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Boston United Squad 2007/08


Management and Support Staff

JOHN BLACKWELL General Manager

Born: Kirton
Now lives: Boston

John Blackwell
John Blackwell has been involved with the club for many years, helping with the coaching and running the reserve team in the seventies, as Club Secretary from 1978 onwards and as General Manager since 1998. He has even been on the substitute's bench three time for the Pilgrims. He was a member of the Vauxhall Conference Management Committee for nine years and the Unibond League Management Commitee for five years. As a youngster he started off as a goalkeeper with Tower Road School and Kitwood Boys School. He played in successive Pitcher Cup final victories for Kitwood, the first as a keeper against George Farmer, the second as a striker against Sleaford. His prowess at junior level won him a trial with Peterborough United, but he decided to play locally, first with Boston Athletic, then Real Towell. His biggest disappointment is that he was not good enough to play football at a top level. The match he most remembers is the FA Trophy semi-final against Altrincham at York Street back in 1985. In his leisure time he enjoys watching sport on TV, reading the Saturday evening football papers and being with his family.


Tommy Taylor TOMMY TAYLOR b. 26/9/1951 Manager

Born: Hornchurch
Previous clubs: Leyton Orient, West Ham United as a player and Cambridge United, Leyton Orient, Darlington and King's Lynn as manager.

Appointed manager in July 2007, following the resignation of Steve Evans.

Taylor joined the Pilgrims from Peterborough United where he had been chief scout. In a long and successful playing career he made 230 appearances for Orient and 340 appearances for West Ham United - where he received an FA Cup winners medal in 1975 following a 2-0 win over Fulham. When his playing career finished he switched to management and has had spells with Cambridge United, Leyton Orient, Darlington, Farnborough Town and King's Lynn.


Playing Staff


Chris Wright CHRIS WRIGHT b. 27/9/1986 Goalkeeper

Born: Colchester
Previous clubs: Arsenal, Bishop's Stortford.

This former Arsenal trainee returned to the Pilgrims in July 2007 after a season away playing for Bishop's Stortford. His return to the Pilgrims was curtailed when he was released midway through the 2007/8 season, but he rejoined the club following Simon Rayner's recall to Torquay.


Tom Matthews TOM MATTHEWS b. 17/3/1987 Defender

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Hull City.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Matt Bloomer MATT BLOOMER b. 3/11/1978 Defender

Born: Grimsby
Previous clubs: Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Hull City, Telford United, Cambridge United.

Joined the Pilgrims from Grimsby Town in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games. His grandfather Jimmy Bloomer also played for Boston.


Liam Green LIAM GREEN b. 17/3/1988 Defender

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Doncaster Rovers.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Simon Weaver SIMON WEAVER b. 20/12/1977 Defender

Born: Doncaster
Previous clubs: Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Ilkeston Town, Nuneaton Borough, Lincoln City, Macclesfield Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Scarborough, Tamworth.

Joined the Pilgrims in December 2007 after recovering from a foot injury that had stopped him playing at the start of the season. He began his footballing career as a trainee with Sheffield Wednesday. After a short spell with Doncaster Rovers he dropped down to non-league level to turn out for Ilkeston and Nuneaton before being spotted by Keith Alexander who brought him to Lincoln City in 2002. A loan spell with Macclesfield followed in 2004 before he once again returned to non-league to play for Scarborough and Tamworth.


Rob Wesley ROBERT WESLEY b. 2/9/1983 Defender

Born: Rugby
Previous clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Northampton Town.

Joined the Pilgrims on non-contract terms in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games. He hit the headlines in the Tabloids when it was revealed that not only was he an inmate at the North Sea Camp prison, but he was serving his sentence for being part of a gang that carried out sophisticated raids on cash machines at supermarkets and that he had also been involved in a revenge attack that ended up with the death of a horse in an horrific slashing incident.


Paul Ellender PAUL ELLENDER b. 21/10/1974 Defender

Born: Scunthorpe
Previous clubs: Scunthorpe United, Gainsborough Trinity, Altrincham, Scarborough.

A central defender who was Boston United's record signing when he joined the club from Scarborough one day before the start of the 2001/2 season. He joined Scunthorpe United on leaving school but was released at the end of the 93/4 season. He was snapped up by Gainsborough Trinity where he was a great success. Moves to Altrincham and Scarborough followed, and at each club he has played at he has become an instant hero with the fans for his commanding displays. He has shown great versatility since joining Boston, playing in defence, midfield and even as an emergency striker. He had a loan spell with Chester in February 2006, but was recalled early following injuries in the squad.


Tony Crane TONY CRANE b. 8/9/1982 Defender

Born: Liverpool
Previous clubs: Sheffield Wednesday, Grimsby Town, Worksop Town.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Stewart Talbot STEWART TALBOT b. 14/6/1973 Midfielder

Born: Birmingham
Previous clubs: Moor Green, Port Vale, Rotherham United, Shrewsbury Town, Brentford.

Midfielder Stewart Talbot joined Boston United from Brentford in June 2005. The 33 year old signed a two year deal with the club after requesting a free transfer from the Bees. He began his footballing career with Moor Green, helping the Beazer Homes League side to win the Midland Floodlit Cup. A move into the Football League to Port Vale followed in 1994. After six seasons with the "Valiants" he joined Rotherham United in July 2000 and he had three seasons with them before having a loan spell with Shrewsbury and then a free transfer to Brentford in February 2004. He was team captain for Brentford in 2004/5 and saw his side reach the League One play-offs, only to be beaten in the semi-final by Sheffield Wednesday. Overall he had made 308 League appearances, scoring 23 goals. His desire to move closer to his family prompted his request for a transfer.


Ashley Nicholls ASHLEY NICHOLLS b. 30/10/1981 Midfielder

Born: Ipswich
Previous clubs: Ipswich Town, Darlington, Cambridge United, Rushden & Diamonds, Grays Athletic.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Lee Thompson LEE THOMPSON b. 25/3/1982 Midfield

Born: Sheffield
Previous clubs: Sheffield United, Kidderminster Harriers, Worksop Town.

Fans' favourite Lee Thompson returned to the Pilgrims in July 2007. The scorer of one of only two hat-tricks scored by the Pilgrims in their foray into the Football League, Thompson turned out 108 times for Boston in his three seasons with the club before dropping out of favour and switching to Kidderminster Harriers before joining Worksop Town. Thompson was originally signed up from Sheffield United on a month's loan in October 2002. A former England Schoolboy international, he had yet to make a first team appearance for the "Blades". He scored a spectacular winning goal in his second match for Boston, when a long range shot from the right wing curled over the keeper and into the net. When his loan period finished he was keen to gain more first team experience with Boston, so he signed up with the Pilgrims.


Matt O'Halloran MATT O'HALLORAN b. 18/11/1982 Midfield

Born: Lincoln
Previous clubs: Derby County, Burton Albion, Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield.

Lincoln born midfielder Matt O'Halloran signed a one year contract with Boston United in August 2004 after impressing in the club's pre-season preparations. He started his footballing career as a trainee at Derby County. He had a loan spell with Burton Albion in 2002/3 and was then given a free transfer to Oldham Athletic last summer. After turning out seventeen times for Oldham, scoring once, he moved on to Chesterfield. After falling out of favour at Boston he moved on to King's Lynn. When Boston United were relegated to the Conference North he returned to the Pilgrims.


Jon Froggatt JON FROGGATT 23/9/1981 Forward

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Leeds United, Worksop Town.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games. He was top scorer with Worksop Town in the previous season with 18 goals.


Jon Stevenson JON STEVENSON 13/10/1982 Forward

Born: Leicester
Previous clubs: Leicester City, Swindon Town, Alfreton Town, Tamworth, Hinckley United.

Former England schoolboy international Jon Stevenson joined the Pilgrims from Hinckley United in September 2007. He had scored against Boston for Hinckley three weeks earlier. He scored in each of his first three games for the Pilgrims.


Kieran Leabon KIERAN LEABON 24/9/1988 Forward

Born: Leicester
Previous clubs: Leicester City, Swindon Town, Alfreton Town, Tamworth, Hinckley United.

Former Ipswich Town scholar Kieran Leabon joned Boston United in August 2007 after impressing in pre-season friendlies.


Jon Rowan JON ROWAN 29/11/1981 Forward

Born: Grimsby
Previous clubs: Grimsby Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Gainsborough Trinity, Boston Town.

Jon Rowan joined Boston United from Boston Town in October 2007 after scoring 31 goals in 70 appearances for the Poachers. He started his footballing career with his hometown club Grimsby Town, making 58 appearances and scoring 8 goals.


Paul Alexander PAUL ALEXANDER 23/4/1984 Forward

Born: ?
Previous clubs: None.

The son of former Boston United striker and Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander. Signed up on non-contract terms in the summer of 2007. Made his first team debut coming on as a substitute in the FA Cup game at Workington.


No longer with the club


Dwayne Clarke DWAYNE CLARKE b. 9/4/78 Forward Left to join Harrow Borough

Born: ?
Previous clubs: St Albans City, Chesham United, Aylesbury United, Farnborough Town, Lewes, Aldershot Town, Canvey Island, Maidenhead United.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Dean Nicholson DEAN NICHOLSON b. 15/9/1988 Midfielder

Born: ?
Previous clubs: West Bromwich Albion.

Joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


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Ludovic Quistin LUDOVIC QUISTIN b. 24/5/1984 Midfielder Left to play for Swindon Supermarine

Born: Guadeloupe
Previous clubs: Havant & Waterlooville, Tooting & Mitcham United, Dorchester Town, King's Lynn, Harlow Town, Tamworth.

Former Tamworth and Guadeloupe striker Ludovic Quistin joined the Pilgrims in July 2007 after impressing in pre-season games.


Alex Notman ALEX NOTMAN b. 10/12/1979 Midfielder Returned to Wroxham.

Born: Edinburgh
Previous clubs: Manchester United, Aberdeen, Sheffield United, Norwich City, King's Lynn, Wroxham.

Alex Notman joined the Pilgrims on non-contract terms at the end of October 2007. He had begun his footballing career at Manchester United, but only managed one first team appearance - coming on for the last twenty minutes of a League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in 1998. He had loan spells with Aberdeen and Sheffield United before joining Norwich City for £250,000. His professional career ended following an injury, but he was still able to play at non-league level and turned out for Tommy Taylor at King's Lynn and had been playing for Wroxham before joining Boston.


Simon Rayner SIMON RAYNER b. 8/7/1983 Goalkeeper Recalled to Torquay.

Born: Langley, Canada
Previous clubs: Bournemouth, Barry Town, Port Talbot, Lincoln City, Alfreton Town, Torquay United.

Boston United bolstered their squad in January 2008 by signing Canadian Under 23 international goalkeeper Simon Rayner on a loan deal to the end of the season from Torquay United. He had previously turned out for Lincoln City, Alfreton, Port Talbot and Barry Town.


David Galbraith DAVID GALBRAITH b. 20/12/1983 Midfield Joined Kettering Town.

Born: Luton
Previous clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, Northampton Town.

Midfielder David Galbraith joined Boston United on-loan from Northampton Town in November 2005. The loan deal was later made permanent in a swap deal that saw Jason Lee depart for the Cobblers. Galbraith started his football career as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur, but he moved on to Northampton Town before making any first team appearances for Spurs. He had made 37 appearances for Northampton, scoring 1 goal before his move to Boston.


Adam Smith ADAM SMITH b. 11/9/1985 Defender Loan period ended.

Born: ?
Previous clubs: King's Lynn, Peterborough United.

Joined the Pilgrims on a three month loan from Peterborough United in September 2007.


Curtis Aspden CURTIS ASPDEN b. 16/11/1987 Goalkeeper Loan period ended.

Born: Blackburn
Previous clubs: Hull City, Harrogate Town, Scarborough.

Following the release of Chris Wright and injury to Lee Crockett, Boston United signed up goalkeeper Curtis Aspden on an emergency loan deal from Hull City in December 2007. Aspden spent the early part of the season on-loan at Conference North rivals Harrogate Town and he was between the sticks for the Pilgrims' trip to North Yorkshire - saving a Jon Froggatt penalty as United were beaten 3-2. He had also had a loan spell with Scarborough.


Lee Crockett LEE CROCKETT b. 4/10/1987 Goalkeeper Left to join Corby Town.

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Manchester United.

This former Manchester United trainee joined the Pilgrims in August 2007 to share goalkeeping duties with Chris Wright.


Mbiyeye Medine MBIYEYE MEDINE b. 3/9/1987 Midfielder Left by mutual consent.

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Cambridge United.

Joined the Pilgrims in August 2007 after impressing in pre-season games. Training to be a stockbroker.


Sam Gaughran SAM GAUGHRAN b. 29/1/1990 Midfield Recalled to Peterborough.

Born: ?
Previous clubs: Peterborough United, King's Lynn.

Sam Gaughran joined Boston United in January 2008 on a work experience deal from Peterborough United. He had also previously had a similar deal at King's Lynn.


Photographs copyright © Ken Fox.

Boston United Database copyright © Ken Fox 2008.


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