Pre-season does not usually arrive with much ceremony, but this one carries a little extra weight. Boston United and Lincoln City will meet in both clubs' pre-season opener at 3.00pm, with the Jakemans Community Stadium providing an early look at where each side stands before the real work begins.
For Boston United, the fixture offers Paul Hurst his first chance to use a new-look squad in front of supporters. That alone makes the afternoon worth watching. The first game of the summer is rarely about sharpness or shape alone; it is also about first impressions, and about seeing how quickly new players begin to fit together under pressure.
Lincoln City arrive with a different kind of backdrop. The Imps are preparing for life in the Championship after a historic title-winning campaign in League One, and that adds an interesting layer to a routine summer outing. Even in pre-season, there is a sense of progression attached to their visit, while Boston United can measure themselves against a side heading into a higher division.
What to expect at the ground
The match will be played at the Jakemans Community Stadium, where supporters will be split between designated stands for Lincoln and United. That should give the opener a proper matchday feel despite the friendly setting, with both sets of fans able to treat it as the first checkpoint of the summer.
There is also a bit of recent history attached to this venue. Lincoln lost 5-0 at the Jakemans Community Stadium in 2021 before returning to win 7-0 there in 2023, a reminder that these meetings can swing sharply even when the occasion is not competitive. Pre-season games do not always tell us everything, but they often tell us enough about tempo, rhythm and readiness.
What this one mainly tells us is simple: Boston United get an early test, Lincoln City get an early runout, and both clubs begin their summer in a setting that should offer a useful first read on where they are headed.
