TT No.152: Mike Latham - Wed 26 Dec 2007: Eagle Bitter United Counties League Premier Division.       Holbeach United 2-3 Boston Town. Attendance: 200 (est); Admission: £4; 52pp programme: £1. 

 

 

View matchday images  01 02 03 04 05

 

Located in the heart of the Lincolnshire fens, roughly between Sleaford and King’s Lynn, Holbeach is a pleasant small market town, easily reached off the A17.

 

Their Carters Park ground is on Park Road which leads from the traffic lights in the middle of town.  There is only a very small car park but plenty of street parking in a residential area.

 

As the name implies, Holbeach’s ground is located in the middle of the town’s park and a slightly incongruous grey metal fence has been erected on three sides of the ground (the fourth side borders Park Road).  The facilities are modest but it was a ground that I immediately took an instant liking towards, not least because of the tree-lined location but also the warm welcome afforded at the gate.  The gateman, programme seller and raffle ticket seller were all extremely friendly and made one feel as though a good choice had been made in selecting this venue for Boxing Day’s entertainment.

 

The main facilities are on the entrance side where a club house and small seated stand are located. The rest of the ground is flat standing behind a post and rail fence. The club house was a hub of activity and everyone was very friendly and eager to talk about their club. Sadly, two of the stalwarts of the tea room were laid low by a bug so this department, I was told, was not operating to its usual efficiency. This local derby was anticipated to be a spicy affair but the football on offer was actually tremendous- full-blooded with no quarter asked or given but played in a generally good spirit and with plenty of incidents.

 

Holbeach, playing in the yellow and black stripes that help them earn the nickname of the Tigers, led 1-0 at half-time but three goals in 15 minutes midway through the second half took the spoils to Boston, who stepped up their game considerably after the break.  Nimmo’s reply in the fourth minute of injury time was no more than a consolation.

 

The programme, though boasting 52 pages was decidedly light on editorial and heavily dependent on adverts for copy- I counted no less than 80- but full praise to the club for getting so many local businesses to support their local football club.

 

I had trawled the internet for information on Holbeach before my visit and found very little information so I am happy to report that it is a very friendly and welcoming club in a most pleasant setting and a visit here comes highly recommended. 

contributed on 27/12/07