I had booked a hospitality experience with a Boston United fan at the start of the season for today’s game, writes David Ward.
Part of the experience included a two-course meal, a free programme, a free team sheet and selected seats as part of the matchday package.
As you enter the ground just outside Boston centre, you can see the expansion of the Jakemans Community Stadium progressing well with the building of the fourth stand. This is going to include a gym, which will also be used by the general public, along with facilities for the community and for matchday events.
General admission prices range up to £23 for adults, £16 for concessions and £6 for under-16s. The hospitality cost is £65 for adults, with a discount for season ticket holders.
On arriving at hospitality, you are directed to a table and given a ticket for your match seat, with a programme and lanyard waiting at the table. The food, which is pre-arranged by text a week before the game so alternatives can be sorted, was well presented and prepared in their own kitchens.
The programme was absolutely first class, costing £3.50 for a 56-page magazine full of content with only 14 pages of advertising. It contains the manager’s views, academy updates and coverage of the women’s team, as well as all the usual programme features. Winning non-league programme awards shows how a club can successfully produce a profitable and high-quality publication.
The match itself was enjoyable, with Boston playing good football, while Tamworth were time-wasting from the start and used tactics to prevent the game from flowing.
With Tamworth’s delaying tactics throughout the match gradually wearing Boston down, the game finished in a rather dour scoreless draw, with Boston unable to break the visitors down. It is, however, another solid point pulling them away from the relegation places, with good performances from one of the latest signings and now captain Jamie Grimes, Jake Rooney, cousin of Wayne, and Imp Oisin Gallagher.
The whole experience at the ground was wonderful, whether in hospitality or on the terrace, and the match hopper was welcomed with open arms. I was also given a hint that at the end of April there will be a charity match arranged between ex-Boston United and Lincoln City players for those who wish to visit.