Boston United 0-14 Spalding United

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

5th September 1964


Boston United's biggest ever defeat came in an FA Cup game against Spalding United back in 1964. At the end of the 63/4 season Boston had withdrawn from the Midland League due to financial difficulties. Most of the team had left to join other teams in the Midland League or to team up with former United boss, Paul Todd, who was now in charge at newly formed Boston Town who had entered the Lincolnshire League. The Boston United team name was being kept alive by a team of local amateurs which had been accepted into the Premier Division of the Boston and District League. They were being trained by former England international Freddy Tunstall, who had been helping out Boston United in a variety of roles since joining the club as a player in the mid 30's. Their opponents in the Boston League included the likes of Spilsby Town, Benington, Freiston and Wainfleet United. The club had somewhat surprisingly decided that they would not withdraw their entry to the FA Cup that season and they had been drawn at home against Spalding United in the first qualifying round.

The omens were not good for Boston. The previous week they had only managed a draw against Freiston in their first league game at the same time that Spalding were overcoming Ilkeston 5-0 in the Midland League. The match was described as "Murder at York Street" by the local press as Spalding won 14-0 in front of a paltry crowd of just 250. They were 8-0 up at half time, which included a hat-trick of penalties by Freddy Fox, who would add a fourth goal to his tally in the second half. The other goals were scored by Vest(4), Price(3), Harnwell, Thompson and Jennings. The Spalding side included four players who had turned out for Boston in previous seasons, namely, Geoff Snade, Brian Flack, David Hindle and Alan Vest. They also had Ken Price playing for them, who had been on Aston Villa's books early in his footballing career and had joined Spalding from Kidderminster in the close season.

United team: 1. Addy, 2. Davies, 3. Walmsley, 4. T.Hill, 5. Meeds, 6. Kendall, 7. Epton, 8. Brackenbury, 9. A.Hill, 10. Young, 11. Burn.

Spalding team: 1. Ronson, 2. Warrington, 3. Snade, 4. Flack, 5. Hindle, 6. Jennings, 7. Thompson, 8. Price, 9. Vest, 10. Fox, 11. Harnwell.

Attendance: 250


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