LET’S RAISE THE ROOF FOR JIM!
CHAIRMAN David Newton has urged Boston United fans to channel raw emotion into positive energy for the club’s FA Cup replay tonight – in honour of former boss Jim Smith!
Club legend Smith passed away peacefully on Tuesday night at the age of 79, following a glittering 40-year managerial career which began with three years as player-boss at York Street in 1969. Historically, the Pilgrims have always seen the man nicknamed ‘The Bald Eagle’ as one of their own after making 123 appearances for the club as a player before going on to take charge of a host of top clubs, including Oxford United, Derby County and Portsmouth.
But, since Smith stepped out of the football limelight in 2008, Boston fans have had little cheer about – until now that is!
Tomorrow night, Craig Elliott’s National League North high-fliers take on League One Rochdale in an FA Cup second round replay in front of the BT Sport cameras with a home tie against Premier League giants Newcastle United – another of Smith’s former clubs – the lucrative prize for the winners.
Boston have requested permission to hold a minute’s applause in honour of Smith ahead of kick-off – a fitting tribute to the man who will always be so fondly remembered at York Street, in this, its final season before the club moves to a new stadium on the outskirts of town.
“We are very proud to be the club where Jim Smith started his managerial career,” Newton told The NLP. “He is a big part of our history – you only need to look at the number of photographs we have of Jim around the place. There a lot of people still at the club who remember his time with us, both as a player and a manager.
Dreaming
“We were deeply sorry to hear of Jim’s passing this week and our thoughts go out to all his family and friends at this sad time.”
Newton revealed club had planned that the to invite
Smith to attend the Newcastle game were they to get through – not that anyone at York Street is taking anything for granted.
“It’s a massive ask so we’re taking one step at a time,” Newton added, looking back on the 0-0 draw in the first match at Spotland. “Rochdale are a big League One club with quality players and with Newcastle awaiting the winners, they’ll be just as fired up as we are.
“We’ve not had a cup run in the 12 years we have been here and the whole town is buzzing, so we can carry on dreaming.
“We had the better of the game at their place and were unlucky not to win on the day. Hopefully now, with 4,000 supporters behind us for the replay, we can get the job done and give the whole town something to smile about.”