# 2004–05 Boston United F.C. season

After their success in Division Three the previous year, Boston were billed as promotion favourites, as they had bolstered their squad for the 2004–05 Football League Two, Boston's third consecutive season in the Football League, after promotion in 2002.
Hectic pre-season matches in a packed schedule saw Boston play a selection of local and national teams, including Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Stamford A.F.C. and local rivals Boston Town. Boston played a very lucrative friendly against a Newcastle United XI at York Street, bringing in a crowd of 3349. The Pilgrims comfortably won 4–0, with Martin Carruthers scoring a hat-trick. The game saw a number of Newcastle's future players at the game, including Michael Chopra, Matty Pattison and goalkeeper Tony Caig.
A notable addition to the Pilgrims' squad was former England international Paul Gascoigne, who joined the club on a short-term basis, as a player-coach. Assigned his famous number 19 shirt for the forthcoming season, Gascoigne was presented in front of the media against his former club Newcastle, a game which he started. Gascoigne went on to make 10 appearances for Boston before leaving in October.
This season for Boston was also notable for their progression in the Carling Cup. Playing Championship side Luton Town was at first a daunting task for United, but they were in form following two consecutive league wins against Chester and Cambridge. The Pilgrims overcame Luton, winning 4–3, setting up a tie with Premier League club Fulham. 5373 people attended the second round tie at York Street, but Boston lost 4–1 at the hands of Chris Coleman's men. Playing for Fulham were many international players, such as Luis Boa Morte, Steed Malbranque, Brian McBride and Tomasz Radzinski.
It was a season of mixed results, with the team only winning 14 of a possible 46 league games. This saw Boston finish in a comfortable 16th position, but this was disappointing to the fans, considering what many had predicted in August.

## End Of Season Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Alan White |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Paul Ellender (captain) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Mark Greaves (vice-captain) |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Steve Melton |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Brad Maylett |
| 8 | MF | ENG | David Noble |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Jason Lee |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Chris Holland |
| 12 | MF | SCO | Simon Rusk |
| 14 | DF | SCO | Austin McCann |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Lee Thompson |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Danny Thomas |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | FW | WAL | Jermaine Easter |
| 19 | FW | SCO | Stephen O'Donnell |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Paul Raynor (assistant-manager) |
| 22 | MF | ENG | David Staff |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Courtney Pitt |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Luke Forbes |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Rob Norris |
| 26 | GK | ENG | Nathan Abbey |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Tom Hurst |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Dean West |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Daryl Clare |
| 31 | DF | ENG | Stuart Smith |

## Left the club

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Paul Bastock (to Scarborough) |
| 2 | DF | WAL | Lee Beevers (to Lincoln) |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Greg Strong (to Livingston) |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Dominic Roma (end of loan from Sheffield Utd) |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Tom Bennett (to Kidderminster) |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Kevin James (end of loan from Nottingham Forest) |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Scott Wiseman (end of loan from Hull City) |
| 10 | FW | NIR | Andy Kirk (to Northampton) |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Ryan Clarke (to Leigh RMI) |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Martin Carruthers (to Lincoln) |
| 18 | MF | SCO | Stephen Boyack (to Blackpool) |
| 18 | GK | ENG | Luke McCormick (end of loan from Plymouth) |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Paul Gascoigne (left the club) |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Matt O'Halloran (to King's Lynn) |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Gareth Jelleyman (end of loan from Peterborough) |
| 24 | DF | ITA | Emanule Gabrieli (end of loan from Sheffield Utd) |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Zema Abbey (end of loan from Norwich) |
| 27 | FW | SCO | Tam McManus (end of loan from Hibernian) |