Saturday’s much-anticipated FA Cup derby between Holbeach United and Boston Town is a special one for Ollie Pinner.
The Carter’s Park clash (3pm) will see the Tigers midfielder line up against his former side for the first time since ending his near-ten year association with the Poachers over the summer.
Having been a key cog in Holbeach’s flawless start to the season, which has seen them win all five games under the joint-charge of John Chand and Graham Dury, Pinner is almost certain to start.
Whatever happens on Saturday, the two Lincolnshire rivals will meet twice in the space of four days – as a UCL Premier Division fixture is pencilled in for Tuesday night at Tattershall Road (7.45pm). Should the rivals draw, it will turn into an FA Cup replay.
And with a plum tie at King’s Lynn Town awaiting the winners, combative anchorman Pinner insists he’ll be doing his old team-mates no favours after taking up an irresistible offer to switch allegiances.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” said the former Town skipper. “When I saw the fixtures, the Boston game was one that jumped out.
“Now we’ve got them in the FA Cup too, which will be strange for me.
“I’ve obviously got a lot of feeling for Town and I really do hope they have a good season. Having spent ten years there, it’s hard not to want them to do well.
“But when John (Chand) told me about the side he was building at Holbeach, I just really wanted to be a part of it. I only left Boston for footballing reasons.
“The side we’ve got at Holbeach is very strong and I certainly will be doing what I can to get us through to King’s Lynn. It’s a great draw – and who is to say we couldn’t win there too?”
Well-known in UCL Premier Division circles, Pinner is bidding to change two things about himself this season. The first is the common misconception that he’s one of the league’s ‘bad boys’. No stranger to the referee’s notebook, he was actually sent off for the Poachers against the Tigers last season.
His other aim is to win a trophy, having never got his hands on silverware during his decade with Boston.
Indeed, Pinner missed the Poachers’ only champagne moment – victory in the 2008/09 final of the Lincolnshire County Senior Trophy – because of a broken leg suffered, ironically, playing against Holbeach at Carter’s Park.
“It could get tasty with two games in a few days,” added Pinner. “But I’m not interested in getting involved in any silliness.
“I’ve had a few red cards over the years, but I’d like to think I’m a bit more head-strong now. It obviously helps that I’m playing in a really good side. When things are going well, there’s no excuse at all for losing your head.
“I’m nearly 30 now and I’d like to be part of a team that wins something. I think we’ll be up there in the league, with AFC Rushden and Diamonds our main rivals.
“The managers have made no secret of their desire to do well in the FA Vase too. There’s no reason why we can’t go really far in that too.”
Holbeach are boosted by the return of leading scorer Lee Dube and fellow frontman Courtney Meade this weekend, while new signing Callum Lewis will also be in the squad.
They will go into the game as favourites – a tag co-boss Chand is doing little to play down.
He added: “On paper, it’s a game we are going to be expected to win. But it’s a derby game, so we’ll be taking nothing for granted.
“I’m not really a fan of playing any side back-to-back. Things carry over and it can get messy.
“However, it’s a good week for the fans. I’m confident we’ve got enough in our locker.”
Follow @Andrew_Clucas on Twitter for live updates from Saturday’s FA Cup clash.
