Stevenage midfielder Michael Bostwick has today been announced as a Boston United player on the club’s official website.
Michael Bostwick has decided to join National League North side Boston United on the expiration of his Stevenage contract, after making 37 appearances in all competitions and helping Boro to promotion to League One.
Who is Michael Bostwick?
Michael Bostwick is a London-born midfielder who has also shown his abilities as a centre-back, particularly over the past few seasons. His career started at Millwall but it was at Stevenage in his first spell where Bostwick came to be noticed, enjoying a wonderful spell of success with the club. Having joined the club for the start of the 2008-09 season, Bostwick would help the club win the FA Trophy in that season, the Conference title a year later and in 2010-11 he would help the club win the League Two playoffs and achieve promotion to League One. He also scored in a famous FA Cup win over Newcastle United in the 3rd Round of the 2010-11 competition.
Bostwick played 107 times for Boro in his first spell before a big-money move to Peterborough United, with the fee believed to be around £500 000. His first season saw a step up to Championship football, but it was a season that would end in relegation back to the third tier where the club would remain for the rest of his time in Cambridgeshire.
Leaving Peterborough, he would make a somewhat surprising move to League Two new boys Lincoln City in a double deal with Peterborough teammate Harry Anderson joining him at the Imps. His first campaign at Sincil Bank would see a playoff finish and a first Wembley appearance for the club, securing the Checkatrade Trophy with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury. The 2018-19 season would be an excellent one for Danny Cowley’s men as they won the League Two title and secured a return to English football’s third tier for the first time since relegation in 1999. The end of the season would see Bostwick rewarded for his fine performances as he was named Player of the Year and Away Player of the Year.
The next season was, of course, disrupted due to the Covid outbreak and the season was curtailed in March. Bostwick would leave Lincoln following the expiration of his contract and join League One rivals Burton Albion. The Londoner played a total of 41 matches for The Brewers before initially returning to Stevenage on loan and then securing a permanent switch ready for the 2022-23 campaign.
It turned out to be a fairy tale return to Broadhall Way as Steve Evans’ men would go on to secure the League Two title and a return to League One for the first time in a decade.
Writer’s View
I have to say this to me is an excellent signing for Boston United and to get a player like this in the National League North could potentially be key. As with any player, staying clear of injury is vital but if The Pilgrims can keep Bostwick fit he will play a vital role in a season where they will surely be hoping to challenge at the right end of the table after last season’s disappointing campaign.
Bostwick was a cult hero during his time at Lincoln City with his long hair and beard striking fear into the opposition attackers as he formed an excellent partnership at the heart of the defence with Jason Shackell. I imagine there won’t be too many strikers in the division relishing the thought of entering a challenge with Michael Bostwick.
