Boston United

A young Boston fan who was upset that her favourite player is leaving was “over the moon” to meet him – and was even given a pair of signed football boots from her hero.

When Andy Acheson told his daughter Noá that a recent game she went to would be one of the last times she would see Billy Chadwick she was distraught.

The striker is currently on loan at Boston United from Hull City and Noá described him as being “really nice”.

Andy told BBC Look North: “She couldn’t stop crying so I took a little video of it, and kind of emotional blackmail really. I sent it to Billy on Twitter and I said please don’t leave or something like that.

“He replied almost straight away and said that he’d love to meet her after the game the next day.”

Noá had her photo taken with Billy who gave her a pair of signed football boots. Andy added: “It was just so lovely. I mean she’s absolutely over the moon with the whole thing.”

Noá said in a video to the footballer: “Thanks for the boots. I’m so grateful. I love them. You’ll always be my favourite player.”

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Norfolk Police have issued a CCTV appeal with images of five men as they continue their investigation into the disorder which erupted in a match between King’s Lynn and Boston United on New Year’s Day.

Eleven people were arrested after rival supporters began fighting inside the stadium during the second half of the league match between King’s Lynn Town and the away side from Lincolnshire, which Boston lost 2-1.

Three away fans were charged with public order offences whilst a fourth was given a conditional caution.

Nathan Stubley, 30 of Marshland Drive, Holbeach; Joseph Orrell, 32, of Mallow Gardens in Boston, and Gary Jaques, 31 of St Mary’s Way, Boston, were all been charged with threatening behaviour under the public order act. All three were released on conditional bail to appear at King’s Lynn Magistrates Court on February 23, 2023.

An 18-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been given a conditional caution for being drunk and disorderly.

Norfolk Police have now issued images of five men they would like to speak to in connection with the disorder at the match.

Anyone who recognises the men or has any information which could help the investigation should contact Sergeant Darryl Grief at King’s Lynn Local Policing team on 101 or email [email protected].

Superintendent Wes Hornigold previously said: “Fighting between fans has no place in football and we will deal with incidents robustly. We worked closely with King’s Lynn Town Football Club to disrupt the violence and the vast majority of fans had a safe and enjoyable day.

“We will always seek to apply for football banning orders, where appropriate, which could see fans banned from matches.”

Boston United previously issued a statement which said: “We can confirm that we are working with Lincolnshire Police in connection with the crowd disorder that took place at the New Year’s Day fixture at King’s Lynn Town.

“The vast majority of our 412 travelling supporters behaved impeccably, but a very small minority unfortunately did not.

“There is absolutely no place at all for violence at football matches, and the club takes a zero tolerance approach in such cases.

“The club will take appropriate action against the perpetrators having consulted with the Police and King’s Lynn Town.

“We will support the investigation into the incident in any way that we can.”

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Boston United has “parted company” with manager Paul Cox after less than eight months in charge, replacing him with former Premier League defender Ian Culverhouse.

Paul Cox, 50, joined the Pilgrims following Craig Elliott’s departure in January this year, as one of the National League North’s favourites for promotion struggled for form.

Cox oversaw a resurgence in form as the side fought towards the play-off final, which Boston agonisingly lost against York City in May – condemning the club to another year in English football’s sixth tier.

The hangover of this defeat could not shake, as Boston United sit bottom of the division with no wins from their opening seven matches.

The club’s hand has been forced by this poor form, and the Pilgrims announced on Tuesday that it had “parted company” with Paul Cox as first team manager.

His replacement is a recognisable name in English football, as former Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ian Culverhouse becomes the new first team manager at Boston.

The 57-year-old made over 400 career appearances, including famous displays in the UEFA Cup and Premier League with Norwich in the early 1990s.

As a coach he has served as assistant manager at both Norwich City and Aston Villa in the past, while he stepped down the divisions to earn management stripes at the likes of King’s Lynn Town and Grantham Town.

Culverhouse became Kettering Town manager in January, ironically replacing Paul Cox as he took the Boston job, but resigned in May after almost guiding the side to the play-offs – and he will now again be replacing Cox, this time at the Pilgrims.

A Boston United spokesperson said: “The Pilgrims would like to thank Paul and his backroom staff for all their hard work and wish them well for the future.

“There will be more coverage of Ian’s appointment as the week progresses towards the new manager’s first match in charge against Alfreton Town on Saturday (September 10).”