Fred Tunstall
Boston United had a busy schedule over the Christmas period in 1937. On Boxing Day they played at home against Lincoln City Reserves in the Midland League, then followed a friendly match against Dutch side Roermondsche on the 28th, before resuming Midland League action at Notts County Reserves on New Year's Day.
Finding out accurate attendance figures in pre-war Boston games is difficult, as usually the total money received was noted rather than the number of people passing through the turnstiles. For the Lincoln City Reserves game the gate of £191 was a Midland League record for Boston. The crowd witnessed an entertaining match, which saw Boston gain a 4-2 victory against the Midland League leaders, with goals coming from Les Redfern and a hat-trick by Wilf Notley.
| The turnout for the visit of Roermondsche on the Tuesday afternoon after Christmas was fair considering that many shops and businesses had reopened that day after the Christmas break. The gate was given as £72, which is equivalent to an attendance of about 1600. Mr J. W. Julian - a Bostonian who was now working as a football coach in Holland, had arranged the match. Before kick-off Boston's captain Fred Tunstall was presented with a pair of red and white Dutch clogs bearing a pennant enscribed "Greetings from Holland". The Dutch side then joined together to let out a concerted war cry, which the correspondent in the Standard newspaper described as sounding like "Nichevo, Lula, Lula, Lula". |
Fred Tunstall |
Neat passing by Roermondsche created the first goal-scoring chances in the game, but the good build-ups were let down by poor shooting. Fred Tunstall then had a crack at goal after Clarkson broke away down the wing and centred the ball, but his shot was put over the bar. An effort by Bill Harvey went wide, but Roermondsche took the lead when the subsequent goal kick found F PIJPERS who netted from close in. A minute later Boston equalised when HARVEY scored past the advancing keeper after breaking away down the centre. Boston keeper George Taylor was then tested by shots from both the left and right wingers. Boston responded with a run at goal by Tunstall but he finished it with a shot that was high when there were two forwards in the goalmouth waiting for a pass. Paternotte then had a chance for the Dutch side as his left-footed drive missed the post by inches. HARVEY then scored his second goal when he raced upfield to collect a pass, outpaced the right back and fired the ball home. From the restart Tunstall made a good interception and broke away. He lobbed the ball into the middle where HARVEY had the easy job of heading the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick. Further good wing play gave Boston their fourth goal when Clarkson centred to Harry MITCHAM who scored from a few yards out. Roermondsche then hit back with two goals of their own. Their inside left went through the Boston defence and netted with a shot from close range. Then the left winger beat Taylor with a powerful rising shot. Nellen almost levelled the scores just before half time when his shot hit the bar. Boston dominated the play for the first ten minutes of the second half, but then the Dutch side began to apply more pressure. There was a wild scramble in the Boston goalmouth, but somehow the ball evaded the goal and was eventually cleared by Ernie Wright. Roermondesche equalised in a sweeping move upfield that ended up with four forwards in front of the goal and the centre forward scored from point blank range. HARVEY sealed the Boston win with two further goals.
The Dutch team rounded off their visit to Boston with a trip to the Odeon, where their party of twenty-six was entertained at the invitation of the manager. The main feature showing that week was "Storm in a Teacup" starring Rex Harrison and Vivien Leigh.
United team: 1. George Taylor, 2. G W Surgey, 3. Lumby, 4. George Bugg, 5. Ernie Wright, 6. Roly Clapham, 7. A Clarkson, 8. Harry Mitcham, 9. Bill Harvey, 10. Syd Harman, 11. Fred Tunstall.
Roermondsche team: 1. Bongaerts, 2. Pijpers, 3. Neelen, 4. H Pijpers, 5. Delil, 6. Bijten, 7. Pubben, 8. C Pijpers, 9. Huizen, 10. F Pijpers, 11. Paternotte.
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