For nearly ninety years, York Street was the home of Boston United.
The venue was first used by the club in 1933, when it was known as Shodfriars Lane.
York Street was Boston United’s home until 2020Getty The stadium played host to the Pilgrims’ rise through the lower divisionsGettyHowever, York Street was in use well before the Pilgrims had been formed as football had been played on the site since the late 1800s.
Football also was not the only sport York Street played host to.
Throughout the 1930s, greyhound racing took place around the pitch.
In fact, over 1,000 people attended the first greyhound meeting at York Street.
But when World War Two broke out, the greyhound track had to close and was never re-opened.
Unfortunately York Street was largely devoid of memorable football moments, but that changed in the 1950s.
Under former Derby County goalkeeper Ray Middleton, Boston United enjoyed surprise FA Cup runs and put on impressive displays in the Midland League.
As a result, York Street played host to attendances between 5,000 and 6,000 for league games and even attracted more than 9,000 fans when floodlights were used for a clash against Corby Town.
However, in 1977, the Pilgrims were left to fear for their future at the ground after it was deemed unsuitable for the Football League by inspectors.
As a result, Northern Premier League runners-up Wigan Athletic, who finished second to Boston United, were elected to join the Football League instead.
It was once a League Two venue…Getty Facebook - Tom MarshallBut it has since been left to rot following Boston United moving to a new ground in 2020[/caption]The inspectors’ grading prompted a round of fundraising among the local community in 1978 as enough money was collected to build new terracing, stands, floodlights, toilets, turnstiles as well as areas to get food.
The most expensive part of the York Street redevelopment was the rebuilding of the Town End Terrace, which cost Boston United an estimated £200,000.
York Street eventually became a football league ground in 2002 when they were in the third division, which became League Two in the 2004/05 campaign.
However, the 2006/07 season proved to be the Pilgrims’ last in the football league as they ran into serious financial difficulties.
The club copped a 10-point deduction for entering administration and were relegated to the sixth tier after they failed to pay creditors.
Boston United have failed to return to the football league since, having bounced around the non-league divisions.
The 2019/20 season proved to be Boston United’s last at York Street as they built a new ground outside of the town, known as the Jakemans Community Stadium.
It was built as part of the Quadrant development in the town.
Despite the grand history surrounding York Street, the ground has been largely left to rot.
In a picture shared on social media, the venue remains intact but the grass has overgrown while weeds have protruded through the concrete surroundings off the pitch.
The York Street site was even put up for sale for £5m in April 2022, but that price has since dropped to £2m according to Poyntons Consultancy.
The firm claims the 4-acre site is ‘suitable for retail warehousing’ in addition to ‘a residential development, leisure, care home or other uses’ but would be subject to planning.
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