Boston Town will be targeting a first ever victory against Grantham when they face them on Tuesday (21 October).
Remarkably, this is the first time the Lincolnshire rivals have met for 29 years, despite the fact they’re are only 30 miles apart.
In fact, it’s first time they’ve played each in a league match since 1971.
The Gingerbreads have become the biggest bogey team in the Poachers’ history. In all, the 2 clubs have come up against each other 15 times since 1965 – but Boston have yet to register a single win.
They’ve mustered just 2 draws in those games – and those were both in the 1960s – with the other 13 ending in defeat.
The Poachers have only ever scored 3 times against Grantham, the last one being by Stu Park in an FA Cup defeat in 1989.
Prior to that, the only Boston player to have netted in the fixture was John Bazley, who scored in 2 different Midland League matches more than half a century ago.
The first of those was a 1-1 draw in 1969, which was the last time the Poachers avoided defeat against Grantham.
Since then, the Gingerbreads have won 10 out of 10.
However, the Poachers have faced a team wearing Grantham colours more recently – and scored a hatful on both occasions.
They beat Grantham Town Academy 7-1 in the UCL KO Cup in September 2022 and followed it up with a 6-0 hammering in the Lincs Senior Trophy a month later. Fraser Bayliss scored 2 in the first game and a hat-trick in the 2nd.
Chris Funnell’s side are currently top of the United Counties League Premier North table, with Grantham in 6th place.
A big crowd is expected on Tuesday at the Mortgages For You Stadium to see if his team can bounce back from the shock of their 4-3 defeat against Clay Cross on Saturday. Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Words: Simon Ashberry
Pic: Steve Davies
