impsTALK.co.uk | 2008/2009 Predictions

Duncan Browne, local newshack

Duncan is best known for, well, take a look for yourself (right). When he's not scouting the catwalks of Italy for the latest in scarf fashions, he's following Boston United about the country trying to entice a few words out of Tommy Taylor. But he took time out to look ahead to the new season....

It's not blue. It's aquamarine.

Who is going to walk away with the 2008/2009 NPL title?
Who is going to walk off with 2008/2009 NPL title glory? As a traditionalist I would have to plump for the only team in this division with any real Football League history… Bradford Park Avenue. That history may be in the Bradford and District Football League, but hey, what’s real history when you’ve got cold hard cash? It would be fitting if this fine club could climb up the footballing ladder to the level they deserve to be by the time they begin to fill their ’20,000’ capacity stadium. But in all honesty, I reckon – and hope – Boston will romp it.

What are your realistic expectations for Boston?
Boston should – and I do mean should – be in a position to challenge for the title, at least. However, things don’t always go to plan at York Street. You can say this should be a good season because much of this squad helped the club finish tenth in the BSN last season – but then again, much of this squad helped the club lose at home to Hucknall and away at Blyth Spartans and Vauxhall Motors as well as earn a draw at Leigh GenesisRMI. Sort out the away form and success is within reach.

Which away trip are you most looking forward to?
Cammell Laird – purely as I’ll be keen to see whether the club’s hardcore fans manage to get hold of the impsTALK rough guide’s editor and actually toast him in one of those giant wicker men thingumys or not.

Kendal Town also offers the mouth-watering opportunity to have a fry-up at the Truckhaven services

Which team do you most want to see Boston absolutely tear apart 12-0?
FC United of Manchester… away… possibly sat with the Glazer family!

What's the worst joke you've ever heard?
Rodney Dangerfield’s ‘My dad was a stupid guy. He worked in a bank and got sacked for stealing pens’. On second thoughts, that’s quite good.

Who would win in a game of Monopoly: sinister ex-Boston chairman Jon Sotnick or sinister Bradford Park Avenue(1988) chairman Bob Blackburn?
It’d be close, but I’d have to go for Sotnick. His eagerness to stick hotels everywhere could quickly bankrupt Blackburn early on… if he gets planning permission, that is. I don’t expect Sotnick to be advertising his properties online though.

Will you be taking the Harry Ramsden's fish and chip challenge in Guiseley? If so, provide an estimate of time elapsed between first forkful and last forkful, to the nearest second.
No point in trying. I’d be considerably slower than [Sony Award Winning BBC broadcaster] Scott Dalton.

Which away trip would you happily gouge your own eyes out to avoid?
Sadly, I don’t get that option. But if anyone I know would kindly like to get married on August 30 and invite me as a guest then I may have reason not to visit Prescot Cables.

Which is your favourite ship built by the world famous Cammell Laird shipyard?
I can’t believe you’ve asked me this. It’s obviously the HMS Unicorn (S43), completed in 1993. It is now known as the HMCS Windsor (SSK 877). It is a long-range hunter-killer submarine of the Canadian Navy (Simon Rayner’s probably got one) and the second ship in the Victoria Class. She is named after the city of Windsor, Ontario. HMCS Windsor has six torpedo tubes and can carry up to eighteen Mark 48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedoes for use against sub-surface targets. She is also capable of carrying sub-harpoon missiles and laying mines. HMCS Windsor's SONAR sets allow her to locate and track ships and other submarines passively, that is without transmitting on active sonar and thus giving away her location.

She is fitted with RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) for general navigation, attack and search periscopes (incorporating video recording and thermal imaging), and an Electronic Support Measures suite. The ship has two diesel generators, each capable of producing up to 1,410 kilowatts, and one main motor. The generators are used to charge two main batteries, each consisting of 240 battery cells. These batteries are used to power the submarine, which can reach a submerged speed of up to 20 knots (37 km/h).

She was the last ship built at Cammell Laird. Everyone knows that!

Who is going to be Boston's key player this season?
Is Dwayne Clarke still here? No? Purely due to his adaptability and performances against Boston last season I’d have to plump for Wes Parker. But if the strikers don’t wham a few in then some questions may be asked.