"It was just euphoria!" Marc Newsham remembers the jubilation of Boston United winning UniBond Premier play-off final... 10 years ago today

“It was just euphoria,” remembered Marc Newsham. “Everyone went a bit crazy, we were hugging and the fans were on there too. It was bedlam.”

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Boston United’s last promotion, the play-off final victory at Bradford Park Avenue that saw the Pilgrims complete a triumphant treble and return to the Blue Square Conference North.

United striker Newsham scored his 29th goal of the campaign that afternoon at the Horsfall Stadium as United came from behind to complete a 2-1 victory over the Avenue in extra-time.

Lee Elam had put the hosts in front in the first half before Newsham pulled Boston level in the 61st minute with an acrobatic volley. Ticker tape fell from the stands as the vocal away support went crazy.

“I hadn’t had much impact in the first half, but I was confident that if I got a chance I could take it,” Newsham added.

“We kept a lot of clean sheets that season and we didn’t let a lot in.

“We were solid at the back, had different types of strikers who could score goals and a good engine in midfield.

“We always felt we could win games, even if we went behind.”

With no further goals coming in the 90 minutes, the tense contest went to extra time.

Three minutes into the additional 30 Boston took the lead as Bradford failed to clear a corner and Anthony Church forced the ball home from almost on the line.

“It’s the type of goal I’d normally get, sweeping in from close range” Newsham remembered.

"But on occasions like that it’s not about who scored, it’s winning that matters.”

Newsham was replaced by Liam Parker as Rob Scott and Paul Hurst looked for their side to hold onto that narrow lead.

“I remember watching the end of the game from the dug-out,” the forward, who went on to score 107 Boston United goals, reflected.

“I had no control over the game, just hoping that time would go quicker.”

But that sturdy United defence held on to secure promotion as the fans invaded the pitch before joining the players outside the changing rooms to pop champagne corks as skipper Lee Canoville held the winners’ vase aloft.

Trophy number one of that season came on March 16, Shaun Pearson scoring the only goal as Boston beat Grantham Town 1-0 to lift the Lincolnshire Senior Shield at the Meres Stadium.

Five days later it was two as Boston beat rivals Retford United 2-0 at Lincoln United’s Ashby Avenue ground to add the UniBond Challenge Cup to the trophy cabinet. Newsham and Ryan Semple got the goals on that evening.

In fact, Newsham scored six times in the final eight games of the campaign but, like the rest of the squad, drew a blank at Marine on the final day of the league season.

Boston knew victory would secure the title, but they were held to a goalless draw and ended the campaign third.

Three days later Newsham and Jamie Yates netted as Boston beat North Ferriby 2-1 at York Street to secure their place in the play-of final.

“The pressure told that day at Marine,” Newsham said. “But it showed the character of that team that we came back and beat Ferriby in midweek and then won the play-off final.

“There were big characters in that team. It was a brilliant day, my whole family was there as well.”

The play-off winners’ vase may be long gone - smashed on the York Street boardroom floor after falling from a shelf several years ago - but, as Newsham proves, the memories of that remarkable day live on.

How the Pilgrims completed the treble:

Most appearances (all competitions): Danny Sleath 52, Marc Newsham 51, Tom Evans 48, Danny Davidson 46, Chris Wood 46, Mikel Suarez 46, Anthony Church 43, James Cullingworth 43, Lee Canoville 42, Shaun Pearson 40, Liam Parker 38, Jamie Yates 35, Spencer Weir-Daley 34, Mark Camm 28, Jamie Clarke 18, Dan Cotton 15, Ryan Semple 15, Gareth Davies 14, Matt Kennedy 9, Matthew Bird 7, Adam Millson 5, Aaron Butcher 5, Simon Ashton 5, Nick Jackson 5, Shane Clancy 4, Nathan Koranteng 3, Matt Austin 3, Robbie Clark 2, Jack Weedon 2, Chris Baker 1, Tom Hopper 1, Tyrone Kirk 1, Rory Prendergast 1.

The goalscorers (all competitions): Marc Newsham 29, Spencer Weir-Daley 21, Danny Davidson 17, Danny Sleath 10, Mikel Suarez 10, Shaun Pearson 9, Anthony Church 8, Jamie Clarke 3, Ryan Semple 3, Jamie Yates 3, Lee Canoville 2, Nathan Koranteng 2, Dan Cotton 1, James Cullingworth 1,Matt Kennedy 1, Mark Camm 1, Liam Parker 1.

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