So, where do Bourne Town sit in the grand scheme of Boro’ things? Who are they? And who holds the Bourne supremacy…? For three seasons as members of the United Counties League Premier Division, Boro’ came up against them. More often than not, it was a struggle for us; the Wakes returning three wins from our six meetings. Our only victory against them came in May 1982. To be fair to ’em, you’d normally find them towards the top end of the table. But it wasn’t until 1991 that they added to four previous titles.
Bourne Town: The Facts
The Abbey Lawn
Abbey Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9EP
Let’s stop all this time-related tosh and get this show on the road. For the uneducated, Bourne Town is a club now approaching its 135th year. That’s not half bad by anyone’s standards. For almost the entire first half of their existence, the club competed in the Peterborough League; claiming the title in 1934, before owning the competition after the Second World War Two with back-to-back wins in 1946 and 1947. It was enough for ’em to earn them a punt at the United Counties League. It was a struggle, however, and lasted just nine years.
After regrouping in the Peterborough League, the Central Alliance League and the Midland League, the UCL came calling once more. This time, it proved to be a much better experience for Bourne Town; 1965 the start of an association with the competition that continues to this day. In the 1960s, too, the Wakes had their best times in the FA Cup with three appearances in the Third Qualifying Round. It’s back to the UCL, however, and the point in time that Stevenage Borough come into the equation. It’s why we’re all here, after all.
How to get to Bourne Town – Travel Information – Distance: 72 miles
By Road
Take the A1(M) and A1 north from Stevenage until you come to Peterborough. You’ll want to leave the A1(M) at Junction 17; this is the exit for the A1139 Fletton Parkway. You don’t need to fret about a roundabout at the top of the slip road; it feeds straight onto the A1139.
At the first roundabout you reach, however, take the first exit for the A15 Paston Parkway. Keep on the A15 over the next four roundabouts. At the fifth, you’re staying on the A15 – but it also might show as the A1175. A mile later, though, you’ll be taking the first exit and ‘back’ on the A15.
Keep on the A15 when you come to a roundabout with a McDonalds by it. In 0.2 miles, take the right hand turn into Drummond Lane. Follow this to the end, before turning right onto Austerby. It’s then a left soon after for Willoughby Lane, which becomes Eastgate. At the end of Eastgate, turn left onto Spalding Road.
The ground is up here on the left, albeit hidden by local residential properties.
