King's Lynn Town boss on Culverhouse ahead of Boston double-header

Widdrington comes face to face with Ian Culverhouse on Boxing Day when the Linnets travel to Boston United. 

It’s a fixture that is never short of high drama, but the managerial head-to-head is more than just an interesting aside.  

Culverhouse took Lynn out of the Southern League Premier Central Division via a super play-off final win at Warrington and then, a year later, into the National League for the first time. 

It was the former Norwich City defender’s second spell in charge but was marred by the effects on the global pandemic – and after an eighth league defeat in a row which left Lynn six points adrift of safety, he left The Walks for a second time. 

Widdrington took over but could not reverse the slide, and Lynn were relegated. 

Ian Culverhouse during his time in charge at The Walks (Image: Ian Burt)

Culverhouse took over at Kettering in January but left four months later, returning to the dugout in September at Boston. 

It all makes for a potentially explosive Boxing Day feast – with the second part of the double header at Lynn on New Year’s Day - although Widdrington insists it is business as usual for the managers. 

“I understand the history between the clubs and I certainly understand the recent history between Ian and the club, but he did a good job here,” he told BBC Radio Norfolk. “People have got to remember the bits that got them to where they have got, what happened at the end of it is nobody’s business apart from his.  

“I'll be shaking his hand and wishing him all the best and I am sure we will have a festive tipple afterwards.” 

Widdrington, at 51, and Culverhouse, 58, are old enough to remember when the festive period was more than just a couple of games. 

“I remember when we used to play Boxing Day and the day after and even sometimes get another game in before New Year’s Day, so while it is a little bit of an inconvenience to certain people, I would have thought to play Boxing Day and New Year’s Day there is a good break in between,” said Widdrington. 

“Boston in fairness to them, have a fantastic covering for their pitch and I see they were the only team with a grass pitch in our division to get a game in on Tuesday, so there shouldn’t be any problem with the Boxing Day game and as long as the temperatures go the way the Met Office say then our game should be fine.  

“The double header is more important to the fans than the managers. Ian will be the same as me – at the end of the day there is the possibility of picking up six points and they will want to do the same.”