Boston United are readying for a return to the National League after a 14 year wait.
One of their more well-known supporters is Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who was a key part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The former deputy chief medical officer has supported his boyhood club for more than five decades, and has his eyes set on the Pilgrims establishing themselves back in the fifth tier following their play-off triumph.
What has Jonathan Van-Tam Said?
Speaking to reporter Jamie Johnson, Van-Tam said: “We know that the National League is a big step up for us, but getting there, at least for me personally, has taken away a lot of the pain that came in the early to mid-noughties when we lost our position in the football league, and then lost our position in the conference.
“If we could get ourselves established in the National League, get ourselves a solid mid-table, that’s not meaning we lack ambition. But, getting settled and getting to feel like we belong where we do actually belong, in the National League, that will be a great start.”
He added: “We’ve got a lot of players out of contract, so we wait with bated breath. I think those of us who are Boston United diehards are checking the website every few hours for news of signings.”
A Promotion That Removes Years of Hurt:
Boston secured a dramatic promotion through the National League North play-offs, seeing off Alfreton Town and Scunthorpe United in respective penalty shootouts, before coming from behind to win in the final.
Keaton Ward netted an equaliser in first-half injury time at Brackley Town, before the club 2023/24 top goalscorer Jimmy Knowles scored from the spot to seal a famous play-off final victory.
Van-Tam said: “That promotion at Brackley took away a lot of the pain and the hurt from all of those years.”
The former EFL side were met my financial problems during the 2000s, and have been forced to work their way back up to reach the National League once again.
Boston United Back in the National League:
The Pilgrims finished sixth in the National League North, but worked their way through three play-off ties to join Tamworth in securing promotion.
They only secured their spot in the play-offs on the final day of the season, finishing just one point above the chasing pack of South Shields and Spennymoor Town.
60-year-old, Van-Tam is the current Lincolnshire FA chair and has committed to tackle abuse in grassroots football during his tenure. He took the position in the summer of 2023, having left his role in central government.
He was spotted in the stands dressed as a nun during a game towards the end of the 2023/24 season.
Boston United Manager Ian Culverhouse has already kept a handful of his promotion winning team, but has made offers to the bulk of them. As Van-Tam said himself, the summer will be one of checking the club website and social media to see if more names re-sign with the Pilgrims ahead of the upcoming campaign.