DELAYED PILGRIMS LINE UP TRINITY SWITCH
BOSTON United could start the new season playing ‘home’ games 50 miles away at Gainsborough Trinity.
The National League North side are still hoping to begin the campaign at their new Community Stadium, on the outskirts of Boston, but chairman David Newton has revealed a back-up plan.
Covid-19 has delayed aspects of the stadium’s construction and the Pilgrims have already moved out of their iconic York Street ground following their play-off final defeat to Altrincham.
“We are on track to have most of the work completed for October 3, the potential first home fixture of the new season,” said Newton in a statement.
“However, we are less certain to have all the necessary service connections completed in time for the extensive testing of the mechanical and electrical installations – and the completion and testing of the floodlights and the lifts.
“We are working closely with the Safety Advisory Group to ensure we have all the necessary safety protocols in place, but a Safety Certificate cannot be issued until a ‘test event’ has taken place.
“Under current draft Government guidance, fixtures with spectators cannot take place until October 1 at the earliest, which would not leave sufficient time for any issues arising from the test event to be addressed before the first fixture.”
Boston’s season begins with the FA Cup in four weeks’ time.
“We have reluctantly taken the decision to potentially play the first few ‘home’ fixtures at Gainsborough,” added Newton. “I say ‘potentially’ as we do not yet know the fixtures and we could have a situation where we are drawn away from home in the FA Cup fixture(s) and our first league games are scheduled away from home.
“We are grateful to Richard Kane, chairman of Gainsborough Trinity, for allowing that option for us.”