberley travelled to Boston with four matches to go at the end of last season. A goal in either half through Fraser Bayliss and Luke Wilson wrapped up the points for Boston in a 2-0 win.

The two sides met at the Stag Ground in November. An early goal for Kimberley through Declan Brown was cancelled out by Harry Limb for 1-1 at half time. The score remained the same as neither side could gain the advantage in the second half.

The season before, the two sides met at the Stag Ground in March. Henry Swann scored for Kimberley, equalising Lucas Dakin’s early opener for a 1-1 draw.

The away match that season was in September 2023. Jordan Nuttell, Lee Beeson and Marshall Young were on target in a straightforward 3-0 for Boston.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was established as Boston Football Club in 1963 by former officials of Boston United who were concerned that United's financial problems which had led them to resign from the Midland League would force the club to fold. The new club joined the Lincolnshire League, winning the league in their first season. They moved to the Central Alliance the following season, going on to win a second successive league title without losing a match. In 1966 they joined the Eastern Counties League. After finishing sixth in their first season, the club finished second from bottom in 1967–68, forcing them to seek re-election. However, as the club was on the northern edge of the league's geographical boundary, they resigned and moved to the Midland League.

Boston won the Midland League in 1974–75; after completing their league fixtures, they were ahead of Eastwood Town in the table but Eastwood had one match left at Skegness and could overtake Boston if they won. Despite being 3–1 up at half time, Eastwood eventually drew 3–3, meaning Boston were champions. In 1976–77 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 3–1 at Barnsley. They won the Midland League again in 1978–79, in a repeat of the 1974–75 title, Boston finished their fixtures and were top of the table, but Skegness could overtake them if they won their final fixture at Retford Town. However, Skegness lost, resulting in Boston being champions.

Boston won their third Midland League title in 1980–81, and in 1982 became members of the Northern Counties East Football League when the Midland League merged with the Yorkshire League. The club were placed in the Premier Division of the new league, but after finishing bottom in 1986–87, dropped into the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League. They won the Central Midlands League in 1988–89, and despite only finishing ninth in 1990–91, were accepted into the Premier Division of the United Counties League.

In 1993–94 the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, but lost 2–0 on aggregate to Taunton Town. In 1994 Boston were renamed Boston Town and won the United Counties League in their first season under the new name. They won the league for a second time in 2000–01 and went on to win the League Cup in 2003–04 and again in 2006–07. In 2008–09 Boston won the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy, beating Winterton Rangers in the final. When the Premier Division was split in 2021, the club were placed in the Premier Division North. They won the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy again in 2022–23, defeating Deeping Rangers 2–0 in the final.

Honours

United Counties League - Premier Division champions 1994–95, 2000–01
League Cup winners 2003–04, 2006–07
Central Midlands League - Supreme Division champions 1988–89
Midland League - Champions 1974–75, 1978–79, 1980–81
League Cup winners 1976–77
Central Alliance - Champions 1965–66
Lincolnshire League - Champions 1964–65
Lincolnshire Senior Trophy - Winners 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2008–09, 2022–23
Lincolnshire Senior B Cup - Winners 1965–66

FINALLY

As we said, this match will give both sides the chance to progress in the FA Cup and make some money, but both will also have an eye on the league. Kimberley will want to continue their good start to the season and get a run of form going so that they’re not under the threat of relegation throughout 2025-26. Boston will be aiming to get back to winning ways so that they can kick start their league campaign and mount a promotion push once again.

Please come along and support the boys. We appreciate you coming to our matches.